2025-2026 Graduate & Professional Studies Catalog [Archived Catalog]
Reading Specialist Certificate of Advanced Study (PK-12)
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The School of Education offers preparation that leads to certification as a Reading Specialist (PK-12). Coursework is completed fully online The curriculum for the Reading Specialist Certificate of Advanced Study (PK-12) is designed to provide candidates with opportunities to build specialized knowledge, engage in principled practice in supervised settings, and prepare for leadership roles in schools and school districts. The curriculum addresses the International Literacy Association’s Standards for Specialized Literacy Professionals (2017) in the areas of:
- Foundational Knowledge
- Curriculum and Instruction
- Assessment and Evaluation
- Diversity and Equity
- Learners and the Literacy Environment
- Professional Learning and Leadership
- Practicum/Clinical Experiences
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Admissions Requirements
Program prerequisites:
- Must hold a current teaching certificaiton
- 3.0 GPA in undergraduate work
Program course prerequisites:
- Teaching of Reading or Language Arts (3 credits)
- Human Development or Educational Psychology (3 credits)
- Educational Foundations or History of American Education (3 credits)
Applicants who hold an Instructional I teaching certification from Pennsylvania earned after January 1, 2011 will have met the following course requirements through their initial certification programs. Applicants who hold a PA certification from an earlier time or who hold an out-of-state certification must meet the following requirements to be eligible to earn the PDE Reading Specialist certification (PK-12):
- Teaching English Language Learners (3 credits)
- Foundations of Special Education (3 credits)
- Supporting Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms (3 credits)
- Supporting Literacies in Inclusive Classrooms (3 credits)
Requirements
All classes that are not directly field-related (i.e.: student teaching placements and related seminars) must be taken for a letter grade.
Students must successfully complete all required courses and earn a 3.0 cumulative GPA to receive the certification
Certification
Students who meet all course, grade, and GPA requirements will be eligible for the Pennsylvania Department of Education Reading Specialist PreK-12 certification. Students must take and pass the Reading Specialist Praxis exam to earn the certificate.
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