Reading M.A.
The Reading/Literacy graduate programs prepare students to be inquiring practitioners who seek knowledge and experiences about reading/literacy processes and practices.
These evolving scholars are guided and encouraged to pursue knowledge, commit to inquiry, engage in problem solving related to reading/literacy processes and practices, and participate as leaders in reading/literacy related activities. The inquiring practitioners learn to use reading/literacy knowledge, practices, and processes to serve the changing technological, diversity, and reading/literacy education needs of dynamic local and global environments.
Admission. Applicants must have one year of full-time teaching experience, an overall 3.0 GPA on the last 60 semester hours; must complete the Reading program Application and have three letters of recommendation sent to the Coordinator of the Reading Program in McKee Hall. Upon receiving formal notification of admission a student must meet with his/her assigned advisor to plan a program of study.
If applicant’s GPA is below 3.0, the applicant may choose to submit a Graduate Record Exam (General Test) score to attain non-probationary admission to the Reading program.
The Reading program faculty recommend that an applicant have a total score that meets or exceeds 1350 on the Verbal, Quantitative, and Analytical subtests; and it is highly recommended that the Verbal score meets or exceeds 500.
There are several steps to the evaluation of the Reading Program as well as to the evaluation of the students enrolled in the Reading M.A. degree program. The evaluation process is ongoing. For admission into the Graduate School and admission into the Reading M.A. degree program a student must complete and submit specific documents (Graduate School application, Reading program application, three letters of reference and a resume) that Reading program faculty members review and evaluate. As a student takes courses, he/she completes a university generated course evaluation form and may be asked to complete an instructor developed evaluation form. When a student reaches the mid-point of taking the eleven reading courses (after five courses), the student and the student’s advisor meet to complete a progress interview. The purpose of the interview is for the student to reflect upon his/her performance to date, as well as to make known his/her evaluation of the strengths and needs of the Reading program. At the conclusion of all the Reading M.A. degree coursework, a student completes a synthesis notebook and oral defense or completes a thesis. Following the successful completion of the synthesis notebook and oral defense or thesis defense, the student completes an exit survey evaluating all of the elements of the Reading program that the student has participated in and completed. Two years after graduating from the Reading program with a Master of Arts degree the student will be asked to complete another survey and to reflect on his/her overall program experience.
Endorsement
By completing the Master of Arts degree in Reading students fulfill the requirements for institutional recommendation for endorsement as a K-12 Reading Teacher. Students seeking endorsement must provide evidence of two or more years of teaching experience in an accredited and/or established elementary, middle, or secondary school while holding a Type A or teaching license equivalent certificate before such recommendation is made. Students wishing to obtain Colorado licensure in reading are required to pass a State of Colorado administered proficiency examination PLACE-Reading. Students should contact the Licensure Officer in McKee for information.
