Program Overview
Consider the Ed.S. in Reading Degree Program
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.
$9,930
Total Tuition
As few as 12-18 months
Program Duration
30
Credit Hours
$9,930
Total Tuition
As few as 12-18 months
Program Duration
30
Credit Hours
Arkansas State University is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), formerly known as the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), 1140 19th Street, NW, Suite 400, Washington, D.C. 20036. Phone: 202-223-0077.
Two tracks are available: Advanced Perspective and Professional Practice. Each candidate’s experience is assessed at the point of admission and based on previous master’s degree completed.
Advanced Perspective Track
Designed for students who hold a master’s in reading, literacy or related degree and want to take an in-depth look at classroom practices through research, applying reading knowledge to classroom practice, school systems and community.
In this program track, you will:
- Expand knowledge regarding complexities of school systems and legislatures
- Understand and delve into research foundations of literacy, historical studies, seminal studies, literacy and how it influences society
- Explore competing views of how literacy starts
Career opportunities include:
- District Literacy Leader
- Adjunct University Professor
- Literacy Advocate
Professional Practice Track
Designed for students interested in pursuing a post-graduate degree in reading as a content specialist.
In this program track, you will:
- 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
- Focus on the development of literacy skills
- Explore current research on literacy cognition, reading disorders, and research-based methodologies for reading instruction
Career opportunities include:
- Reading Specialist
- District Literacy Leader
As licensure requirements may change without notice, it is the responsibility of the student to confirm the requirements for licensure in his/her state as it applies to the participation in an out-of-state degree program.
This program requires Live Text.
State Program Approvals (.PDF)
Also available:
Tuition
Our Budget-Friendly Tuition Can Be Paid as You Go
Our Ed.S. in Reading online program offers the same affordable tuition to all U.S. residents. All fees are included in the total tuition.
| Per Credit Hour | Per Course | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Resident Tuition | Required Fees | Total | U.S. Resident Tuition | Required Fees | Total |
| $291.00 | $40.00 | $331.00 | $873.00 | $120.00 | $993.00 |
Calendar
Know When to Apply, When Classes Start and When Tuition Is Due
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.
Next Start & Application Due Dates:
| Term | Length | Course Begin | Course End | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Payment Deadline | Last Day to Withdraw |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2022 | 7 wk | 08/23/2022 | 10/07/2022 | 08/08/2022 | 08/12/2022 | 08/18/2022 | 08/19/2022 | 09/24/2022 |
| 7 wk | 10/17/2022 | 12/09/2022 | 10/03/2022 | 10/07/2022 | 10/13/2022 | 10/14/2022 | 11/26/2022 | |
| Spring 2023 | 7 wk | 01/10/2023 | 02/24/2023 | 12/14/2022 | 12/16/2022 | 01/05/2023 | 01/06/2023 | 02/10/2023 |
| 7 wk | 03/06/2023 | 04/28/2023 | 02/20/2023 | 02/24/2023 | 03/02/2023 | 03/03/2023 | 04/15/2023 | |
| Summer 2023 | 5 wk | 05/30/2023 | 06/30/2023 | 05/15/2023 | 05/19/2023 | 05/25/2023 | 05/26/2023 | 06/16/2023 |
| 5 wk | 07/03/2023 | 08/04/2023 | 06/19/2023 | 06/23/2023 | 06/29/2023 | 06/30/2023 | 07/21/2023 |
Admissions
See the Requirements for the Online Education Specialist 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.
- Master’s degree in reading or other field in education from an accredited institution with at least 3.25 cumulative GPA on a 4.0 scale
- A valid teaching certificate
- 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 online application, including the mentor form
- Pay the nonrefundable $30 fee
- Send official transcript(s) from the college/university attended. Official transcripts are sealed transcripts sent from the sending institution. For this program, we will only need an official transcript that shows your conferred master's degree.
Additional Information
Unless otherwise noted, Arkansas State University has not confirmed if a program has met requirements for an out-of-state licensure and it is up to the Student to confirm if the program will meet the needs for licensure. Please refer to the Program Approval Map to determine which programs are eligible to be offered in States and to find relevant State Agency contact information. Eligibility to offer in a State does not guarantee the program will meet State licensure requirements.
- Email a written Letter of Appeal and GRE or GMAT scores (may be unofficial) to [email protected]
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.
