The program in Literacy and Specialized Instruction fosters leadership in three areas of specialized instruction:
- Dual Certification - Special Education combined with Elementary Education
- Reading Specialist
- Special Education for Teachers
The Dual Certification concentration in Special Education (Special K-12) and Elementary Education (K-9) prepares candidates to teach both special and regular education and leads to initial teacher certification in two areas. Coursework focuses on a theoretical understanding of both regular education and special education as well as on strategies for working with children in a wide variety of classroom settings.
The Reading Specialist concentration combines the disciplines of Learning Disabilities and Reading Education (Developmental and Remedial Reading) and leads to a Reading Specialist Certificate (Special K-12) and prepares students to work primarily as reading specialists and as professionals in clinics or private practice. Coursework focuses on a theoretical understanding of reading problems and learning disabilities in individuals of all ages.
The Special Education for Teachers (Learning & Behavior Specialist 1) program prepares currently certified general education teachers to work in special education, and results in a LBS-I certificate (Type 10 K-12) or an endorsement. Students in the Special Education for Teachers program may work with individuals with special needs in a variety of settings.
Certification
Students are eligible for an initial Elementary (K-9) teaching certificate and an initial Type 10 (pre-K-21) teaching certificate with an LBS1 endorsement upon completion of the Dual Certification Master’s program and the required certification tests.
Students are eligible for an initial Type 10 (pre-K-21) teaching certificate with an LBS1 endorsement upon completion of the Special Education for Teachers (Learning Behavior Specialist 1) Master’s program and the required certification tests. Certificate only and endorsement only options available. Note: Courses in the Special Education for Teachers concentration are designed for practicing educators and are not open to students seeking a first teaching certificate (Teaching and Learning).
Students are eligible for an initial Type 10 certificate (K-12) teaching certificate with a Reading Specialist endorsement upon completion of the Reading Specialist Master’s program, the required certification tests, and the required employment experience (2-years of full-time teaching experience).
Note: Courses in the Reading Specialist concentration are designed for practicing educators and are not open to students seeking a first teaching certificate (Teaching and Learning).