The Master of Arts in Reading Education
About the Program: Please note that this program is not currently accepting applications for the 2013-2014 academic year.
The Master's in Reading Education (K-12) program has a
mission to instill an understanding of the complexities of
literacies across the life span. We seek to accomplish our
goals by preparing our candidates in the areas of
teaching-leadership, research-scholarship, and service.
The program is designed so candidates proceed through a sequence
of courses that build expertise in reading as a content area, in
children's literacy, and in literacy as a socioculturally-based
construct. Skills are developed in instructional planning
and implementation with particular emphasis on assessment and
the use of research supported practices that support children's
efficacy, agency and identity by drawing on critical,
imaginative and social-constructivist models of literacy. This
program is fully approved by the Florida Department of Education
and leads to certification in K-12.
This program is designed to accommodate candidates in
cohorts. The cohort model allows candidates to proceed through a
sequence of courses that build skills, knowledge and a deep
understanding of literacy processes, how children's literacy
grows, and how to teach effectively. Cohorts begin each summer.
Two courses per semester may be taken to
complete the program over six semesters. Entry in spring or fall
semesters may be available, but completion of the program in six
semesters is not guaranteed and requires special advisement for
proper course sequence. Courses are scheduled in the
evening for fall and spring semesters and may be offered in the
day or evening during the summer semesters.
For printable facts
sheet, click here.
The program may be completed over six semesters by taking two courses per semester for summer cohorts. Courses are arranged in Blocks with transition point projects that are completed before proceeding to the next Block.
To
access a printable M.A. in Reading Education program guide for
students, click here.
How to Apply
1. Meet the Prerequisites
Students seeking admission to the M.A. in Reading Education (K-12) must:
- Have a bachelor's degree or equivalent from a regionally accredited institution; and
- Hold a valid professional teaching certificate in Elementary Education, Early Childhood Education, Secondary Education with a concentration in English or provide proof of eligibility for Florida professional educator certification through either completion of a Bachelor's degree or higher from a state-approved degree program, or through a letter of eligibility from the FLDOE.
- Have earned a 3.0 (4.0 scale) or better GPA in all work attempted while registered as an upper division student working on a baccalaureate degree; or have earned a graduate degree with a 3.5 GPA from a regionally accredited institution.
- Provide a letter of interest (brief letter describing experience in education, reason for applying to this program, areas of interest in literacy studies, goals for this program).
- Sole-authored professional writing sample or a paper from a course.
- Two (2) letters of professional recommendation.
- Resume
2. Complete the USFSM Admission Application online. Applications should be submitted online. Click 'Application' and follow steps to apply. Applications should include the $30.00 application fee. This fee is required of all applicants including USF graduates.
3. Submit the following items to USF Sarasota-Manatee Admissions Advisor:
- A clear copy of professional teaching certificate clearly showing all 4 borders and state seal;
- Official transcript(s) of all undergraduate degree coursework (and graduate coursework, if applicable). If you are applying while still completing an undergraduate degree, you must submit transcripts of at least six (6) semesters of completed undergraduate work. It is not necessary to send USF transcripts.
- Submit one of the following: GKT, CLAST, Praxis 1, or GRE of 1000. Students who are admitted with anything other than GKT or CLAST taken before July 1, 2002 must take GKT as an exit requirement.
- GRE scores taken within the last 5 years, if needed. You may submit your application without your GRE score, but please include the date you plan to take the test.
- Documentation of ESOL State endorsement OR State Certification plus 120 hours of in-service training must be provided. If this requirement is not met, additional coursework will be necessary.
- Supportive documentation outlined above to include:
letter of interest, sole-authored writing sample or paper
from a course, 2 letter of professional recommendation and
current resume.
March 15 for Summer | **June 15 for Fall | **October 15 for Spring Note: Spring & Fall admissions will be considered on an individual basis and will require special advisement.
Missed the deadline? Apply for non-degree study to get started this semester. A maximum of 12 credits from non-degree study may be transferable to a master's program.
Plan of Study
- The planned program of study is a contract between the student and the University stating all courses and requirements for earning a M.A. degree in Reading Education.
