Key program characteristics are as follows:
On the online application, the Reading Specialist Program is listed under Applied Educational Psychology: Reading Specialist.
Thanks to generous donors, the Reading Specialist Program has three scholarship opportunities, the Charlotte M. Hamill Scholarship, the James L. Neff Reading Specialist Scholarship, and the Sandra Segala Scholarship. These scholarships provide tuition credits to support the preparation of reading specialists and teachers who are committed to helping struggling readers and individuals with reading and learning disabilities overcome their literacy difficulties. Applicants may have prior teaching certification or be switching careers in order to become reading specialists. Only full-time students are eligible. Applicants may state their interest in these scholarships in their Letter of Intent when they apply to the program.
Information about financial aid, such as institutional scholarships and work- study opportunities, is available at https://www.tc.columbia.
If you wish to be recommended by TC for State Literacy Teacher certification when you complete the M.A. requirements, you must enter the program with prior certification in another education area. If you do not have this certification, please contact an advisor (perin@tc.edu).
Also please note that students must have completed certain coursework in order to be recommended by Teachers College for state certification as a Teacher of Literacy: see the box “FYI AND ATTENTION” on page 1 of the document at the following link:
Institutional Recommendation Data Form (IRDF) . If you have questions about whether your prior course work meets the requirements, please contact the Office of Teacher Education at ote@tc.edu.
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) Literacy examination and workshop requirements are:
AND
When you are ready to complete the Reading Specialist Program, fill out appropriate forms at the Registrar's Office. You will need to complete a separate form for each certification (Teacher of Literacy, Birth-6; and Teacher of Literacy, 5-12). TC will submit documentation to the New York State Education Department. Certification will be expedited if you work through the Registrar's Office rather than independently. You can obtain information about New York State certification requirements from the State's website: http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/. For other information about State certification, contact TC's Office of Teacher Education.
Information about what Teachers College will require is available here.
If you have questions about Teachers College’s institutional recommendation for program completers, please contact the Office of Teacher Education at ote@tc.edu.
The Office of Teacher Education has the most up-to-date information about State certification. Please direct your questions to ote@tc.edu.
New York State has reciprocity agreements with many other States. For information about certification requirements in other states, please see: http://www.uky.edu/Education/TEP/usacert.html. We also strongly suggest that you also obtain information from the Education Department of the State in which you plan to work. Please contact TC's Office of Teacher Education or the Registrar's Office if you still have questions after obtaining the above-mentioned information.
No. Students are introduced to the critical concepts and methodology in the context of discussions of literacy research studies. The program prepares students to read cutting-edge research studies in order to provide the highest quality assessment and intervention services to individuals with literacy difficulty and dyslexia.
We consider applicants based on their transcripts, personal statements and references. See the college catalog for application requirements.
Full-time students (four courses per academic semester) take 1-1/2 years to complete the program. However, they only need to be in residence one calendar year. The final advanced practicum class may be taken online or in-person to complete the program. Part-time students (two courses per academic semester) must complete the program within 3 years.
International students can be eligible for the program as long as they meet admissions criteria. Teachers College can recommend international students for New York State certification although this certification does not guarantee employment. For information on employment eligibility, please access the TC homepage, click on Students > Students Life @TC. International Services.
Please contact program advisors (perin@tc.edu or masullo@tc.edu) for advisement. A listing of possible electives is given later in this document. HBSK 4072 is an essential course and is offered in the Fall and Spring semesters. HBSK 4074 is offered in Summer A sessions. Practicum classes are offered once per year: HBSK 5373 (fall term only); HBSK 5376 (spring term only); HBSK 5377 (fall term only). HBSK 5098, HBSK 5099 and HBSK 5580 are offered in the Spring semester only. See TC's website for course offerings each semester. Advisement is required for incoming students in their first semester.
Program advisors are Prof. Dolores Perin, perin@tc.edu and Prof. Susan Masullo masullo@tc.edu.
Students are required to have 6 elective points upon completion of the program. Most students take two courses for three points each. All courses must be taken for a grade.
Students should choose electives that are related to literacy and their professional placements. The following is a list of suggested elective classes from which to choose. Other courses outside of the list below may be considered as electives but students must have their advisor's permission to register for them.Please note that some courses listed below require instructor's permission. To request permission, please contact the instructor of the course.
You are required to take the courses listed for program completion, irrespective of the number of credits you earn. Take courses for 2 points unless you have a strong interest in the topic that will motivate you to undertake an extra project entailed by the third point.
You must take courses for a letter grade, not Pass/Fail.
