EDS READ
Educational Specialist in Reading Education
The Educational Specialist (EdS) in Reading degree is a 36-hour program of study designed to prepare candidates for a leadership role in literacy-related areas, including literacy curriculum specialists, literacy coaches, teacher leaders, literacy supervisors, teacher educators, and other leadership roles in reading instruction. Prior to graduation, candidates are required to pass a written comprehensive examination and to submit and defend a portfolio of their work from courses, including evidence of scholarly writing, research projects, and successful field experiences. During the final six hours of the program, candidates are required to complete and defend a research project in a literacy-related area. The program typically requires a two to three year commitment beyond the master’s degree for completion. The EdS in Reading program meets the standards of NCATE and the International Reading Association (IRA). For more information about the program, visit the web site at http://ualr.edu/teachered/index.php/home/programs/reading/
EdS Admission Requirements
- Master’s degree or equivalent in a related field from a regionally accredited institution
- Cumulative graduate GPA of at least 3.3 or 3.0-3.29 with a combined score of 1000 on the GRE (taken within the last five years) with at least 450 on the Verbal and 450 on the Quantitative sections and a minimum score of 4.5 points on the Analytic Writing subtest.
- Valid teaching license (Arkansas or other state)
- Favorable recommendation as the result of an interview with Reading Program Faculty
- Minimum of two years of recent teaching experience
Additional Admission Requirements
If a candidate does not have a reading license or a master’s in reading, the candidate will be required to complete a minimum of 6 hours of prerequisite course work in foundations of reading education and diagnosis in reading difficulties or equivalent courses. If the candidate seeks reading licensure, the candidate must complete any additional requirements, including passing the Praxis II for Reading Specialist. In these cases, the candidate will work closely with the MEd and EdS program coordinators to create an individualized program of study, which could exceed the standard 36-hour requirements for the EdS in Reading program.
EdS Program Requirements
The EdS in Reading requires a minimum of 36 hours beyond the master’s degree, including 6 hours in research, 15 hours of emphasis requirements in reading, and 9 hours of reading electives. The candidate is expected to design and implement a research project as a culminating experience. Two research options meet this requirement: 6 hours of thesis, or 3 hours of research practicum and 3 hours of scholarly writing. Additional exit requirements include the successful completion of an electronic portfolio in Chalk and Wire and a passing score on a comprehensive written examination.
Prerequisite Requirements
If the candidate did not complete a research course in the master’s program, the candidate will be required to complete EDFN 7303 Intro to Research (or equivalent course) prior to enrolling in EDFN 8306 Advanced Research Methods.
If the candidate does not have a reading license or a master’s in reading, the candidate will be required to complete a minimum of 6 hours of prerequisite course work in foundations of teaching reading and diagnosis in reading difficulties or equivalent course work.
Common Requirements (6 hours)
- EDFN 7304 Basic Statistics
- EDFN 8306 Advanced Research Methods
Emphasis Requirements (15 hours)
- READ 7398 Theory and Practice in Literacy
- READ 8340 Research in Language and Literacy
- READ 8301 Supervision and Organization of Reading Programs
- READ 8302 Professional Experiences in Reading
- READ 8304 Curriculum Design and Evaluation of Literary Programs
Electives (9 hours)
- READ 7321 Processes and Strategies in Reading Comprehension
- READ 7330 Children’s Literature Across the Curriculm
- READ 7340 Best Practices in Literary Instruction
- READ 7344 Intervention Designs for Struggling Learners
- READ 7348 Teaching the Writing Process in Schools
- READ 7365 Specialized Assessment in Early Literacy Instruction
- READ 7395 Comprehensive Literacy Model for School Improvement
- READ 7397 Creating Literate Environments
- READ 8305 Literacy Coaches as Agents of Change
Required Options (6 hours)
- READ 8348 Scholarly Writing in Literacy
- READ 8349 Research Practicum in Literacy
or
- READ 8350 Thesis I *
- READ 8351 Thesis II*
*If the student plans to seek a doctorate in reading, Thesis I and II are recommended
Reading Recovery Teacher Leader Courses (21 hours)
- READ 7342 Principles of Literacy and Cognition I
- READ 7343 Principles of Literacy and Cognition II
- READ 7344 Intervention Designs for Struggling REaders
- READ 7398 Theory and Practice in Literacy
- READ 8301 Supervision and Organization of Reading Programs
- READ 8202 Professional Experience in Reading Programs
- READ 8340 Research in Language and Literacy Acquisition
Literacy Coach Courses (21 hours)
- READ 7321 Processes and Strategies in Reading Comprehension
- READ 7395 Comprehensive Litereacy Model for School Improvement
- READ 7398 Theory and Practice in Literacy
- READ 8340 Research in Language and Literacy Acquisition
- READ 8301 Supervision and Organization of Reading Programs
- READ 8302 Professional Experiences in Reading
- READ 8305 Literacy Coaches as Agents of Change
Reading Licensure
The Arkansas Department of Education offers two levels of licensure: elementary and secondary. If candidates do not already have reading certification, they are required to take the appropriate Praxis II examination for certification.