Specialist in Education (Ed.S.)
Teacher Education Major
Reading Education Concentration
Admission
Candidates must complete both university and Theory and Practice in Teacher Education (TPTE) departmental applications, including the Office of Graduate and International Admissions’ application and the Teacher Education Specialist application from the department. A graduate GPA of 3.2 or higher, documentation of teaching or related experience, and three rating forms with recommendations that assess a candidate’s strengths, weaknesses, leadership, and scholarly potential are required. The departmental EdS application, rating forms, and other requirements are available from the department (Vicki Church, 865-974-2321, vickic@utk.edu, http://cehhs.utk.edu).
Advisement
It is the student’s responsibility to establish and maintain communication with a Reading Education faculty member when admitted to the graduate program.
Reading Education Faculty
The University of Tennessee Reading Center is home to faculty and students who are affiliated with Reading Education. Prospective students as well as admitted students are invited to contact faculty members to discuss their particular program needs.
Specialist in Education Committee
The student selects a chairperson (may be the advisor but need not be) and a minimum of two additional faculty members to serve as a committee after admission. The chairperson must be a member of the Reading Education faculty. The committee plans the student’s coursework, supervises progress, recommends admission to candidacy, directs the student’s research and coordinates the final examination.
Requirements
The total EdS program involves a minimum of four semesters of study with no fewer than 60 hours of graduate credit beyond the baccalaureate, including research/thesis hours. Education courses at the 400-level required for licensure are not eligible. At least 2/3 of semester hours accumulated in Masters and all of the last 30 hours of coursework must be in the 500- or 600-level courses.
Both thesis and non-thesis options are available to the specialist degree candidate. In the non-thesis option the candidate will study research methods and findings and will demonstrate skill in adapting them to professional needs. The EdS thesis must be approved by the student’s committee prior to submission to the Office of Graduate Student Services for final approval and acceptance. The student must register for thesis or problems in lieu of thesis hours during this time.
Students must pass a final examination that covers all coursework and demonstrates the candidate’s ability to integrate materials in the major and related fields. The examination will be scheduled according to the requirements of the graduate school.
If the student is not already certified as a reading specialist, the course of study may be designed to obtain the state of Tennessee PreK-12 Reading Specialist(PDF) licensure by selecting courses required for licensure under both the Specialization and Related categories below:
Common Requirements |
Credit Hours |
|
Core |
Include one course from two areas outside the concentration, such as leadership; psychology; instructional technology; teaching methodology. |
6 |
Research |
Non-Thesis or Thesis |
6 |
TPTE 503 |
Problems in Lieu of Thesis or TPTE 518: Grading Restriction: Satisfactory/No Credit grading only. Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 9 hours. |
3 |
TPTE 518 |
Educational Specialist Research and Thesis: Grading Restriction: P/NO only. Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 15 hours. |
3 |
Specialization |
Reading Education courses see list below. |
12 |
Related Courses |
Include courses that support the student's goals |
6 |
Course of Study
Specialization - Reading Education Courses
Students who have not yet obtained licensure as a PreK-12 Reading Specialist may fulfill course requirements for the State of Tennessee by taking the following courses, or alternative courses, as determined by the student and Advisor, and based on prior coursework and experiences.
Reading Education |
||
|
|
Credit Hours |
READ ED 529 |
Emergent Literacy: Theory and practice in emergent literacy. Focus on the development of early reading and writing from preschool through first grade. |
3 |
READ ED 530 |
Teaching Reading in the Elementary School: Trends in methods, materials, basic approaches, skill development and assessment procedures for teaching reading at elementary school level. Recommended Background: Course in teaching of reading or consent of instructor. |
3 |
READ ED 537 |
Diagnosis and Correction of Classroom Reading Problems: Procedures, methodologies, and materials for diagnosing and correcting classroom reading problems. |
3 |
READ ED 538 |
Practicum in Diagnosis of Reading Problems: Theoretical and practical applications of specific reading diagnostic instruments; testing of elementary and/or secondary school students, preparing case study reports, and conducting parent conferences. |
3 |
READ ED 539 |
Practicum in Remediation of Rading Problems: Application of learning and teaching methodology in working with elementary and/or secondary school students on one-to-one or small group basis. (DE) Prerequisite(s) 537 or 538 |
3 |
READ ED 540 |
Teaching the Struggling Adolescent Reader: Methods of teaching middle and high school students who do not have sufficient reading skill to successfully engage in required reading. Recommended Background: Course in reading education, or equivalent teaching experience, or consent of instructor. OR READ ED 461 |
3 |
READ ED 461 |
Developing Reading Skills in Content Fields: Teaching reading and study skills in the content areas of the school program. Extensive assessment of textbooks. Emphasis on middle school and high school. |
3 |
READ ED 605 |
Organizing and Administering Reading Programs: Diagnosing and teaching children having developmental and corrective reading needs in the regular classroom. Recommended Background: Course in diagnosis and correction of reading problems or consent of instructor. |
3 |
If the student has already taken the courses listed above, or if the student has already obtained Reading Specialist licensure, the student may select from the following Reading Education and related courses:
READ ED 519 |
Transacting with Literature: Strategies for integration of language, writing, content, literature, and higher level thinking skills (K-12). |
3 |
READ ED 536 |
Psychology of Reading: Reading act, relationship between learning theory and reading, role of reading in child's overall intellectual development. Affective and cultural factors. Recommended Background: 500-level course in reading education or consent of instructor. |
3 |
READ ED 538 |
Practicum in Diagnosis of Reading Problems: Theoretical and practical applications of specific reading diagnostic instruments; testing of elementary and/or secondary school students, preparing case study reports, and conducting parent conferences. Recommended Background: Course in diagnosis and correction of classroom reading problems or consent of instructor. |
3 |
READ ED 534 |
Seminar in Reading Education: Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours. |
1-6 |
READ ED 602 |
Seminar in Reading Education: Repeatability: May be repeated. Maximum 6 hours. |
1-6 |
Elementary Education |
||
ELEM ED 651 |
Advanced Studies in Elementary School Language Arts: Selected issues in elementary school language arts. Recommended Background: Graduate course in elementary school language arts or consent of instructor. |
3 |
ELEM ED 504 |
Studies and Theory in Language Development: Studies and theory of language development in children. Recommended Background: An elementary school language arts course or consent of instructor. |
3 |
ELEM ED 528 |
Teaching Language Arts Elementary and Middle School: Recent trends and current materials and methods in teaching elementary language arts (except reading). Recommended Background: Course in language arts or consent of instructor. |
3 |
ELEM ED 550 |
Assessment and Correction of Language Arts Difficulties: Procedures and materials for diagnosing and correcting language arts difficulties; analysis of children's work. Recommended Background: At least one language arts course or consent of instructor. |
3 |
Educational Administration |
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Educational Administration selected licensure courses: (http://web/utk.edu/~tpte/eas/) |
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Contact CEHHS
335 Claxton Complex
1122 Volunteer Boulevard
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996
Phone: 865-974-2201
Fax: 865-974-8718