REQUIREMENTS FOR THE READING SPECIALIST CERTIFICATION

• Admission to the graduate program of Texas A&M University in the College of Education and Human Development, Department of Teaching, Learning and Culture (TLAC)
• Specific coursework offered by TLAC
• A valid Texas teaching certificate
• The successful completion of a TExES examination, given by the state of Texas
• Two years of teaching experience at an accredited school — can be completed before, during, or after coursework
• Students must declare their interest in pursuing the MRT and/or Reading Specialist certification(s) when accepting the admission offer for the master’s graduate program. Contact Sarah Oakley (sarahoakley@tamu.edu) to begin this process.
• Students must also claim a TEA ID# if they do not already have one. The TEA ID# must be claimed at the time of admission into the master’s program.
• All requested information must be provided by the student by the deadlines provided.
• Students who began their graduate studies prior to 2014 can no longer be approved to take the exam(s).

Because of the close correspondence between Master Reading Teacher certification, Reading Specialist Certification, and the master’s degree, interested students are strongly encouraged to consider a program that accomplishes all three.

The Reading Specialist certification program requires students contact an advisor at the time of admission into the master’s graduate program in order to be eligible to pursue the certification.

Students will need to provide a TEA ID# and a UIN within 7 days of their acceptance notification.

The Reading Specialist certificate is a State of Texas teaching certificate that requires:

• 7 Specific Courses (see below)
• The successful completion of a TExES examination given by the State
• A valid Texas teaching certificate
• Two years of successful teaching experience in an accredited school (can be completed before, during, or after coursework)

Current guidelines can be found on the TEA website

Master’s Admissions

The Master Reading Teacher Certification can be earned in conjunction with the Reading Specialist Certification.

Core courses for the M.ED.

EDCI 602: Cultural Foundations of Education (Also required for Reading Specialist)

EDCI 644: Curriculum Development

EDCI 673: Analysis of Teaching Behavior

Required Reading Courses:

Survey Courses: These courses are survey courses designed to introduce current practices in teaching reading, EC-12. At least one of these should be taken prerequisite to or concurrent with any other RDNG courses in the program.

RDNG 674: Developmental Reading in the Elementary School

RDNG 649: Reading Instruction in High School and College

Advanced Courses:

RDNG 604: Reading Diagnosis

RDNG 616: Organization and Supervision of Reading Programs

RDNG 620: Literacy and Language

RDNG 642: Clinic Teaching in Reading

RDNG 650: Foundations of Reading Instruction

Other Recommended Courses:

Because the Reading Specialist certificate covers EC-12, students are encouraged to take courses in child and adolescent development unless prior coursework and experience have satisfied this requirement. Typical courses include: EPSY 646 Issues in Child and Adolescent Development, EPSY 321 Adolescent Development for those with elementary or middle grade certification, or EPSY 320 Child Development for those with secondary certification.

RDNG 612: Children’s Literature and Literacy

RDNG 613: Multicultural Children’s Literature and Literacy

RDNG 630: Writing Development Assessment and Instruction