student reading a book

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

If you're an international student, refer to the international application process for deadlines.

Graduate students in UND's Reading Education master's develop skills to offer specialized reading support. The online program is designed for all K-12 teachers seeking to develop expertise in reading and as specialized literacy professionals. You will:

  • Select and conduct meaningful and reliable assessments.
  • Engage in data analysis to plan differentiated interventions.
  • 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 Online 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.Ed. 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. Those in this broad-based degree program enroll in the core required courses and choose elective courses to complement the degree.
  • 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. Those in this specialized degree program enroll in the core required courses and use elective courses to complete a series of instructional coaching courses and earn an Instructional Coaching Certificate within the completion of the degree.  

Accredited Master's in Reading Education Online

Online Reading Education Master's at UND

  • Study and share work with peers using the university's premiere online platform. This offers opportunities for national and international collaboration.

  • 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, reading specialists and instructional coaches. They are committed and available to their students for advising. 

  • Course content aligns with the Science of Reading and is immediately applicable to classroom teaching.

Master's in Reading Education Jobs

66K

Median salary for instructional coordinators

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

19K

Openings for instructional coordinators are projected each year, on average, over the decade

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Graduates with a master's 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 a:

  • Master Teacher
  • Reading Specialist
  • Literacy Coach
  • Instructional Coach
  • Intervention Specialist
  • Curriculum Developer

With the Reading Education master's 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 Online Courses

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.

T&L 536. Innovations in English Language Arts Instruction. 3 Credits.

This course considers the current curricular trends and research-based best practices in teaching English Language Arts. Students will critically examine and apply current instructional approaches in teaching English language and vocabulary, classroom discourse practices, and digital literacies. We will consider the ways various instructional methods support the advancement of literacy development for all students, considering ways to modify and adapt curriculum to meet the cultural and linguistic diversity of today's classrooms. On demand.

T&L 530. Foundations of Reading Instruction. 3 Credits.

This course focuses on the relationship between reading theory, research, contemporary issues and instructional practice. Emphasis is placed on strategic systems related to effective reading, instructional approaches that support the development of these strategic systems and assessment as collecting evidence of effective reading behaviors. F,S.

Best Master's in Reading Education Online

#6 Intelligent
#8 The Best Colleges
#8 Best Accredited Colleges
#10 Best Colleges
#18 Top Education Degrees
#20 Best Colleges Online
#21 The Best Master’s Degrees
#23 Get Educated

Our master's in Reading Education 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

Online Master's in Reading Education

9#

best online university in the nation

EDsmart

2#

best online graduate programs

EDsmart

UND's online master's in Reading Education is 100% online. You are never required to come to campus.

Live Online Reading Education Master's Classes

Synchronous classes are held in real-time. If you’re the kind of learner who likes active discussion and immediate feedback through live interaction, you’ll enjoy this online course format.

Every class is different, but generally, you’ll log into a virtual classroom at scheduled times to:

  • Listen to a lecture.
  • Ask questions.
  • Participate in class discussions.
  • Conduct group activities.
  • Participate in video-sharing.
  • Have chat conversations.
  • Use interactive whiteboards.
  • Take live polls.

You should prepare for your classes by finishing any assigned readings, compiling questions for your instructor, and thinking about how to contribute to the next live class.

Top-Tier Online Master's in Reading Education

No matter how you customize your online experience, you’ll get the same top-quality education as any other on-campus student.

  • Same degree. All online programs are fully accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Your transcript and diploma are exactly the same as our on-campus students.
  • Same classes. You’ll take courses from UND professors, start and end the semesters at the same time and take the same classes as a student on campus.
  • Real interaction. You can ask questions, get feedback and regularly connect with your professors, peers and professionals in the field.
  • Your own academic advisor. As an invaluable go-to, they’re focused on you, your personal success and your future career.
  • Free online tutoring. We're here to help you one-on-one at no cost. Plus, get access to a variety of self-help online study resources.
  • Unlimited academic coaching. Need support to achieve your academic goals or feeling stumped by a tough course? We'll help with everything from stress and time management to improving your memory to achieve higher test scores.
  • Full online access. Dig into virtual research from the Chester Fritz Library. Improve your writing skills with online help from the UND Writing Center. Get online access to career services, veteran and military services, financial services and more.
  • 24/7 technical support. UND provides free computer, email and other technical support for all online students.

Best Online College

Reportedly high alumni salaries and job placement rates, coupled with affordable online tuition rates make UND a best-value university for online education. UND's breadth of online programs rivals all other non-profit universities in the upper Midwest making UND one of the best online schools in the region.

UND ranks among the best online colleges in the nation for:

  • Affordability
  • Student satisfaction (retention rate)
  • Academic quality (4-year graduate rate)
  • Student outcomes (20-year return on investment per Paysacle.com)

Leaders in Reading Education

UND's comprehensive Reading Education master's covers various aspects of literacy instruction and intervention.

Explore More Options

Check out the faculty you'll work with at UND or discover additional graduate education opportunities.

Department Contact
Pam Beck
Graduate Director
P 701.777.6173
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