Reading Specialist Certificate
Certificate Level: Graduate
Admissions Requirements: Bachelor's degree
Certificate Type: Post-Baccalaureate
Number of Credits to Completion: 31.0
Instructional Delivery: Online, Campus
Calendar Type: Quarter
Expected Time to Completion: 2 years
Financial Aid Eligibility: Aid eligible*
Classification of Instructional Program (CIP) Code: 13.1399
Standard Occupational Classification (SOC) Code: 25-2022; 25-2031
*The current plan of study for this program would only allow for federal financial aid (including Federal Direct Student Loans) for terms that are at least a minimum of 4.5 credits for graduate courses and 6.0 credits for undergraduate courses. This is based on current regulations from the U.S. Department of Education.
About the Program
The Reading Specialist Certificate Program is designed for teachers who already possess an Instructional I certificate in PA or another State who has a desire to become literacy coach, a literacy program/curriculum consultant (for a school, literacy center, etc.), a reading intervention specialist, or to supplement existing knowledge/skills in developing expertise as a reading instructor. The program is designed for teachers who want to obtain another certification as a Reading Specialist. Students completing Drexel's Reading Specialist program would also become eligible to obtain the Wilson Language Instruction Level 1 by the Wilson Language Corporation. Through reciprocity agreements among the states, graduates can transfer their certification in almost any state across the United States. Only students who hold a PA Instructional I or II certificate are eligible to apply for PA Reading Specialist certification. If you hold a certification from another state, you must check with your state’s Department of Education to find out how to obtain certification in your state.
Program Requirements
| Reading Specialist Certificate Requirements: | ||
| EDLS 550 | Theories of Reading and Writing | 3.0 |
| EDLS 555 | Understanding Literacy through Sociocultural Perspectives | 3.0 |
| EDLS 560 | Reading and Writing in the Content Areas (7-12) | 3.0 |
| EDLS 565 | Constructing Meaning through Reading and Writing | 3.0 |
| EDLS 570 | Literacy and Evaluation | 3.0 |
| EDLS 575 | Responding to Children's and Young Adult Literature | 3.0 |
| EDLS 620 | Applied Methods in Multisensory Reading Instruction | 1.0 |
| EDLS 622 | Basic Word Study I | 3.0 |
| EDLS 623 | Basic Word Study II | 3.0 |
| EDLS 624 | Multisensory Practicum I | 1.0 |
| EDLS 625 | Multisensory Practicum II | 1.0 |
| EDLS 626 | Multisensory Practicum III | 1.0 |
| EDLS 650 | Designing a Literacy Program | 3.0 |
| Total Credits | 31.0 | |
Sample Plan of Study
| First Year | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Winter | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| EDLS 620 | 1.0 | EDLS 550 | 3.0 | EDLS 555 (10 hr Observation) | 3.0 | EDLS 560 (15 hr Practicum in-class activities)* | 3.0 |
| EDLS 622 | 3.0 | EDLS 623 | 3.0 | EDLS 570 (5 hr Practicum in-class assessment)* | 3.0 | ||
| EDLS 624 (20 hr. Practicum working 1 on 1 with student)* | 1.0 | EDLS 625 (20 hr. Practicum working 1 on 1 with student)* | 1.0 | EDLS 626 (20 hr Practicum working 1 on 1 with student)* | 1.0 | ||
| 1 | 7 | 7 | 7 | ||||
| Second Year | |||||||
| Fall | Credits | ||||||
| EDLS 565 | 3.0 | ||||||
| EDLS 575 (Practicum - 3 student interviews)* | 3.0 | ||||||
| EDLS 650 (20-30 hrs Practicum - clinical component designing literacy program)* | 3.0 | ||||||
| 9 | |||||||
| Total Credits 31 | |||||||
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Courses require all students (regardless of being an in-service teacher) to update and submit all required clearances (FBI and all other clearances required of your State/District) to the Field Placement Office via StuTeach@drexel.edu and electronically complete the AY Field Placement Application Form for courses by term for entire academic year. For all clearance information go to the School of Education's Field Placement Office Website.