Program advisors can create a mini-concentration for you, including two electives in bilingual and ELL instruction, assignment to bilingual and ELL participants in your practicum experience, and possible modification of your program to meet your needs. Please note that this mini-concentration is informal and does not lead to a state certificate or license by itself.
Yes. We provide preparation in reading and writing assessment and instruction across the lifespan, from Kindergarten through adulthood. There are opportunities in several courses to specialize in literacy in "older" learners. One of our courses, Adult Literacy and Developmental/ Remedial Education, focuses on the needs of older adolescents and adults with low literacy skills who attend adult education or community college developmental education programs.
Part time students benefit fully from their experience in the program. In the Fall and Spring semesters, all required classes are offered in the late afternoon and evenings, starting at 5:10 pm . In the Summer sessions, classes may be available in the late afternoon or evening but Summer schedules cannot be guaranteed. If you are having difficulty with class scheduling, please contact your advisor.
Fieldwork is conducted in three required practicums on literacy assessment and intervention. The fieldwork is done either at the Dean Hope Center for Educational and Psychological Services (CEPS), a clinic at TC, or at an approved school. Whether conducted in CEPS or in a school, the fieldwork involves assessment and instruction of individuals with reading and writing difficulties.
Students work on an individual and small-group basis with children, adolescents and adults who are experiencing difficulty with reading, writing and other academic skills. An initial assessment is conducted to gain information that will assist in designing an educational plan. Students go on to deliver a comprehensive program of literacy interventions based on individual strengths and weaknesses. They also conduct intake interviews and client conferences, conceptualize individuals' learning patterns, interact with parents and other family members, follow ethical guidelines appropriate for the profession, prepare detailed documentation, and write case reports to professional standard.
The practicums differ regarding whether the work is with individuals or groups and whether the work is conducted in a clinic or a school. The initial practicum, HBSK 5373, provides an introduction to assessment and intervention methods, including administration of an assessment battery, instructional techniques, clinical procedures, and the process of preparing documentation. Students begin work with a participant at CEPS. The second practicum, HBSK 5376, is at an intermediate level in which students work at CEPS with a participant of a different age, skill level and/ or linguistic proficiency. At the advanced level, HBSK 5377, students work with a group rather than individual. This experience may be obtained in a school rather than CEPS. Students who are teaching in schools with a State-approved curriculum can work with students with literacy difficulties in their own schools, with the permission of the principal and parent/guardian. Other students can request assignment to schools with which the Program has a relationship. All practicum training is conducted under close supervision.
Classes are held on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays. Practical work at CEPS is scheduled during non-class hours determined by student and client. Evening and weekend hours can be scheduled at CEPS. School-based work is scheduled jointly by the school and student. For all students, supervision takes place at TC and is planned to accommodate students' and supervisors' schedules.
The time commitment required for the practicums includes weekly class attendance, three contact hours per week of assessment and intervention sessions in clinic or school, planning for these sessions, preparation of client documentation, and weekly supervision. Since the practicums require a considerable amount of time, we suggest that students schedule some of their work with clients on weekends.
Some courses are offered during the Summer but most are offered during the Fall and Spring semesters. The practicums are not offered during the Summer. Please consult the class schedule through the TC homepage for courses taught each semester.
Credits from other institutions are not accepted towards completion of the Reading Specialist M.A. Program. If any of your previous coursework appears to duplicate content required for the Reading Specialist degree, you may be able to substitute courses (see advisor).
If you have taken required or relevant elective courses, they may apply. Please consult with an advisor.
Yes. The program provides preparation for literacy instruction through the lifespan.
You may be able to obtain a work-study or research assistant job. Contact the Student Aid office to find out if you are eligible for work-study. Research Assistant openings are posted on the Human Resources website through the TC homepage. You may also be able to compete for a Graduate Assistantship within the Reading Specialist Program, which will provide you with research or case management experience.
Postings may be found on the Human Resources website. In addition to salary, some jobs pay in the form of tuition credit.
Yes. Contact the Career Services Center any time while you are a student. They provide individual consultation, help writing resumes, information about job fairs, etc. Information is available at https://www.tc.columbia.edu/career-education/
The Reading Specialist Program emphasizes professional preparation rather than training in research methods. However, the program provides important practical knowledge which can be useful in later doctoral research.
This combination is not currently offered.
Please contact a program advisor if you still have questions after reading through all the links on the Reading Specialist website. Call 212-678-3942 for professors' office hours.
The Reading Specialist Program is accredited by the International Dyslexia Association for preparing Teachers of Reading.
Program Director: Dr. Susan Masullo
Contact Person: Dr. Susan Masullo
Phone: (212) 678-3942
Email: sm2053@tc.columbia.edu