Master of Science in Reading (MSR) and
MSR Reading Specialist Certification
MSR Admission Requirements
MSR Reading Specialist Certification Requirements
Forms
RSC 01 - Record of Participation
RSC 02 - Portfolio Internship Permanent Record
The Master of Science in Reading (MSR) program at Lincoln University is designed for participants in full-time professional positions. It seeks to prepare its graduates with concepts, skills, and experiences in identifying students’ learning difficulties and developing intervention plans to address the issues so that students become proficient readers. Program participants will also gain knowledge, strategies, and skills that will enhance and strengthen the reading programs that exist in their present and/or future teaching positions.
MSR ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Participants in the Master of Science in Reading (MSR) program may earn Reading Specialist Certification, which provides a K-12 teaching certificate. The requirements for this certification are successful completion of the first six courses listed for the MSR, participation in 100 hours of supervised internship experience*, and passing the Praxis II test (Subject Assessment test) which measures a student’s content knowledge. The Specialty Area Test is for the Reading Specialist (0300).
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
- Official transcripts of undergraduate and graduate course work
- A state-issued teaching certificate
- Completed Graduate Program application with $50.00 non-refundable application fee
- Updated resume/CV
- Three (3) letters of recommendation
- A 300-500 word essay discussing a contemporary literacy issue or initiative
- Issue/initiative must be precisely described
- Pros and cons should be discussed.
- Candidate’s professional opinion should be included in the final paragraph
REQUIRED COURSES
EDU 601.21 Theoretical Foundations of Reading Instruction*
EDU 605.21 Reading in the Content Area*
EDU 607.21 Literature & Literacy*
EDU 609.21 Planning & Organizing Reading Programs*
EDU 603.21 Reading & Language Disabilities*
EDU 610.21 Practicum: Remedial, Corrective, & Development Reading*
EDU 611.21 Integrating Language Arts Across the Curriculum
EDU 615.21 Adult Reading
EDU 725.21 Thesis Seminar (Thesis Proposal)
EDU 726.21/22 Thesis Seminar (Thesis Project), or
EDU 726.23 Thesis Seminar (Reading Comprehensive Examination Preparation)
* Required for those seeking Reading Specialist Certification
A. ENTRANCE CRITERIA (ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS)
1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
2. Official transcripts of undergraduate and graduate course work
3. A state-issued teaching certificate
4. Completed Graduate Program application with $50.00 non-refundable application fee
5. Updated resume/CV
6. Three (3) letters of recommendation
7. A 300-500 word essay discussing a contemporary literacy issue or initiative
- Issue/initiative must be precisely described
- Pros and cons should be discussed
- Candidate’s professional opinion should be included in the final paragraph
B. RETENTION CRITERIA
A Candidate must:
1. Sign for at least two graduate level courses during each academic session to maintain full-time status.
2. Maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale to stay in the program.
3. Abide by Lincoln University’s policies on sexual harassment, class attendance, and retention policies, which may be obtained from the Office of Graduate Student Services and Admissions.
C. EXIT CRITERIA
Eligibility for Master of Science in Reading is based on:
1. Successful completion of all required courses
2. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
3. Repetition of courses with an ‘F’ grade before applying for graduation.
4. Completion of all course work within a five-year time frame.
5. Either write and successfully defend the thesis project, or successfully pass the
Reading Comprehensive Examination.
Eligibility requirements for Reading Specialist Certification are specified in the Teacher Certification programs section of the Student Handbook.
IMPLEMENTATION DETAILS
A. IMPLEMENTATION OF ENTRANCE CRITERIA
The Review Committee composed of, among others, the Graduate Education Academic Advisor and Director of Graduate Admission and Student Services conducts a thorough review of all applicants’ documents to determine if the admission requirements listed under the respective graduate programs are met.
B. IMPLEMENTATION OF RETENTION CRITERIA
Students’ records are evaluated frequently. Those students whose grades are on the borderline of the minimum cumulative grade point average as stated in the entrance criteria will be informed in writing of their academic status.
C. IMPLEMENTATION OF EXIT CRITERIA
The Graduate Education Academic Advisor and the Chair or Assistant Chair of the Department of Education, and a faculty member from the MSR program make the decision of whether a candidate meets the published exit criteria for Master of Science in Reading. Their recommendation is then forwarded to the office of the Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Behavioral Studies for approval.
MSR READING SPECIALIST CERTIFICATION
(The same admission criteria as the MSR apply to certification.)
REQUIRED COURSES
EDU 601.21 Theoretical Foundations of Reading Instruction
EDU 605.21 Reading in the Content Area
EDU 607.21 Literature and Literacy
EDU 609.21 Planning and Organizing Reading Programs
EDU 603.21 Reading and Language Disabilities
EDU 610.21 Practicum: Remedial, Corrective, and Developmental Reading
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
Students must pass the Praxis II Subject Area Assessment, which measures a student’s content knowledge. The Specialty Area Test is for the Reading Specialist (0300). In lieu of student teaching, participants are required to take part in internship experiences for a minimum of 100 hours under the guidance of college personnel and cooperating teachers trained in reading education. These hours are divided among the six courses required for Reading Specialist Certification. Appropriate field experiences include, but are not limited to, planning and execution of instruction; case study testing; data collection; interviewing students, teachers, and parents; observation and evaluation of exemplary teachers; observation of students; attending in-service training; administration of student tests; and participation in non-teaching duties such as test scoring, data recording, and reviewing student literacy portfolios.
A. ENTRANCE CRITERIA (ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS)
1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
2. Official transcripts of undergraduate and graduate course work
3. A state-issued teaching certificate
4. Completed Graduate Program application with $50.00 non-refundable application fee
5. Updated resume/CV
6. Three (3) letters of recommendation
7. A 300-500 word essay discussing a contemporary literacy issue or initiative
- Issue/initiative must be precisely described
- Pros and cons should be discussed
- Candidate’s professional opinion should be included in the final paragraph
B. RETENTION CRITERIA
A Candidate must:
- Sign for at least two graduate level courses during each academic session to maintain the full time status.
- Maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale to stay in the program.
- Abide by Lincoln University’s policies on sexual harassment, class attendance, and retention policies, which may be obtained from the Office of Graduate Student Services and Admissions.
C. EXIT CRITERIA
Eligibility for Reading Specialist Certification is based on:
1. Successful completion of all required courses.
2. A minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on the 4.0 scale.
3. Repeat or removal of courses with ‘F’ grade before applying for graduation.
4. Passing the Praxis II Specialty Area Test.
5. Completing 100 hours of internship experience.
IMPLEMENTATION DETAILS
A. IMPLEMENTATION OF ENTRANCE CRITERIA
A Review Committee composed of, among others, the Graduate Education Academic Advisor and the Director of Graduate Admissions and Student Services conducts a thorough review of all applicants’ documents to determine if the admission requirements listed under the respectivecertification program are met.
B. IMPLEMENTATION OF RETENTION CRITERIA
Students’ academic records are evaluated frequently. Those students whose grades are on the borderline of the minimum cumulative grade point average as stated in the entrance criteria will be informed in writing of their academic status in their respective certification program.
C. IMPLEMENTATION OF EXIT CRITERIA
The Graduate Education Academic Advisor and the Chair or Assistant Chair of the Department of Education make the decision of whether a candidate meets the published exit criteria for Teacher Certification with the concentration in Elementary Education. The recommendation from the two individuals is then forwarded to the Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Behavioral Studies for approval.
