Cultivate the foundational skill of reading

The Reading Specialist MA/MEd is designed for practicing educators who are preparing to assume leadership roles in school systems. With a deep understanding of diverse student needs and the nature of reading difficulties, you’ll shape and promote schoolwide reading policies, provide staff with professional development, and improve curricula and programs at the school and district levels. If you are already a licensed teacher, you also have the option to add a Reading Specialist endorsement to your Illinois Teaching License (PEL).

The program can be completed in two to three years. Courses take place on DePaul’s Lincoln Park Campus.

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Connect with Chicago’s young learners

The Reading Specialist MA/MEd maintains a particular focus on literacy issues concerning students in urban environments. You’ll have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in our Education and Counseling Center, where you will work with Chicago children and teens with identified reading difficulties. You will work closely with the children to implement instruction, monitor their progress and build reports for parents.

Application Deadlines

Students are admitted in the fall, winter and summer quarters. Application deadlines are as follows:

• Fall: August 15
• Winter: December 1
• Summer: May 1

Admission Requirements

Submit an online application, letter of recommendation, résumé, official transcripts, a copy of your state teaching license and evidence of at least one year of teaching experience.

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Required Courses

You’ll take three social and cultural studies courses, five core courses, two leadership courses and three practicum courses. You’ll also complete a thesis or capstone project.

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100%

of Reading Specialist graduates were employed, continuing their education or pursuing other goals within six months of graduation.

 

$51k

The reported median salary for Reading Specialist graduates of the program was $51,000.

Lifelong connections to school systems

You’ll learn from faculty members like Associate Professor Beverly Trezek, who worked as a special education teacher in public schools for 12 years. Trezek serves as a literacy intervention consultant to local public schools and nationwide programs. Her research focuses on literacy instruction and the role that phonemic awareness and phonics play in developing literacy skills for deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

“As both a world language teacher and an instructional coach, I use my graduate education from DePaul on a daily basis. DePaul also helped me build a network of professional contacts that have led me to incredible opportunities for research and collaboration.”

Rachel (’13)

Teacher and Instructional Coach, Evanston Township High School

Alumni Network

The College of Education provides its alumni network with professional development workshops and other useful resources. Over 122,500 of DePaul’s 195,500 alumni still reside in the Chicago area, creating even more opportunities for you to meet new people.

Scholarships

Graduate school is an investment in your future. Learn more about the financial aid and scholarship opportunities available to you.

Reading Specialist Program Admission Requirements

Admission Eligibility

DePaul offers three program options for educators who wish to specialize in reading instruction: a Reading Specialist master's degree, a Reading Specialist K-12 Endorsement, and a Reading Teacher endorsement.

To be eligible to enroll in any of these programs, students must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university and state teaching licensure. In addition, applicants to the Reading Specialist master's degree program must have at least one year of full-time teaching experience.

Application Requirements

A complete application to our Reading Specialist program or our Reading Teacher program will include the following materials:

• Graduate admission application
• Official transcripts from all colleges or universities attended
• Résumé
• One letter of recommendation from professors or work supervisors
• $40 application fee
• Copy of state teaching license
• Evidence of at least one year of teaching experience, e.g., letter from principal (not required for applicants to the Reading Teacher endorsement program)

Applicants who have earned a degree outside of the U.S. or who are considered international students must submit additional materials. Visit our International Students page for more information.

Applicants can upload supplemental application materials, send requests for letters of recommendation, and pay the application fee through our online application system.

Application Deadlines

The Reading Specialist master's degree program admits new students in the fall, winter, and summer quarters. 

Term	Regular Deadline
Fall	August 15
Winter	December 1
Spring	No admission
Summer	May 1

The Reading Teacher endorsement program admits new students in the fall, winter, and spring quarters.

Term	Regular Deadline
Fall	August 15
Winter	December 1
Spring	March 1
Summer	No admission

All of these programs offer rolling admission, but regular deadlines are set to assure students full consideration for admission and financial aid. The program will continue to accept and process applications after the regular deadline if space is available.

Applicants typically receive an admission decision 3-4 weeks after submitting a complete application.

Information Sessions

Learn more about the Reading Specialist graduate program and meet with program faculty at an upcoming information session.

Degree Requirements

Course Requirements

Social and Cultural Studies Courses: 12 quarter hours required, grade of C or better required

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
SCG 410	INTRODUCTION TO RESEARCH: PURPOSES, ISSUES, AND METHODOLOGIES	4
Select one of the following:		4
SCG 401	ADVANCED LIFESPAN DEVELOPMENT
SCG 402	PSYCHOLOGY OF LEARNING
SCG 403	HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING: ELEMENTARY
SCG 406	HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND LEARNING:SECONDARY
SCG 439	PHILOSOPHY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF YOUTH AND MIDDLE LEVEL EDUCATION
Select one of the following:		4
SCG 408	EDUCATION AND SOCIETY
SCG 409	SOCIOLOGY OF EDUCATION
SCG 411	PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

Reading Specialist Core Courses: 20 quarter hours required, grade of C or better required

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
SER 430	INTRODUCTION TO READING ASSESSMENT	4
SER 405	TEACHING LITERACY TO EXCEPTIONAL LEARNERS	4
SER 432	DEVELOPING LITERACY: ASSESSMENT AND INSTRUCTION	4
SER 433	ASSESSMENT AND DIAGNOSTIC TEACHING OF READING	4
SER 438	LITERATURE-BASED AND CONTENT AREA LITERACY INSTRUCTION	4

Leadership Courses: 8 quarter hours required, grade of C or better required

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
SER 435	LITERACY PROGRAMS: CURRICULUM AND COLLABORATION	4
SER 437	LEADERSHIP AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN LITERACY	4

Practicum Courses: 12 quarter hours required, grade of C or better

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
SER 542	PRACTICUM IN LITERACY ASSESSMENT	4
SER 543	PRACTICUM IN LITERACY INSTRUCTION AND ASSESSMENT	4
SER 544	PRACTICUM IN LITERACY INSTRUCTION, ASSESSMENT, AND COLLABORATION	4

Choose one: Thesis (MA) or Capstone (MEd)

Master of Arts (MA) Degree Requirements: 4 Quarter Hours, Grade of C or Better Required

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
SER 549	THESIS RESEARCH IN SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION	4

The Master’s Thesis is completed in conjunction with faculty advisement. Preparation for the writing of the Thesis should begin well in advance of the completion of coursework. Oral examination on Thesis required. Consult the MA Thesis Handbook for additional information.

Master of Education (MEd) Degree Requirement

Course	Title	Quarter Hours
SER 608	CAPSTONE IN SPECIALIZED INSTRUCTION (non-tuition, PA grade required)	0

Clinical Experience

The practicum courses provide an opportunity to apply knowledge from course work to teaching struggling learners and those with disabilities. In these courses,  students provide diagnostic and remedial services to children and adolescents from the Chicago area under the supervision of program faculty. Theses courses are offered in an on-campus facility.

Licensure Tests

All individuals licensed by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) are required to complete licensure tests specific to their teaching license.   Requirements are subject to change per the discretion of ISBE.

Reading Specialist students must complete the following tests:

• Reading Specialist Content Area Test (test #221) – assesses knowledge of language, reading, and literacy.

Please note that the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) may change the State licensure and endorsement requirements at any time and without prior notice.

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