Mary Baldwin University’s Master of Education (MEd) with a concentration in Reading Education is designed to prepare you to improve literacy outcomes in K-12 students. You’ll graduate not only with a highly-marketable degree, you’ll be that much closer to opening up entire worlds to your students by giving them a lifelong love of reading.
Reading can expand our minds and foster empathy. Literacy skills open doors – personally and professionally. But millions of people in the United States lack effective writing and reading comprehension skills. Ready to be their champion?
A high-demand degree
The Master of Education with a Reading Education concentration provides a Reading Specialist Endorsement (K-12) and prepares you to improve the reading outcomes of elementary and secondary grade level students, including those with varying cultural and linguistic backgrounds and academic abilities.
You will graduate with:
- A repertoire of evidence-based reading practices
- Methods to determine and disseminate targeted, differentiated instruction
- Technology approaches to enhance literacy learning
The flexibility of the MEd in Reading Education program allowed me to manage my career in education, college courses, and raising a family at the same time.
Michelle Schiflett
Cost and Financial Aid
A great education is worth it. Here’s how Mary Baldwin helps you pay for it: Generous financial aid packages, a broad range of scholarships, transferring maximum credit hours from previous coursework or relevant work and life experiences — the list goes on. Our mission is to help you level up and bring your aspirations to life.
What you’ll study
The 37-credit program can be completed in 1.5 years as a full-time student. All courses are online; practicum experiences must be completed in person in K-12 settings.
Note: Candidates pursuing this program must hold a bachelor’s degree and a teaching license before starting the program and must have completed at least three years of full-time teaching before program completion.
Sample Coursework
- Literacy Diagnosis and Remediation I with Practicum
- Literacy Diagnosis and Remediation II with Practicum
- Child and Adolescent Literature for Educators
- Word Knowledge: Phonics, Spelling, and Vocabulary
- Literacy Leadership with Practicum
- Literacy Instruction for ESL Students
- An Inquiry Approach to Teaching Reading and Writing in the Content Areas
- An Inquiry Approach to Differentiated Curriculum Instruction
- Technologies to Advance Learning
- Methods of Professional Inquiry
- Inquiry Research Project
Students must have completed two equivalent prerequisites before the program start or complete the following co-requisites during the program:
- Child Psychology OR Inquiry into the Human Growth, Development, and Diversity
- Understanding Exceptional Individuals OR An Integrated Approach to Exceptionality
Practicums
Three 30-hour practicums, which are tied to coursework, provide you with practical teaching experiences in three different settings:
- Early Elementary (K-2)
- Upper grade (3-8)
- Reading specialist/reading coach
Students must engage in and show evidence of direct teaching for at least 20 hours of each practicum.
Reading Education MEd Admission Requirements
Whether you’re looking for a better job or want to change your education focus, our online programs provide the tools you need to take that next step and make an even bigger difference in students’ lives.
To apply you’ll need:
- Completed a Bachelor’s Degree
- Students may start the program in spring, summer, or fall
- No application fee or GRE required
- Two letters of reference
- Personal statement
- Transcripts of undergraduate coursework
- 3.0 GPA (in last 60 hours)
- Current or expired VA teaching license (waived if the candidate is not seeking endorsement)
- Must have completed at least three years of full-time teaching before program completion OR be in the process of concluding your third year of full-time teaching during your last semester of the program.
