The Master's Degree program in Reading Education is designed to prepare reading practitioners with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary for effective teaching of reading, the development of reading programs, and literacy coaching at the elementary and secondary school levels. The program provides an affordable and flexible option for full-time teachers to earn their master's degree, increase their salary, and gain valuable skills for strengthening reading and literacy practices in K-12 classrooms.

Successful candidates will demonstrate the ability to conduct and disseminate research. Extensive course offerings allow the graduate student to pursue research in areas of interest, which, in almost all courses, will include intensive reviews of literature, selected field experiences in reading programs in public or private schools, and assignment to other private or governmental agencies that provide educational services to clients. Additionally, candidates also tutor children in a supervised practicum setting to gain experience in the diagnosis and remediation of reading problems and engage in a field-based reading specialist/literacy coaching experience in their local school division or school of employment.

This program leads to certification as a Reading Specialist in the State of Virginia. In order to receive certification, candidates must pass the state reading exam titled Reading For Virginia Educators (RVE), pass all coursework, and have three years experiences teaching full time with reading as a major part of that teaching.

The Reading Endorsement only is no longer offered at ODU.

The application deadline for the Fall Semester is June 1st and for the Spring Semester is November 1st.

The MSED in Reading is offered completely online, in hybrid formats, as well as face-to-face. Students are required to spend NO time on campus to participate in this program.