The Literacy Department at West Chester University offers an NCATE accredited graduate degree program leading to both the Master of Education and Pennsylvania Reading Specialist Certification and a non-degree program leading to Pennsylvania Reading Specialist Certification without the master's degree. The degree program requires 36 graduate credits while the certificate program requires 30 graduate credits. Both programs require successful completion of a comprehensive examination.

The Graduate Reading Program fulfills the International Reading Association and the Pennsylvania Department of Education standards for preparation for reading specialists in the twenty-first century. The role of the reading specialist in today's schools is multifaceted and requires broad professional preparation to enable individuals to work successfully in this position. The Graduate Reading program of West Chester University is dedicated to providing this preparation.

Goals of the Master of Education in Reading and the Reading Specialist Certification Curriculum

To develop students who have the following competencies:

1. Understanding of the theoretical foundations for reading and language arts.
2. Ability to communicate clearly and effectively orally and in writing.
3. Knowledge of techniques and approaches to teaching developmental reading.
4. Competency in assessing and evaluating students' reading ability.
5. Knowledge and ability to remediate reading difficulties.
6. Awareness of learning differences, including social, cultural, linguistic and cognitive.
7. Knowledge of children's and adolescents' literature and their use in literacy instruction.
8. Knowledge of language and orthographic development and instruction.
9. Knowledge of writing development and instruction.
10. Proficiency in incorporating language arts with other content areas.
11. Ability to provide leadership and to work collaboratively with classroom teachers, administrators and parents.
12. Knowledge and ability to develop and supervise school-wide literacy programs.
13. Capability of understanding, interpreting and evaluating research.

Advisor

A student admitted to the graduate program in Reading is assigned an advisor. The advisor is an indispensable link between the student and his/her successful completion of the program. It is the responsibility of each student to meet with his/her advisor on a regular basis during his/her course of study.

M.Ed. Degree Candidacy

All students entering the master's degree program are initially accepted to pursue study as pre-candidates for the degree. During this pre-candidacy phase (the first 15 semester hours), the following requirements must be fulfilled:

1. Complete five courses including EDR 505, EDR 507, EDR 509, EDR 512, and one additional course from the prescribed program.
2. Maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0.
3. Submit an application for degree candidacy (after the pre-candidacy requirements have been completed) to the Dean of Graduate Studies. This application is available in the Graduate Office, the Department of Literacy Office, or online at http://www.wcupa.edu/_ADMISSIONS/SCH_DGR/forms.asp. After this application is reviewed by the student's advisor and the Graduate Reading Coordinator, the Dean of Graduate Studies will inform the student of his/her acceptance or rejection.

4. Applicants who fail to qualify as degree candidates may reapply.  They must attain an average of 3.0 in course work specified by their advisor.

Continuation in the M.Ed. Program

Admission to degree candidacy does not guarantee the automatic awarding of the degree upon completion of a minimum number of credits. The record of a student whose grade point average falls below 3.0 after acceptance as a degree candidate will be reviewed by the student's advisor. If, after 24 credits of work in the degree program, the student's grade point average is still below 3.0, the student will be dropped from the program.

Comprehensive Exam For All Students

All students enrolled in the master's degree or reading specialist certification program are required to pass a comprehensive examination. In order to be eligible for the exam, the student must have completed all required literacy course work by the end of the semester preceding the exam and have maintained a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher.

The examination is given on the first Saturday in February, the last Saturday in June, and the first Saturday in October unless otherwise announced by the Department. Applications for admission to the comprehensive examination are available from the Literacy Department and must be filed by December 1 for the February examination, April 1 for the June examination, and July 1 for the October examination. On approval of the request to take the examination, the student will be informed by mail of the time and place of the examination.

The student passes the examination if he/she attains a satisfactory score as determined by the faculty of the Graduate Program in Reading. If the comprehensive examination is failed, it may be taken again within two (2) years of the first examination. A student failing the examination the first time should consult his or her advisor or the Graduate Coordinator for recommendations concerning further independent preparation. If the comprehensive examination is passed on the second attempt, the student is eligible for consideration for the degree and/or certificate. If the examination is failed a second time, the student cannot continue in the degree or certification program.

Program Checklist

  1. Obtain an application from the Office of Graduate Studies.

  2. Submit the completed application form to the Graduate Office.

  3. Complete the pre-candidacy phase.  (M.Ed. candidates)

  4. Submit an application for degree candidacy.  (M.Ed. candidates)

  5. Complete all required course work with an appropriate grade point average.

  6. Submit an application for the Comprehensive Examination to the Literacy Dept.

  7. Pass the Comprehensive Examination.

  8. Register for the Reading Specialist Praxis Exam.

  9. Pass the Praxis Examination.

10. Submit a "Letter of Intent to Graduate" to the Graduate Office.

11. Submit payment of required graduation fees.  (M.Ed. candidates)

11. Contact the Certification Office for the Reading Specialist Certification application.

12. Attend graduation (May or December) and receive your Master's degree!

Act 48 Credit

Students who wish to earn Act 48 credit for courses completed at West Chester University can do so online at Request for ACT 48.