Submit all documents to:
A-State OnlineP.O. Box 2520
State University, AR 72467
Fax: 870-972-3548
Email: [email protected]
For Non-US Postal Mail Overnight Delivery Only:
Academic Partnershipsc/o Central Receiving
2713 Pawnee St.
Jonesboro, AR 72401
Courses
Discover What You Will Learn in Our Online Education Specialist Classes
Students pursuing this Ed.S. program must complete a total of 30 credit hours, including four core courses (12 credit hours) and six courses (18 credit hours) specific to either the Advance Perspective track or the Professional Practice track.
You must take the following courses.
RDNG 6573: Action Research in Literacy Education
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Examination of theory and practice in action research as applied to literacy education with practical application in literacy settings.
RDNG 7423: Studies in Critical Literacy
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
TBD
RDNG 7613: Survey of Quantitative and Qualitative Literacy
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
An overview of research design, framework, and methodological approaches that spans qualitative and quantitative paradigms, including a mixed methods approach, within the context of literacy.
RDNG 7653: Advanced Studies in Reading Comprehension
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
An in-depth examination of the dimensions of understanding in literacy learning, the complexities of comprehension strategy instruction as they pertain to the learning of essential concepts, and how they impact literacy learning environments and professional development for teachers.
All students in the Advanced Perspective track must take the following courses.
RDNG 7473: Theories of Language Acquisition
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Overview of theoretical and practical orientations regarding language acquisition with a focus on English Language Learners including an examination of language acquisition models and their application in schools and classrooms.
RDNG 7283: Writing Pedagogy: Advanced Process in Writing
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
An examination of varied perspectives of the processes of writing, with a focus on recursive practices in authentic, academic, and personal settings; reflection on personal and academic writing practices and research of writing pedagogy facilitating the study of effective application.
RDNG 7493: Reading and Writing Capstone
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Serves as both the review and comprehensive examination of program content with a focus on developing descriptive, analytical, and reflective writings that demonstrate effective applications of practices for literacy instruction. Must be taken in final semester of coursework.
RDNG 7643: Social Foundations of Literacy
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
An overview of the social foundations of literacy within the context of sociocultural and sociopolitical theory. Limited to MSE-Reading and Ed.S.-Reading students or approval of the instructor.
RDNG 7543: New Literacies
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
An overview of theoretical and pedagogical frameworks of the New Literacies with an emphasis on the intersection of student lives, culture, and technology. Restricted to Ed.S.-Reading candidates or graduate students with permission of the instructor.
RDNG 7393: Literacy Leaders as Community Advocates
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Examination of the role of literacy leaders within the school, community, and family context with a focus on literacy advocacy project development, implementation, and evaluation.
All students in the Professional Practice track must take the following courses.
RDNG 6333: Reading Practicum I: Diagnosis and Intervention
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Course features clinical experiences in assessment and intervention in reading and related areas.
RDNG 6513: Emergent Literacy Birth-Primary Grades
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Focuses on the development of literacy skills, birth through primary grades, including the process of exposure to words, print, and the opportunity to write as a part of the literacy process. This course maintains alignment with state and national standards.
RDNG 6533: Literacy for Diverse Learners
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course examines 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. Presentation and rehearsal of explicit literacy instruction to enhance comprehension.
RDNG 6553: Adolescent Literacy
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Course analyzes current federal initiatives and reform policies related to adolescent literacy. Examines the social and cognitive processes related to adolescent literacy. The course features study of methods to facilitate literacy learning for adolescents in all curricular areas.
RDNG 6563: Principles of Literacy Cognition
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course is an examination of current research on literacy cognition, reading disorders, and research-based methodologies for reading instruction, with implications for instruction.
RDNG 7493: Reading and Writing Capstone
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
Serves as both the review and comprehensive examination of program content with a focus on developing descriptive, analytical, and reflective writings that demonstrate effective applications of practices for literacy instruction. Must be taken in final semester of coursework.
*All students graduating from the MSE Reading program since July 2018 and the EdS Reading Professional track, who took RDNG 6333, RDNG 6513, RDNG 6533, RDNG 6553 AND RDNG 6563 are eligible for the Dyslexia endorsement. Students should check their licensure to determine if they are eligible. 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 Tiffany Mosely in the Professional Education Office at [email protected] to review and see if they can get the endorsement added.
Next Start Date: