Reading Specialist
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Upon completion of our 24-credit program, you will be eligible to become a certified reading specialist in Pennsylvania. In order to obtain certification, graduates must pass the Praxis exam. Our program can be completed in 18 months. You will study writing theories, literacy theories, literacy assessment and intervention and will have the opportunity in the Duquesne University Reading Clinic.
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Accelerate your Career with a Master's Degree
In pursuing the Reading Specialist Certificate, you will have the option to further advance in your studies through the M.S.Ed. Reading and Literacy Education program by taking 4 additional courses, which can provide additional financial aid opportunities!
Program Information
Upon completion of this 24-credit program and passing the Praxis exam, you will be eligible for a K-12 Reading Specialist Certification.
Degree
Certificate
School
Academic Department
Instruction and Leadership in Education
Duration
1.5-year
Required Credit Hours
24
As a graduate student in our program, you will have the opportunity to work in our
Reading Clinic on campus. You will have hands-on experience with K-12 reading in the
tri-state region along side faculty who develop individualized and group instruction,
tailored to each student's age and unique needs.
Access a rich and diverse variety of literacy and developmental resources for young
learners through the library's Curriculum Center - a collection of PreK-12 educational
resources designed for our campus community that works with children.
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Hands-On Experience
Our Curriculum
Great Education, Great Value
Curriculum Center
Application Process
Bachelor's degree with a 3.0 GPA*
*Applicants are customarily expected to have a 3.0 grade point average, based on a four-point scale, in their undergraduate work. However, exceptions may be granted on a limited basis, in which there is substantial additional evidence of a student's academic competency.
International Applicants
TOEFL/IELTS
Duquesne University requires submission of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Duolingo English Test (DET) scores for all non-native English-speaking applicants who attended a university outside of the United States..
Transcript Credit Evaluation
If your transcript(s) is from an institution located outside of the United States, you must use a transcript credential evaluation service to obtain a course-by-course report.
The official reports must be sent directly to Duquesne University from the organization you order through and will qualify as official transcripts.
You may use the following services to request official foreign credential evaluations: World Education Services (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE).
Visit International Admissions for additional information and requirements.
Rolling Admissions
Our Reading Specialist Certificate program has a rolling admissions process with entry into the program in summer and fall semesters. This means you can apply at any point during the year.
Required Documents
- Graduate Application
- Official transcripts
- International applicants, please see the Transcript Credential Evaluation section in the Admission Requirements section above
- Essay
- Please include an essay that addresses the following questions:
- What does being a graduate student mean to you?
-
How do you plan to balance life, work and earning a graduate degree in reading and literacy education?
- Our program provides completers the opportunity to apply for Reading Specialists Certification in Pennsylvania (PK-12). How will learning about developmental stages other than the one in which you teach make you a stronger reading teacher?
- Why do you believe you and your students would benefit from you earning a Reading Specialist Certificate?
- Please include an essay that addresses the following questions:
Process
Send official application materials to:
OR
- Duquesne University
Office of Graduate Admissions
600 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15282
Our Faculty Experts
Carla Meyer
Program Director | Associate Professor
Valerie Gresser
Clinical Assistant Professor
Kelsey R. Jones-Greer
Instructor of Reading and Literacy Education
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Reading and Literacy Education
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