- Students must meet with Diane Lewis, Graduate Program Academic Advisor, before or during their first semester of study to complete the planned program paperwork.
- Failure to submit a planned program may result in registration holds and inability to complete key program requirements, such as the Practicum and Transition Point Projects (TPP).
Program of Study
Total program is 33-36 hours. Students without evidence of State ESOL endorsement or State ESOL Certification plus 120 hours of in-service training, will be required to take a 3-hour course in ESOL I during their plan of study*
Coursework is in a particular sequence dependent upon the start term for each admitted student and will be reviewed with the student in an advising session with Ms. Lewis, Graduate Program Specialist. Coursework will include the following:
- RED 6449 Literacy and Technology
- RED 6749 History and Models of Reading
- RED 6544 Cognition, Comprehension, and Content Area Reading
- RED 6540 Assessment in Literacy
- EDF 6481 Foundations of Ed Research
- LAE 6316 Trends in Literature in a Diverse Society
- RED 6545 Issues in Vocabulary and Word Study
- RED 6247 District and School Level Supervision in Reading
- LAE 6315 Writing and Writers
- RED 6748 Teacher Research Methods in Reading
- RED 6846 Practicum in Reading
- Special Topics Option or ESOL I course if required and/or needed*
Transition Point Projects (TPP)
Transition Points mark progress through the program and provide assessment points to ensure candidates are ready to go into the next phase of the program. There are four Transition Points. The first is full acceptance into the program, having met all admission requirements. While completing a series of eight courses, the candidate studies an area of literacy and prepares a staff development program. This staff development program is the assessment for Transition Point 2. Next, the candidate completes coursework to develop skill and knowledge as a scholar and expert educator during which the candidate plans and conducts new research in literacy. The final and fourth Transition Point is completion of all other requirements for graduation. Click here for printable facts sheet outlining these gateways.
For more information about the second and third specific transition point projects, applications, rubrics, and guide lines for submission, click on the appropriate link below:
In addition, there are critical tasks that provide assessments in areas not addressed by the transition point projects. Candidates in the MA in Reading Education K-12 will upload these specified assignments to their electronic portfolios in TaskStream. A rubric for each assignment will be available on TaskStream. These critical tasks are outlined in printable form by clicking here.
1. You must complete all courses as listed on your
planned program of study with a minimum grade point average
of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
2. You must pass all Transition Point Projects.
3. You must pass the Florida Teacher Certification Exams (FTCE),
- Reading K-12 subtest
4. You must apply for graduation by deadline of term you wish to graduate.
Completion of your USFSM degree and passing all three portions of
the
Florida Teacher Certification Exams (FTCE) ordinarily results in eligibility for your professional teaching
certificate. For reading you must only pass the subject
area exam. The student is responsible for applying to Florida
Department of Education (FLDOE) for his/her professional
teaching certificate.
Reading Education students should apply to add your subject area,
Reading Education (K-12), to your certificate.
1.
Apply online at
http://www.fldoe.org/edcert/ and pay appropriate
fees
2.
You must supply a sealed, official transcript to FLDOE to
complete your application.
Mail a sealed, final official USF transcript to FLDOE to
complete your application.
Order your transcript from the Registrar's Office AFTER your
degree and final grades have been posted (this will be
approximately 4-6 weeks after the graduation ceremony).
Please note: students can now also order their
transcripts using OASIS to be sent electronically to the DOE for
teacher certification. Just go to the first dropdown box
(personal information) and select 000089 (D.O.E. Teach Cert).
For questions, contact Justin Selph in Records and Registration
at selph@sar.usf.edu or
(941) 359-4641).
Transcript Request Form
(If you send transcripts to FLDOE without these items on your
transcript, your professional certification will not be granted.)
Campus Contacts
Graduate Admissions Advisor
Aaron Reecher
USF Sarasota-Manatee
Student Services
8350 N. Tamiami Trail, SMC C107
Sarasota, FL 34243
941-359-4330
Online appointment scheduler
College Communication Officer/ Graduate
Academic Advisor (after admission)
Diane Lewis
USF Sarasota-Manatee
College of Education, B323
8350 N. Tamiami Trail, SMC B322
Sarasota, FL 34243
941-359-4217
