Graduate Certificate in Special Reading

The Special Reading graduate certificate is designed to meet the needs of the following professionals:

• Current educators, who want to more effectively teach learners who struggle with mastering skills in reading and related language arts
• Speech/language pathologists and school psychologists, who desire additional information to assist them to better support learners who experience reading deficits
• School administrators, who are interested in improving remedial / special reading programs in their school or district
• Current or future educational policy makers, who wish to enhance their understanding of the unique needs of learners who struggle in the areas of reading and related language arts

Successful completion of the K-12 Special Reading Graduate Certificate will prepare graduates for special reading licensure from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The need for effective educators knowledgeable of strategies for teaching learners who experience reading difficulties is becoming even more critical. Shortages of uniquely qualified reading specialists are reported locally, regionally, statewide, and nationally. In addition to learning how to advocate for effective and responsive education for learners who experience reading difficulties, graduate students should gain the following from coursework in the K-12 Special Reading Graduate Certificate program:

• A deep understanding of fundamental issues associated with teaching learners who experience reading difficulties
•  Specific skills associated with formal and informal assessment and remediation of reading deficits
• Knowledge to create meaningful literacy experiences for learners who demonstrate difficulties in reading and related language arts
• Response to intervention techniques to guide instructional decision-making
•  Training in analytical and critical thinking methods
• Professional licensure (for the State of Missouri and reciprocal licensure states) in K-12 Special Reading (optional)

Two programs in K-12 Special Reading are offered at the graduate level:

1. Graduate Certificate in Special Reading
2. Graduate Certificate in Special Reading, with State of Missouri licensure to teach in K-12 public schools