Master of Education (MED) Reading Specialist

The College of Education (COE) seeks to prepare teachers, instructional support personnel and other professionals to be decision makers who are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to ethically and effectively integrate theory and practice their professions. These professionals will possess the understanding of our diverse culture, the technological capabilities, the intellectual rigor and the critical thinking and problem-solving skills required to make informed and responsible decisions, to engage in reflective assessment, to implement positive change and to pursue learning as a lifetime endeavor. As an integral part of the University, the COE is committed to serving the communities in Alabama through its educational programs and related activities. As it works to carry out its mission, the COE ensures that initial and advanced programs for the preparation of teachers and other professional education personnel are aligned with the expectations of national, state, professional and institutional standards. A non-certifiable M.S. degree is offered for those persons desiring instruction in the area of general counseling.

Graduate students are bound to the academic requirements of the bulletin under which they enter the University, and Alabama State University confers the degree. The Alabama State Department of Education awards certificates; therefore, the student must satisfy the requirements of the state’s administrative code applicable teacher certification and licensure.

In addition to being formally admitted to The Harold Lloyd Murphy Graduate School, all applicants to traditional teacher education or instructional leadership programs (M.Ed., AA, Ed.S.) must provide the following information to the Graduate School Dean:

1. A copy of the applicant’s valid teaching certificate (B for master’s, A for AA) with proper endorsement;
2. An evaluation of teaching effectiveness; and
3. Verification of experience (using SDE Form EXP).

NOTE: The State Department of Education requires that individuals enrolled in graduate education programs have a minimum number of years of teaching or successful professional experience:

• Reading Specialist: Two full years of successful classroom teaching experience prior to admission.
• Library Media Specialist: Two years of teaching experience prior to applying for certification.
• School Counseling: Two years of teaching experience and a passing score on the Praxis II Professional School Counselor Test or passing the AECTP Basic Skills Test, Praxis II Professional School Counselor Test, and the National Counseling Licensure examination prior to applying for certification.
• Instructional Leadership: a minimum of three full years of full-time, acceptable professional educational experience in a P-12 setting, which must include at least one full year of full-time P-12 teaching experience.

Traditional Teacher Education Programs

These programs are restricted to persons already certified at the Class B or Class A levels. These programs lead to Master (Class A) or Educational Specialist ( Class AA) degree(s) and certification. A valid Class B or A teaching certificate must be submitted before enrollment in more than 9 semester hours of courses.

Completion of the program requires satisfactory performance on a written comprehensive examination and an overall grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Alternative Teacher Education Programs

Alternative Fifth-Year Programs (ALT-A) leading to the Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree and certification at the A level are designed for those who did not complete a teacher education program at the undergraduate level. Students must be admitted to the teacher education program by meeting the following criteria:

• A baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
• All official transcripts showing all courses attempted.
• A minimum overall grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) from the regionally accredited degree-granting institution. Please consult an academic advisor in the major area for more specific requirements relevant to each program.

In addition to these general requirements, a student must submit:

• Graduate Record Examination (GRE General Test) or Miller Analogies Test (MAT) scores before or during the first term of enrollment.
• Students must pass all undergraduate prerequisite coursework prior to unconditional admission.
• ALT-A programs require a pure academic major; 32/19 for all secondary majors; 4x12 for collaborative teaching, early childhood education, and elementary education; or passing scores on the appropriate Praxis II examinations for unconditional admission.

Most ALT-A programs require a minimum of 39 semester hours of graduate coursework; however, the amount of extra coursework will depend upon one’s undergraduate major, desired grade level (P3, K-6, 6-12, P-12), area of certification (single teaching field or comprehensive teaching fields), as determined by an adviser’s evaluation of an applicant’s transcript(s). Elementary Education ALT-A requires 12 hours of English, sciences, social studies, and math if the required passing score for the Praxis II examinations has not been met.

A Master of Education (M.Ed.) Degree

To be eligible for admission, applicants must be certified teachers in any teaching fields, with a minimum of two years of successful teaching experience. A comprehensive examination is required. Since this degree is considered by Alabama State Department of Education to be an initial certification program, Praxis II is also required.

Class A Reading Specialist Checklist
For Single Teaching Field (not Alternative Fifth-Year)
Teaching Field:
REA 559 Teaching Reading/Elem School 3
REA 562 Rea Diagnosis & Remediation 3
REA 565 Curr. Research & Prac in Tch Read 3
REA 585 Theories, Research, & Strategies 3
EDU 545 Literature for Children 3
Select one of the following:
EDU 504 Elementary School Curriculum or 3
EDU 515 Instr Strategies for Teachers 3

English Language Arts, General Science, and General Social Studies programs shall require at least one course in two areas.

Evaluation of Teaching and Learning: 3 semester hours required
EDU 511 Statistical Tech, Research, & Eval 3

Survey of Special Education Coursework
(required if not previously completed):
SED 500 The Exceptional Student 0-3

Internship:
REA 564 Reading Internship 3

Additional Courses:
Foundations of Professional Studies (six semester hours required)
EDU 531 Modern Issues in Education OR 3
EDU 554 Contrasting Philosophies 3
EDU 527 Human Development & Behavior OR 3
EDU 541 Advanced Educational Psy 3

Elective: 6 semester hours required
If a special education course is required, then elective hours may be reduced.
EDT 574 Computer-based Instr. Tech 3
EDT 575 Curr. & Emerging Instr. Tech 3
EDT 576 Integr of Tech into K-12 Curr 3

Total Hours 36

Graduate Fees

Below are estimated tuition and costs for full-time graduate students residing on-campus during the 2017-18 academic year. Actual costs and fees may vary depending on enrollment and lifestyle decisions. You also may wish to review estimated tuition and costs for part-time graduate enrollment on our complete budget worksheet.

For a breakdown of fees by credit hour and by semester, download the 2017-18 Schedule of Student Tuition and Fees.