Education Specialist in Reading Online
Arkansas State University's online Education Specialist (Ed.S.) in Reading is a 30-credit-hour, CAEP-accredited program completed in as few as 12-18 months through accelerated online courses (7 weeks in fall and spring, 5 weeks in summer). Built for educators who already hold a master's degree in reading or education, it prepares graduates to sit for the Praxis Reading Specialist exam at the advanced/administrative level and pursue roles such as district literacy leader, literacy coach and reading program supervisor.
Program Overview
What does A-State's online Ed.S. in Reading offer?
The online Education Specialist in Reading degree program at Arkansas State University offers an accelerated and flexible path for educators interested in advancing their career goals in reading and literacy. The program is designed for students interested in pursuing a post-graduate degree in reading as a content specialist. Through coursework in literacy for diverse learners, adolescent literacy, and principles of literacy cognition, you’ll gain the skills needed to prepare to sit for the PRAXIS Reading Specialists test. Coursework in this program also leads to endorsement for dyslexia.
Gain the following advanced specialized skills needed to positively impact reading outcomes for students and enhance student success:
- Become an expert leader in literacy and reading
- Gain the credentials to advance your career and positively impact student outcomes in this CAEP-accredited program
- Learn on your own schedule and finish in as quickly as 12 months with a 100% online, accelerated program
- Apply your knowledge with students in the classroom with support from the mentorship program
- Examine literacy issues in the context of multicultural education and culturally responsive pedagogy with a focus on the differentiation of literacy needs among various student cultures and special needs students
- Explore current research on literacy cognition, reading disorders, and research-based methodologies for reading instruction
The Education Specialist in Reading degree program at Arkansas State University is an accelerated, flexible degree program for those interested in advancing their career goals in reading and literacy.
Become an expert leader in reading and literacy
Over 800,000 new job openings are projected each year for careers in educational instruction between 2022 to 2032.1 Employment in educational instruction and library occupations is expected to grow as fast as the average for all occupations,1 with job growth for instructional coordinators and special education teachers expected to grow 4-7%.1 Careers in reading ensure needs are met for students in the classroom, supporting teachers to develop strategies for implementing quality reading programs. With the Ed.S. in Reading program, you’ll be prepared to sit for the PRAXIS Reading Specialist test.
Prepare for a variety of leadership roles, including:
- Reading Specialist
- Literacy Coach
- Literacy Specialist
- School or District Professional Development Provider
- District Literacy Leader
- Literacy Interventionist
- Reading Program Supervisor
- Instructional Coach – Literacy
For state program approvals, please refer to our State Authorization & Licensure Disclosures page. Please note, students from the state of Georgia who already hold an MSE in Reading are not eligible for this program
1https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/home.htm.
Mentorship Program
Mentorship is a key component to the Ed.S. in Reading program and enables you to effectively apply theory learned throughout the program to the classroom. The mentorship component of the program helps you to participate in collaborative activities with peers, colleagues, teachers and administrators, providing you with an opportunity to integrate your acquired skills under the guidance of an experienced literacy leader. You are responsible for identifying a mentor with an advanced degree in reading who can support you in the supervision of the practicum/clinical experience. The mentor supports students to:
- Assist candidate as-needed to complete site-based activities (i.e., facilitating access to school sites, data archives, resources and personnel as needed)
- Offer additional formative feedback on candidate's key assessments (papers or shorter assignments) as indicated by course professors
- Additionally document this mentorship (along with papers or shorter assignments) as required by course professors
- Engage in communication with university faculty and candidate as needed
Note: The mentor is NOT required to grade or formally assess the candidate.
Mentorship is a key component to the Ed.S. in Reading program and enables you to effectively apply theory learned throughout the program to the classroom. The mentorship component of the program helps you to participate in collaborative activities with peers, colleagues, teachers and administrators, providing you with an opportunity to integrate your acquired skills under the guidance of an experienced literacy leader. You are responsible for identifying a mentor with an advanced degree in reading who can support you in the supervision of the practicum/clinical experience. The mentor supports students to:
- Assist candidate as-needed to complete site-based activities (i.e., facilitating access to school sites, data archives, resources and personnel as needed)
- Offer additional formative feedback on candidate's key assessments (papers or shorter assignments) as indicated by course professors
- Additionally document this mentorship (along with papers or shorter assignments) as required by course professors
- Engage in communication with university faculty and candidate as needed
Note: The mentor is NOT required to grade or formally assess the candidate.
