Reading, Master of Education (M.Ed.) with a concentration in K-12 reading specialist

Program goal

The K-12 reading specialist concentration in the Master of Education in Reading program is designed to provide experienced teachers who are prospective reading specialists with a program of sequential and integrated experiences in areas of the reading curriculum ranging from preschool to adult levels. Students will gain an understanding of the developmental and diagnostic processes involved in teaching reading and the language arts and will become familiar with the resource and supervisory functions that are part of the specialist role. Prior to graduation, students must complete a reading portfolio documenting their work in the program and related work experiences and pass state-mandated licensure/endorsement assessments. The M.Ed. in Reading is an approved program (K-12) for students who meet Virginia State Department of Education requirements. The reading specialist endorsement also requires completion of three years of teaching in a reading-related field. This program is available in an online format.

Student learning outcomes

Reading core outcomes

1. Demonstrate content knowledge to support literacy and language learning
2. Effectively plan instruction or fulfill other professional responsibilities that attend to learner differences
3. Effectively apply knowledge, skills and dispositions in practice

K-12 reading specialist concentration-specific outcome

1. Develop skills integral to the literacy professional role to support teacher professional development

VCU Graduate Bulletin, VCU Graduate School and general academic policies and regulations for all graduate students in all graduate programs

The VCU Graduate Bulletin website documents the official admission and academic rules and regulations that govern graduate education for all graduate programs at the university. These policies are established by the graduate faculty of the university through their elected representatives to the University Graduate Council.

It is the responsibility of all graduate students, both on- and off-campus, to be familiar with the VCU Graduate Bulletin as well as the Graduate School website and academic regulations in individual school and department publications and on program websites. However, in all cases, the official policies and procedures of the University Graduate Council, as published on the VCU Graduate Bulletin and Graduate School websites, take precedence over individual program policies and guidelines.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on academic regulations for graduate students.

Degree candidacy requirements

A graduate student admitted to a program or concentration requiring a final research project, work of art, thesis or dissertation, must qualify for continuing master’s or doctoral status according to the degree candidacy requirements of the student’s graduate program. Admission to degree candidacy, if applicable, is a formal statement by the graduate student’s faculty regarding the student’s academic achievements and the student’s readiness to proceed to the final research phase of the degree program.

Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following degree candidacy policy as published in the VCU Graduate Bulletin for complete information and instructions.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on degree candidacy requirements.

Graduation requirements

As graduate students approach the end of their academic programs and the final semester of matriculation, they must make formal application to graduate. No degrees will be conferred until the application to graduate has been finalized.

Graduate students and program directors should refer to the following graduation requirements as published in the Graduate Bulletin for a complete list of instructions and a graduation checklist.

Visit the academic regulations section for additional information on graduation requirements.