Master of Education (M.Ed.)

M.Ed. in Reading Online

Become a literacy leader

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Receive both a Florida reading endorsement and reading certification (with the successful passing of the Florida Teacher Certification Reading K-12 exam).

Complete a fully online program accredited by CAEP

Trust a program ranked among the Best Online Master's in Reading and Literacy Programs by Best Colleges

Reading, M.Ed. Overview

The Master of Education in Reading from the University of West Florida is designed to address crucial reading specialist shortages in the state of Florida. This innovative, educational program ties science-based reading research to practical classroom applications. Designed for educators who currently hold a teaching certificate, the M.Ed. in Reading can enhance your professional skills and knowledge, and, if desired, help you transition into specialized areas of reading leadership within schools and at the district level. Our program’s curriculum is based on the International Literacy Association standards which also encompass the Florida Department of Education Reading Endorsement and Reading Certification requirements.

Based on the International Literacy Association’s Standards for Reading Professionals, this program integrates coursework and clinical experiences to prepare graduates in the following areas:

Foundations of reading and writing processes and instruction
Assessment tools and practices to plan and evaluate effective reading instruction
Integration of foundational knowledge, use of instructional practices, approaches and methods, curriculum materials and the appropriate use of assessments
Theory and practice of effective literacy coaching

The M.Ed. in Reading Education is designed to prepare educators as reading teachers, reading coaches, district-level literacy specialists and publishing industry consultants. The online courses incorporate high-impact, rigorous practices that can be used in a future career. In addition, the online courses feature opportunities for practicing teachers/literacy specialists to apply theory to practice through hands-on work in current classrooms. Fieldwork experience can even be completed with online resources, making this degree program manageable and convenient for working professionals or those with families. Depending on your job, some fieldwork could even be completed in your current position. Courses are taught by full-time UWF faculty who are experts and professionals in their fields.

This advanced program requires field experiences which can be completed in school settings. The program is approved for both the K-12 Reading Endorsement and Reading Certification by the Florida Department of Education.

Online degrees may not be available in all states. If you are an out-of-state student, please review our State Authorization Status to confirm that the program is available in your state.

Prospective out-of-state students who will be pursuing a license in their state should check with that state’s licensing agency before enrolling. Prospective students from Alabama should review their state’s requirements for certification prior to enrolling. Please keep in mind that the definitions of Reading Endorsement and Reading Certification may vary depending on the state.

Candidates for This Program Include:

Working teachers who need a master’s degree to continue teaching
Teachers seeking to gain additional experience or specialized information
Teachers who want to become literacy coaches in their district
Students wanting long-term growth and lifelong learning

You Will Be Able To:

Implement evidence-based literacy instruction across a variety of diverse settings
Administer and analyze reading assessments to screen, diagnose, and measure student literacy achievement
Provide literacy leadership and coaching to promote the success of colleagues and students

Accreditation

The M.Ed. in Reading is accredited based on the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) Standards through Spring 2025. CAEP is the only CHEA recognized national accreditor for educator preparation.

CAEP’s annual outcome and impact measures and their trends, candidate performance data, and additional accreditation information is available on the UWF Department of Teacher Education and Educational Leadership Accreditation web page.

Courses and Requirements

The Master of Education in Reading requires 30 credit hours. You will learn concepts in instructional foundations, language arts, assessment/diagnosis and leadership. Understanding historical and current trends in reading will ensure that you are prepared to work in diverse environments upon graduation.

