Reading Specialist (Reading & LD)

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Program Description   

The Reading & Learning Disabilities Program prepares currently certified and experienced teachers to become reading specialists. The program is housed in the Language Literacy and Specialized Instruction program within the School of Education.  It provides candidates with a well-rounded but in-depth understanding of issues related to teaching literacy to students with a wide variety of strengths and needs in urban environments.  Candidates are exposed to theory and practice in reading instruction for a wide variety of "typical" readers and those with reading problems.  Coursework also includes the knowledge and skills needed to become a leader in reading curriculum and reading program management for a school or school district.  Students in the program will earn the Illinois Reading Specialist  Type 10 Certification for grades Kindergarten through twelfth grade. The program is designed as a part-time evening program for practicing teachers. 

Distinctive DePaul Features

 The Reading Specialist Program

  • Combines best practices in reading instruction and intervention with an understanding of learning disabilities. 
  • Prepares reading specialists to be leaders as schools address the mandate for Response to Intervention (RTI)
  • Allows students to complete all clinical experiences on campus in the newly-redesigned Family Lab.
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Roles of a Reading Specialist

The role of a reading specialist can vary depending on the school or district as each can define the job duties differently. Some common roles include:

  • Consultant to regular classroom teachers
  • Team-teaching with regular classroom teachers
  • Curriculum developer at school or district level
  • Title I teacher
  • Reading Resource Teacher -pull out model
  • Reading coach 

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Degree Requirements

Masters of Education-M.Ed.  requires 13 courses plus capstone experience (52 quarter hours)

Masters of Arts-M.A  requires 14 courses  including a masters thesis (56 quarter hours)

For more detailed degree requirements click here

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Admission Requirements

State Certification Test

To obtain the Type 10 Certificate from the State of Illinois, students must pass

  • the Reading Specialist test
  • K-12 version of the APT test. (unless you have passed the K-12 version already).

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