The master's degree program in reading conforms to Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) certification requirements for P-12 and is approved by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP). Graduates are qualified to work as reading specialists and reading resource teachers. Students completing this program receive the M.Ed. degree and, with successful completion of three years of classroom teaching experience, are eligible for certification from MSDE as reading specialists.
Candidates applying for admission to the program must have a 3.0 undergraduate GPA. In addition, three years of classroom teaching are required for Certification as a Reading Specialist by the Maryland State Department of Education. Applicants may complete this teaching requirement before, during, or after completion of the M.Ed. program. Applicants must be certified teachers with a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university. At least one basic course in reading is required for entrance into the program. Most students have such a course in their undergraduate record (i.e., reading methods). If no such course has been taken or if the course was taken more than five years ago, appropriate course offerings should be discussed with your advisor.
For information on graduate admission please visit: https://gradschool.umd.edu/education/edci-med
Please refer to the Guide to Applying for instructions on how to apply for graduate admission. If you have questions or concerns, we ask you to first review our list of Frequently Asked Questions. International applicants should visit the International admissions webpage for additional information.
For questions about the application process, or to check on the completion of your application, please contact the Coordinator of Graduate Studies at tlpl-admissions@umd.edu or (301) 405-3118.
For questions related to the admissions process, prospective students may contact Kay Moon, TLPL Graduate Coordinator, at (301) 405-3118 or kmoon@umd.edu.
For academic advising on the M.Ed. Reading Specialist program, please contact Dr. Peter Afflerbach at afflo@umd.edu.
The faculty advisor assigned at the time of admissions to the Department of Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership (TLPL) provides academic advisement for graduate students. For TLPL advising information, please contact Kay Moon, TLPL Graduate Coordinator, at (301) 405-3118 or kmoon@umd.edu.
Financial assistance for graduate study is generally divided into two categories:
- Merit-Based Assistance and Need-Based Assistance
- Fellowships and Scholarships Loans
- Graduate Assistantships
For more details about the various types of financial assistance offered by the campus please visit the Office of Student Financial Aid
There are also a number of fellowships and scholarships offered through the College of Education, the University, and through external sources which may provide tuition support and/or living allowance. Students must apply for these awards on their own, but the links that follow provide valuable information on searching for fellowships and scholarships.
For more information concerning fellowships and scholarships, please visit:
The College of Education Financial Aid & Scholarship webpage
Course Requirements: Minimum 33 Credit Hours
TLPL 644: Foundations of Reading (Fall only)
TLPL 645: Content Area Reading (Spring Only)
TLPL 650: Understanding, Evaluating and Using Research in School Reading Programs (Fall only)
TLPL 653: Clinical Assessment in Reading (Fall only)
TLPL 654: Clinical Instruction in Reading (Spring only)
TLPL 651: Leadership in School-Wide Reading Programs (Spring only)
TLPL 733: Advanced Clinical Practices in Reading Assessment (Summer only)
TLPL 734: Advanced Clinical Practices in Reading Instruction (Summer only)
TLPL 691: Research Methods OR EDMS 645: Quantitative Research Methods
Elective: Students take two electives with their advisor’s advice.
Seminar Paper
One seminar paper is required in the program. The seminar paper is usually a comprehensive review of the research literature on an important topic in the field of reading.
Summer Reading Clinic
The program includes a supervised clinic practicum (TLPL 733 Advanced Clinical Practices in Reading Assessment and TLPL 734 Advanced Clinical Practices in Reading Instruction). Candidates work in teams to provide small-group literacy instruction to children enrolled in the UMD Summer Reading Program. There is an emphasis on collaboration, diagnostic teaching, and progress monitoring. Candidates are supervised and evaluated by reading faculty and master teachers.
Applicants are encouraged to contact the Hobson’s online application’s helpdesk for any technical issues.
For questions related to the admissions process, prospective students may contact Kay Moon, TLPL Graduate Coordinator, at (301) 405-3118 or kmoon@umd.edu.
For Program-specific questions, prospective students may contact Dr. Ayanna Baccus at baccusa@umd.edu or Dr. Peter Afflerbach at afflo@umd.edu.
Deadlines vary by degree and program. Please refer to the Graduate School's application information.
Summer Reading Program
The UMD Summer Reading Program is a summer intervention program for children. Graduate students enrolled in the reading specialist program work in teams to provide intensive literacy
instruction to children in small groups. For information about the program and/or for a list of private reading tutors, please send an email to marylandreading@umd.edu or call 301-405-3324.
POLICY
Graduate students in the College of Education are responsible for meeting University and the Graduate School policy, and for meeting Program requirements. The Graduate Catalog is the official listing of Policies governing graduate education at the University of Maryland. The schedule adjustment policy is available from the Office of the Registrar and provides information on adding and dropping courses, penalties, and refund schedules.
HANDBOOKS
The Graduate Student Life webpage provides information on academics, campus resources, finances, health, job opportunities, and information on how to get involved as a graduate student.
FORMS
Graduate students are required to submit various forms at specific points in the program and as part of the degree clearance process. Please refer to Steps Toward Graduation to determine the steps and forms that are required. To access forms used by graduate students visit the Graduate Studies Forms page in Student Services.