Reading Specialist, Licensure Only

Westfield State University has a history and abiding commitment to preparing educators who serve the educational needs of prekindergarten through secondary school students in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Our teacher education programs embrace this vision, Education Leaders Building Inclusive Learning Communities, a vision grounded in our department’s five foundational pillars: Critical Engagement with Diversity, Community Building, Social Justice, Scholarship, and Reflection.

Westfield State University teacher education programs are approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). Westfield is a member in good standing of the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP). Westfield State University was awarded full accreditation for seven years in June 2020. AAQEP also awarded our educator preparation program with a commendation for our work in anti-racist education.

Program Description

The WSU Reading Specialist post baccalaureate Education licensure-only program would enable licensed and experienced elementary, early childhood and special education teachers who currently hold Master’s of Education degrees to apply for initial licensure in Reading Specialist from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (MA DESE) with the endorsement of WSU. The program is designed to ensure up-to-date, scientific research-based programming of excellence in all aspects of literacy assessment and instruction aligned with the Massachusetts PreK-12 Curriculum Frameworks, Massachusetts Subject Matter Knowledge Regulations, and national accreditation standards.

One academic advisor supports all candidates consistently throughout the whole program. Free MTEL workshops and materials are provided each semester to support candidates in passing Field 62, Reading Specialist including applicants who have not yet been accepted to the program. Support materials can be obtained by contacting the program administrator.

After all recommended courses, practica, and additional requirements have been successfully completed, the WSU licensure officer will endorse the candidate to the MA DESE for initial licensure in Reading Specialist.

Admission Requirements

Official transcripts indicating a master’s degree from an accredited college or university
Documentation of first licenses
Documentation of at least one year of teaching experience in the field of current initial licenses,
A passing score on MTEL Field 62 or previously Field 08 (Reading Specialist).
Two letters of recommendation from past or current supervisors are also required.

A customized program of study would then be constructed by aligning graduate courses previously taken with the graduate courses required in the WSU Reading M.Ed. (with licensure) program.Candidates in this post baccalaureate program would be held to the same standards for grading and professional demeanors as all WSU M.Ed. candidates.

Prerequisite coursework or experience

Content knowledge in the following areas must be documented in the student’s previous academic record or professional experience. Any gaps in coverage must be fulfilled as determined by the student’s advisor.

Introductory course in special education
Introductory course in multicultural education

Required courses - 24 Credits

EDUC 0565 - Practices of Critical Multicultural Education Credits: 3
or
EDUC 0633 - Social Cultural Theories: Foundations of Education Credits: 3
EDUC 0601 - School Oral and Written Literary Practices Credits: 3
EDUC 0648 - Diagnosis of and Intervention for Literacy Difficulties: Grades Prek-2 Credits: 3
EDUC 0650 - Issues and Problems in Reading: Advanced Seminar Credits: 3
or
EDUC 0632 - Research in Education Credits: 3
EDUC 0656 - Diagnosis of and Intervention for Literacy Difficulties: Grades 3-12 Credits: 3
EDUC 0657 - Applying Linguistics to the Teaching of Literacy Credits: 3
EDUC 0662 - Contemporary and Historical Perspectives of Literacy Instruction Credits: 3
EDUG 0529 - Dyslexia: Foundation Knowledge, Assessment, and Instruction Credits: 3

Elective Course - 3 Credits

One 500-level or 600-level Education Elective Course (with advisement)

EDUC 0631 - Sheltered English Immersion Credits: 3 (required of candidates who were not previously endorsed for Sheltered English Immersion)

Practica - 6 Credits

EDUC 0645 - Practicum I: Clinical Experiences in Reading Elementary Credits: 3
or
EDUC 0646 - Practicum I: Clinical Experiences in Reading Secondary Credits: 3
EDUC 0623 - Practicum II: Reading Teacher: Literacy Leader and Coach Credits: 3

Additional Requirements

A GPA of 3.0 GPA must be maintained to remain in the graduate program.