Degree: Master of Education
https://www.towson.edu/coe/departments/elementary/grad/reading/
Program Director: Stephen Mogge
Phone: 410-704-5771
Email: [email protected]
The Master of Education in Reading Education program is designed to prepare reading teachers or reading specialists, primarily for PreK-12 education but also for community colleges, industry, adult education programs, commercial education centers and private practice. The 36-unit program is highly structured with nine required courses and three electives (two of which must be in the area of literacy). It is developmental in design. Students grow in both their knowledge and application as they proceed through the program.
The Graduate Reading Education Program at Towson University does not subscribe to a particular position on reading. It closely reflects the broad, comprehensive knowledge and pedagogical skills and strategies outlined in the 2017 Standards for the Preparation of Literacy Professionals developed by the International Literacy Association.
The goals of the M.Ed. in the Reading Education program are to prepare reading teachers or reading specialists who have a dynamic understanding of the reading process, a wide array of resources for enhancing literacy for all learners, the competencies to coach others (classroom teachers, paraprofessionals, parents, etc.), and the competencies to advocate for the best literacy environments.
The program is designed to prepare the degree candidate to:
- Provide specialized literacy instruction and assessment, in cooperation with other professionals, to students at all levels.
- Provide literacy services individually or in groups.
- Communicate with colleagues, parents and the community about literacy issues, including conducting professional development workshops on literacy topics.
- Coach and/or mentor colleagues.
- Advocate for literacy development among all populations.
- Read and interpret literacy research.
- Continue to grow professionally by reading professional journals and by participating in reading conferences and workshops.
- Master essential dispositions of educators (caring for all students, collaboration with stakeholders, and commitment to professional practice).
The M.Ed. in Reading Education program is grounded in five philosophical beliefs:
- Literacy learning involves not only reading, but also writing, listening, speaking and viewing.
- Literacy instruction must be research-based and therefore requires reading specialists to be competent in interpreting and applying research findings.
- Literacy instruction must be responsive to the individual differences among learners.
- Literacy instruction must be inclusive and celebrate the diversity of learners.
- Literacy instruction and assessment must be closely connected so that instruction is developed, monitored and modified using multiple sources of assessment data.
The M.Ed. in Reading Education program can be completed on a part-time basis. Most in-person courses are offered in the early evening (e.g., 4:30-7:00 p.m.) one night per week. Some courses are offered in hybrid or fully online formats. All nine required courses on campus are offered in fall or spring terms and many are offered during the summer.
The Reading Clinic
Director: Shelly Huggins
Hawkins Hall 107H, 410-704-2558
[email protected]
This practicum experience is for graduate students in the master's degree program in Reading. The Reading Clinic provides diagnostic and remediation services to individuals in the community who need improvement in reading and writing.