reading teacher dressed in purple crayon costume

Master's in Reading Education

M.S. or M.Ed.

Develop effective practices for teaching the reading and writing skills young people need to succeed.

UND offers one of the best literacy education programs in the country. With our online master's degree in reading education, you'll gain expertise in literacy education, instructional practice and assessment.

Program type:
Master's Degree
Format:
Online
Est. time to complete:
2+ years
Credit hours:
32

Why earn a master's in reading education online?

Application Deadlines
Fall:
Feb. 15* | Aug. 1
Spring:
Dec. 1
Summer:
May 1

*Priority deadline

Graduate students in UND's reading education program develop skills to offer specialized reading support. The online program is designed for all K-12 teachers seeking to gain more professional knowledge in literacy. You will:

  • Be better equipped for reading assessment and instruction.
  • Become engaged in literacy education in a supervised practicum experience. Licensed teachers take coursework that meets the requirements for obtaining a state issued Reading Credential.
  • Focus on an area of interest in a scholarly project or independent study.

Types of Master's in Reading Education

UND offers both Reading Education Master of Education (M.Ed.) and Master of Science (M.S.) degrees. Applicants must hold teaching licensure in early childhood, elementary, middle or secondary education.

  • The M.Ed. in Reading Education is for teachers who aim to gain professional knowledge for teaching in the classroom. Pursue the M.S. if you seek an emphasis on literacy, and plan to continue as a certified teacher. You'll advance your overall professional knowledge about curriculum, assessment and instruction with an emphasis on literacy.
  • The M.S in Reading Education is for those who aim to support teachers and students in literacy. You'll be ready for specialized occupations such as a reading specialist, instructional coach or curriculum developer. The entire program is literacy specific, including two research courses that target topics of study in literacy.

Accredited Master's in Reading Education Online

Reading Education Master's at UND

  • Study and share work with peers using the university's premiere online platform.

  • Course work enhances your ability to conduct and analyze assessments. You will plan using appropriate instructional practices for all learners including those with diverse needs.

  • Practical application is built into every literacy course.

  • Literacy leadership course targets roles and responsibilities of literacy coaches and/or reading specialists.

  • Faculty are experienced classroom teachers and are committed and available to their students for advising. 

  • Take advantage of support services offered including tutoring, library and technology assistance. 

Master's in Reading Education Jobs

66K

Median salary for instructional coordinators

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

10%

Projected job growth for instructional coordinators through 2030

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Graduates with a master's degree in reading education are qualified for reading specialist positions at K-12 schools in North Dakota, Minnesota and across the nation. You'll also be prepared to lead alternative literacy programs. Our graduates are qualified to be reading specialists, literacy coaches, instructional support teachers and intervention specialists.

With this online graduate degree, you can expect to work in a school where you will:

  • Plan and teach lessons to help students gain and improve reading skills
  • Adapt teaching methods based on students’ strengths and weaknesses
  • Assess students for learning disabilities
  • Monitor students’ progress
  • Help students develop study skills

Reading Education Master's Courses You Could Take

T&L 525. Writing in the Classroom. 3 Credits.

This course examines writing as a process that is developmental, cultural, social, and individual. Emphasis is on effective implementation of the essential structures of writing workshop and on monitoring and assessing writers' growth.

T&L 524. Reading in the Content Areas. 2 Credits.

How and why reading should be taught in the content areas (i.e. Social Studies, Science, Mathematics, etc.). Research studies in the field of content reading and a variety of instructional practices are reviewed.

T&L 534. Basic Reading Diagnosis and Remediation. 2 Credits.

Focuses on common causes of reading disability, methods of diagnosis, and corrective reading programs in the classroom. Corequisite: T&L 583.

T&L 583. Reading Clinic. 2 Credits.

Supervised clinic practicum in diagnosis of reading difficulties, report writing, and instruction. Includes school consultations. Corequisite: T&L 534.

SPED 558. Response to Intervention. 2 Credits.

This course will address common elements of Response to Intervention (RTI) including definition, components of successful RTI models, establishing RTI teams and building capacity for school-wide RTI implementation, the use of standard protocol in RTI implementation, monitoring progress in academics and behavior within RTI models, understanding guidelines for problem-solving/decision making in RTI, as well as the future direction of RTI. F,SS.

SPED 557. Progress Monitoring. 3 Credits.

This course covers all aspects of progress monitoring including what it is, how it works, the benefits of progress monitoring, various ways and strategies for conducting progress monitoring and how it functions in a Response to Intervention (RTI) model. Students will learn how to track students in reading, math, and written language by collecting data and then using that data to measure student progress and in instructional decision-making. The strongest research-based strategy for progress monitoring, curriculum-based measurement, will be covered in depth. Prerequisite: Admission to one of the master's programs in special education. F,S,SS.

Best Master's in Reading Education Online

#6 Top Education Degrees
#8 The Best Colleges
#13 Best Colleges
#20 Best Colleges Online
#21 The Best Master’s Degrees
#23 Get Educated
#23 The Best Schools

Our 100% online program is designed for working educators. We offer a flexible, convenient option to earn your master's degree and reading credentials while balancing professional and personal responsibilities. That's why many ranking sites put UND in their Top 25 best online reading education master's programs list.

Ranking sites vary in their methodology, but are generally based on the following criterion:

  • Financial data such as net cost, loan default rate, and return on investment
  • Academic rigor including curriculum standards, accreditation status, and faculty reputation
  • Student gratification, retention rate, and support services
  • Employment rate and graduate salary

Explore More Options

Connect with the faculty you'll work with at UND or explore other education majors.

Department Contact
Pam Beck
Graduate Director
P 701.777.6173
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