: RED 6060 - Teaching Literacy in the Secondary School
3 Credit Hours
Teaching Literacy in the Secondary School
This course is designed to provide in-depth exploration of literacy instruction in secondary schools. Candidates will explore best practices for teaching literacy across all disciplines and addressing needs of all students from diverse backgrounds including ELL students and struggling readers and writers. Factors impacting and strategies for supporting secondary literacy instruction will be discussed and demonstrated.
RED 6116 - Language and Literacy Acquisition
3 Credit Hours
Language and Literacy Acquisition
This course will provide students with foundational knowledge related to literacy curriculum and instruction and the learning environment. Candidates will examine theories and instructional practices for teaching literacy in pre-K-5 classrooms.
RED 6240 - Differentiation of Reading Instruction
3.0 Credit Hours
Differentiation of Reading Instruction
Explores differentiating instruction to meet the needs of diverse learners with a focus on preventing and remediating reading difficulties. Interpretation of assessment data and implementation of evidence-based classroom practices are emphasized.
: LAE 5345 - Literacy Learning and the Composing Process
3 Credit Hours
Literacy Learning and the Composing Process
Provides K-12 educators with an overview of literacy theories and practices related to writing instruction. Through an exploration of writing activities and processes, candidates participate as writers and teachers of writers through use of a workshop model. Offers opportunities to explore various genres of writing, reflection on stages of composition (including the 6-Traits of Writing), and writing for high-stakes testing. Candidates establish a personal philosophy of writing through the content of a mini writing portfolio.
LAE 5468 - Literature for Children and Young Adults
3 Credit Hours
Literature for Children and Young Adults
Students in this course will explore contemporary and multicultural literature, authors, illustrators and genres with a focus on selecting and evaluating quality literature for children and young adults. Topics will address literary understandings, critical perspectives and issues and trends related to the field. Students will also gain skills for integrating literature into the K-12 school curricula and programs.
: RED 6546 - Reading Assessment and Diagnosis
3.0 Credit Hours
Reading Assessment and Diagnosis
Explores the models, processes, and instruments for assessing the literacy development of diverse learners. Candidates will identify, select, and administer a variety of assessment tools to diagnose student literacy achievement, inform instruction, and evaluate interventions. Includes opportunities for oral and written communication to explain assessment results and advocate for appropriate literacy and language practices for a variety of stakeholders including students, administrators, teachers, other educators, and parents/guardians.
RED 6866 - Practicum in Reading
3.0 Credit Hours
Practicum in Reading
Work with individual and small groups of students at various grade levels to assess students' strengths and instructional needs, develop and implement literacy intervention plans, create supportive literacy learning environments, and assess the impact on student learning. Includes ongoing collaboration with classmates and colleagues.
: RED 6701 - The Organization and Administration of Literacy Programs
3.0 Credit Hours
The Organization and Administration of Literacy Programs
Explores the role of a specialized literacy leader in organizing and implementing literacy programs from the pre-elementary through the college level. Includes an examination of leadership practices and advocacy that promote effective literacy practices to a variety of stakeholders, including administrators, teachers, parents/guardians, and students.
RED 6247 - Literacy Instructional Coaching
3 Credit Hours
Literacy Instructional Coaching
An exploration of the theory and practice of effective literacy coaching, a form of job-embedded professional development that supports literacy achievement of diverse learners. Develops coaching skills and practices that enhance collaboration, improved instruction, and student achievement.
RED 6865 - Practicum in Literacy Coaching
3 Credit Hours
Practicum in Literacy Coaching
Develop, refine, and demonstrate literacy leadership when working with individuals and groups. Candidates will collaborate with and coach peers and experienced colleagues to develop, reflect on, and study their own and others' teaching practices.
Students must also successfully pass the Florida Teacher Certification Examination for Reading K-12.
: Some UWF academic programs prepare students to sit for licensure in Florida. In order to comply with U.S. Department of Education regulations for professional licensure, UWF is required to make the following disclosure with respect to professional licensure outside the state of Florida. UWF cannot confirm whether a particular program meets requirements for professional licensure outside of the State of Florida. Please contact applicable licensure board(s) in any state you may want to pursue licensure prior to beginning the academic program in order to determine whether the program meets licensure requirements. It is the student’s responsibility to confirm program eligibility for licensure in any state outside Florida.

Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to UWF’s online M.Ed. Reading program, you must:

Hold professional teaching certification
Have earned an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution with an institutional GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale on the last 60 hours of coursework in the baccalaureate degree*
Demonstrate proficiency in ESOL via completion of an ESOL survey course or district in-service points
Demonstrate proficiency of the Additional Elements of the Florida Uniform Core Curriculum

* Applicants who do not meet the GPA requirement but submit a desired current GRE verbal or MAT score at or above the 50th percentile and meet all remaining admission requirements may be conditionally admitted to the program.

