The University of Wisconsin-Superior offers a graduate program that leads to the Master of Science in Education (M.S.E.) degree in Reading. The degree program also can lead to certification as a reading specialist or reading teacher by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI). Since the program must meet current DPI standards, program requirements are subject to change.

Graduate Faculty

Ms. Rebecca Ardren, Senior Lecturer
Dr. Peggy Marciniec, Associate Professor
Dr. Cecilia Schrenker, Professor

The faculty contact person for this program is Dr. Peggy Marciniec, Associate Professor of Education, (715) 394-8585; pmarcini@uwsuper.edu

The Reading and Language Arts program is housed in the Writing, Reading, and Library Science Department.
 

Master of Science in Education-Reading

The MSE Reading is designed for certified teachers who wish to pursue graduate work in the field of reading and literacy. The degree is appropriate for both elementary and secondary teachers and can lead to certification in reading at the early childhood through adolescent  level.  The elective courses should be selected by the student and the program advisor to satisfy the professional interests and certification needs of the student. Transfer credits, year completed and course equivalency, are subject to the program advisor's approval. A Program Plan must be written and submitted prior to the end of the first semester in the program.

Degree Requirements
The MSE Reading degree requires a minimum of 30 semester credits of graduate course work. At least 15 credits must be in 700-level courses. The program requires successful completion of two capstones:  1. a portfolio of the student's competencies, and  2. a thesis, researched and written on a topic of interest related to literacy learning.

Foundations: A minimum of three semester credits selected from the following or accepted in transfer by the program advisor:

TED 607         The Middle School and its Students - 3 credits  
TED 683         Introduction to Cross-Categorical Special Education - 3 credits
TED 797         Contemporary Issues in Special Education - 3 credits
TED 734         Current Developments in StudentLearning and their Applications - 3 credits
TED 741         Using Educational Assessment to Inform Practice - 3 credits
TED 744        Trends in Curricular and Instructional Practices - 3 credits
COMM 701     Communication Theory - 3 credits

Reading: A minimum of 18 credits to include:

READ 606      Children's Literature
or   
LIBS 510        Young Adult Literature - 3 credits
READ  663     Developing Literacy Pre K-3 - 3 credits 
READ 664      Developing Literacy 4-12 Grades - 3 credits
READ 665      Using Literacy Processes in the Content Areas - 3 credits
READ 701      Introduction to Reading Difficulties - 3 credits
READ 702      Practicum in Reading Difficulties K-12 - 3 credits
READ 705      The K-12 Literacy Program - 3 credits

Research: a minimum of six credits:

TED 750         Research Foundations of Education - 3 credits
READ 752      Educational Research Project - 3 credits

Certification Programs in Reading
UW-Superior offers courses approved by the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI) for certification as a Reading Teacher (316 license) or a Reading Specialist (017 license). DPI certification standards represent minimal requirements. The MSE Reading program maintains the right to exceed minimal requirements. 

Reading Teacher (316 License) 
Any person who has a specific assignment to teach reading must hold a Reading Teacher license which requires the following:  

1. Eligibility to hold a Wisconsin license to teach or completion of an approved teacher education program. 
   
2. Two years of successful regular classroom teaching experience. (Determined by the Wisconsin Department of Instruction)
   
3. An academic program approved by the candidate's program advisor, which includes a minimum of 18 semester credits with at least 12 of these credits taken beyond the bachelor's degree.
   
4. Courses applied toward the 316 license must comply with university policies concerning transfer credits.  
   
5. Undergraduate credits may be accepted for up to six credits of the 316 license as determined by the program advisor. Undergraduate credits do not apply to the 30 credits required for the MSE Reading degree.

Required courses:

READ 606      Children's Literature
or   
LIBS 510        Young Adult Literature - 3 credits
READ 663      Developing Literacy Pre K-3 - 3 credits
READ 664      Developing Literacy 4-12th Grades - 3 credits
READ 665      Using Literacy Processes in the Content Areas - 3 credits
READ 701      Introduction to Reading Difficulties - 3 credits
READ 702      Practicum in Reading Difficulties K-12 - 3 credits  

Reading Specialist (017 License)
Any person who directs early childhood through adolescent reading programs, works with reading teachers, classroom teachers, administrators, and others as a resource teacher in reading must hold a reading specialist license which requires the following:

1. Eligibility to hold a Wisconsin Reading Teacher license.
   
2. Successful completion of a master's degree in Reading. Certification based on an alternate, related master's degree may be earned with 15 additional credits beyond the earned master's by completing 15 graduate credits at UW-Superior, determined by advisor approval, to include any requirements not met in the 316 licensure, and including READ 705, TED 750 and READ 752. The capstones (portfolio approval, thesis presented and approved) must also be completed by the 017 candidate.
   
3. An academic program approved by the candidate's program advisor which includes all required course work for the MSE Reading degree, and the 316 Reading Teacher license. All coursework must comply with university policies regarding transfer credits, and all must be approved (year completed and course equivalency) by the program advisor.

Additional required courses:
In addition to the courses required for the 316 license (listed previously), the candidate for the Reading Specialist certification must complete the following courses:
READ 705      The K-12 Literacy Program - 3 credits  

Research credits:
TED  750        Research Foundations of Education - 3 credits
READ  752     Educational Research Project - 3 credits