Additional documents
This program requires Watermark – Student Learning & Licensure (SL&L).
This program requires Watermark – Student Learning & Licensure (SL&L).
Also available:
This Ed.S. is the terminal-credential path in reading and literacy. If you're weighing your options, explore the related programs below:
Accreditation
Licensure programs within A-State’s College of Education & Behavioral Science are accredited by CAEP.
Tuition
How much does the online Ed.S. in Reading program cost?
Our Ed.S. in Reading online program offers the same affordable tuition to all U.S. residents. All fees are included. Tuition may be subject to change on a yearly basis.
Tuition breakdown:
Calendar
When can you start the online Ed.S. in Reading program?
Our Ed.S. in Reading online program is designed to be flexible and convenient for working professionals, featuring accelerated coursework and multiple start dates a year.
Please note Summer 1 and Summer 2 terms are 5 weeks in duration for this program.
| Term | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Due | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 1 | 8/19/26 | 8/5/26 | 8/5/26 | 8/17/26 | 8/17/26 | 10/2/26 |
| Fall 2 | 10/12/26 | 9/28/26 | 9/28/26 | 10/8/26 | 10/9/26 | 12/4/26 |
| Spring 1 | 1/11/27 | 12/28/26 | 12/28/26 | 1/7/27 | 1/8/27 | 2/26/27 |
| Spring 2 | 3/8/27 | 3/4/27 | 2/22/27 | 3/4/27 | 3/5/27 | 4/30/27 |
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Admissions
What are the admission requirements for the online Ed.S. in Reading program?
Students who are interested in our Ed.S. in Reading online program must have a master’s degree in reading or other field in education from an accredited institution. Review full admission requirements below.
Admission Requirements:
- Minimum 3.0 GPA
- Master's degree
- Valid teaching license
Admission requirements
- Master’s degree in reading or other field in education from an accredited institution with at least 3.0 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale
- A valid professional teaching license (Arkansas or other state)
- Commitment from a literacy coach or reading specialist, or other acceptable mentor who will function as your mentor during the program. The mentor must have reading/ language arts experience. View acceptable mentors (PDF).
- Complete a Partnership School Agreement
Application submission requirements
- Complete online application
- Pay the nonrefundable $30 fee
- Send official transcript(s) from the college/university attended. Official transcripts are sealed transcripts sent from the granting institution. For this program, we will only need an official transcript that shows your conferred master's degree.
Submit all documents to:
A-State OnlineP.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467
Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]
Additional information
For more information on state eligibility, please visit our State Authorization and Licensure Disclosures page.
Appeals process
- Email a written Letter of Appeal and GRE or GMAT scores (may be unofficial) to [email protected]
Transfer credits
Up to 9 graduate hours from A-State or other higher education institutions may be credited toward a program subject to department approval. No course can be older than six years by graduation time. The course must have been taken at the level of the program you are seeking. To request prior credit be evaluated, please complete the Graduate Transfer Credit Evaluation Form.
Courses
What courses are in the online Ed.S. in Reading curriculum?
Students pursuing this Ed.S. program must complete a total of 30 credit hours, including five core courses (15 credit hours) and five elective courses (15 credit hours). The curriculum was thoughtfully designed to align with the International Literacy Reading Standards.
You can view your schedule of courses for this degree through the Course Smartsheet: View the AOS Course Smartsheet
You must take the following courses. ELFN 6773, or an equivalent course, must be taken as a prerequisite for RDNG 7613; this does not count toward total hours needed for degree completion.
All students in the Professional Practice track must take the following courses.
Built for Arkansas Educators
Arkansas State University's Ed.S. in Reading is designed for Arkansas educators who already hold a master's degree in reading or education and want the terminal specialist credential for district literacy leadership. The program is completed entirely online, with accelerated terms and a mentorship component you can complete alongside your current teaching role. For state authorization and Arkansas-specific licensure approval details, visit the State Authorization & Licensure Disclosures page.
FAQ
Ed.S. in Reading Online FAQs
Intro copy
New: Note: All students graduating from the MSE Reading program since July 2018 who took RDNG 6333, RDNG 6513, RDNG 6533, RDNG 6553 AND RDNG 6563 are eligible for the Dyslexia endorsement, pending state licensure eligibility. The Professional Education department automatically submits the paperwork for the certification. After reviewing their licensure and if they meet the other criteria above they can contact Sara Woolard in the Professional Education Office at [email protected] to review and see if they can get the endorsement added.