How to Apply

To apply for admission to this program, you first need to submit an application for graduate admission (plus a $30 application fee) and be accepted for admission to the University of West Florida. Review application deadlines. In addition, you must:

Submit a supplemental application to assess ESOL and UCC requirements
Submit official transcripts confirming a bachelor’s degree from an institution whose accrediting agency is included on the list of UWF approved accrediting agencies
Submit a formal letter of intent focused on who you are, why you are applying to the M.Ed. in Reading program, and why you should be considered as a potential candidate.
Submit contact information (email addresses and phone numbers) for two professional references

To be fully admitted to the program, the following requirements must be met in addition to the requirements for provisional admission (above). Full admission is required by the fifth week of the first semester. Students will be unable to register for the second semester of coursework until full admission has been granted.

Completion of the Professional Education Applicant Disposition Scale by each person identified as a professional reference.
Students must purchase a personal copy of a data management system that will accompany them through their program of study. You will be contacted during your first semester with instructions to complete this requirement.
Completion of the Professional Education Applicant Disposition Self-rating Scale.

Have questions about this program or the admissions process? Contact our graduate admissions team at gradadmissions@uwf.edu.

Costs & Financial Aid

Component	Cost	Total*
In-State Tuition	$384.60 per credit hour	$11,538.60
In-State Tuition with Maximum Transfer Credits (Up to 6)	$384.60 per credit hour	$9,230.40
Full Out-of-State Tuition	$1,044.24 per credit hour	$31,327.20
90% Out-of-State Tuition Waiver	$478.83 per credit hour	$14,364.90

Tuition waivers cover up to 90% of the non-resident portion of your tuition and are available to non-Florida residents (including international students) admitted to online campus programs and registered for online courses in active pursuit of that degree or certificate. You must pay all other assessed tuition and fees.

Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress and credits transferred, if applicable. Fees are charged per semester unless otherwise noted. This program takes up to 24 months to complete, depending on transfer credits.

* Tuition and fees are subject to change.

Alabama Differential Out-of-State Tuition

Residents of Alabama are eligible for Alabama Differential Tuition, a reduced out-of-state tuition rate. For more information and to verify residency status for tuition purposes, new undergraduate students should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and new graduate students should contact the Graduate School. Current enrolled students should contact the Office of the Registrar.

Active Duty Military

All active-duty members of the U.S. military who are residing or are stationed outside the state of Florida shall have all (100%) out-of-state fees waived by the university. Contact the Military & Veterans Resource Center to apply for the Active Duty Military Out-of-State Waiver.

UWF Short-Term Financial Assistance

The University of West Florida provides eligible students with an alternative to paying the full amount of tuition at the beginning of each term in the form of an installment payment plan or a short-term loan.

Military Students

UWF is a Military FriendlyⓇ School proudly serving active-duty U.S. military members and veterans. As UWF has been a participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program since 2011, you could be eligible to receive free tuition with your military benefits.

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Financial Aid

Funding your college education should not empty your wallet. We offer various financial aid options for our online students, including loans, scholarships and grants for degree-seeking students.

Learn More About Financial Aid

Frequently Asked Questions

: You may either contact your enrollment counselor or log into your MyUWF account to view the status of your application.
: No, you may be enrolled part-time and be eligible for financial aid. Different awards have different enrollment criteria. For example, federal direct loans require at least half-time enrollment. All students are awarded assuming full-time enrollment. If you change enrollment plans, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships must be notified immediately, and we will revise your award if necessary.
: UWF will only accept credits from institutions whose accrediting agency is included on the list of UWF approved accrediting agencies, and the amount of transfer credits allowed depends on the program. For detailed information, visit our Transfer Students page.
: Unofficial test scores or test score reports are not accepted. However, you may submit them in order to receive a preliminary idea of your chances of acceptance into a program. When the application process has begun, however, you must submit official documents.