Reading, M.A. (Reading Education Concentration)

General Program Information

Graduate School Contact:

Robin O’Dell; odell@etsu.edu; 423-439-6148

E. Jane Melendez, Ph.D., Graduate Coordinator, Reading Education Concentration

406 Warf-Pickel Hall
Box 70684
(423) 439-7910
e-mail: melendez@etsu.edu
If Coordinator is unavailable, contact Dr. Rhona Hurwitz, Department Chair.

Joseph Sobol, Ph.D., Graduate Coordinator, Storytelling Concentration

205D Warf-Pickel Hall
Box 70684
(423) 439-7683
e-mail: sobol@etsu.edu

Rhona Hurwitz, Ed.D., Chair

401A Warf-Pickel Hall
Box 70684
(423) 439-7598
e-mail: hurwitz@etsu.edu

Faculty:

Martha Collins; Ed Dwyer; Rosalind Gann; Jane Melendez; Leslie Perry; Elizabeth Ralston; Delanna Reed; Joseph Sobol.

Reading Education Concentration

The graduate program in reading education is designed to provide the necessary educational experiences for persons who are either preparing to or are already involved in working toward enhancing the reading, writing, and oral language competencies of children and adults. Candidates are prepared to assume leadership roles in reading education by serving as special reading teachers, clinicians, diagnosticians, program coordinators, reading specialists, and reading supervisors.

The graduate program meets standards of excellence for reading programs of the International Reading Association. Graduate program faculty and candidates work extensively in area schools to provide active practicum experiences.

The M.A. in Reading Education is not an initial licensure program. Persons seeking an initial endorsement to teach in Tennessee should enter one of the initial licensure programs.

Admission—Each applicant for admission to a master’s degree program must have earned a bachelor’s degree in an appropriate academic discipline from a regionally accredited college or university before the application will be considered. Each applicant for admission must meet all general university requirements for admission to the School of Graduate Studies and departmental criteria as published elsewhere.

Degree Requirements—Graduate majors in reading education will be permitted to elect the thesis option (comprised of coursework and required formal thesis) with a minimum requirement of 30 credit-hours, or the course option (completely comprised of coursework, no formal thesis required) with a minimum requirement of 36 credit-hours. All reading education majors will be required to complete READ 5027 , READ 5120 , READ 5170 , READ 5190 , READ 5210 , READ 5231 , READ 5241 , and EDFN 5950 . Additional credits will be earned from other reading and reading-related courses.

Course Requirements

Total Hours Required (Thesis Option): 30 Credit Hours

Total Hours Required (Non-Thesis Option): 36 Credit Hours

Note:

Tennessee Reading Specialist PreK - 12—The East Tennessee State University Clemmer College of Education Master of Arts in Reading Education enables individuals to acquire the knowledge and skills stipulated by the Tennessee Licensure Standards for Reading Specialist, PreK-12. Most students who participate in our Reading M.A. program are practicing licensed teachers, and those aspiring to specialist licensure must have at least three (3) years successful classroom experience as such. Graduate students, working toward qualification as licensed reading specialists in Tennessee, will be advised to take a specific set of courses that fulfills both the East Tennessee State University requirements for the Reading M.A. degree and the requirements outlined by the Tennessee Standards for Licensure as Reading Specialist, PreK-12.