Mar 28, 2024  
Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog 2018-2019 
    
Undergraduate/Graduate Catalog 2018-2019 [ARCHIVED CATALOG] See drop-down menu above to access other catalogs.

Reading, MEd


Department: Elementary and Early Childhood Education 

The graduate reading program offers the degree of Master of Education with a specialty in reading and institutional endorsement for Massachusetts licensure as Reading Specialist (all levels).  Program learning experiences and outcomes are designed to meet the recommendations of the Professional Standards and Ethics Committee and the advisory group to the National Council of Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) Joint Task Force of the International Reading Association (IRA), Reading/Literacy Specialist. Candidates must complete all of the following course requirements and program requirements.

Admission Requirements


  • A minimum undergraduate GPA of 2.8 based on four years of work or a 3.0 undergraduate GPA based on work completed in the junior and senior years
  • *A composite score of 170 or 99% ranking (clear admit) or a scored of 160 or 85% ranking (conditional admit) in the quantitative and verbal parts of the GRE General Test
  • Possession of a Massachusetts State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education active teacher licensure (Initial or Professional)
    1. Possession of a Massachusetts State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education active licensure as a Reading Specialist (Initial or Professional) or
    2. A qualifying score on the Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure® (MTEL) Communication and Literacy Skills (01)
  • A rating of “one” on three letters of recommendation (at least one from teaching supervisor and one who has knowledge of applicant’s aptitude for advanced scholarship)
  • One year teaching experience in the area of licensure
  • Foundational knowledge in computer technology (Microsoft Word and Office)
  • Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate course work

*Bridgewater State University, College of Graduate Studies Current Student and Recent Alumni GRE Waiver: Applicants are eligible for the GRE waiver if they are a current BSU undergraduate senior or recent BSU alumni (five years or fewer) and have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher. If both of these criteria are met, the GRE requirement will be waived as an admissions requirement for the individual.

Program of Study


Exit requirement


In addition to the course requirements above, candidates must demonstrate the following competencies:

  • Successful completion of the Literacy Professional’s Library
  • An oral presentation or exhibit pertaining to a topic in literacy
  • A passing score on the written comprehensive examination (Please see the catalog section, Graduate Academic Policies and Procedures , for additional information.)
  • Successful completion of two 200-hour practica
    a) To be accepted for practicum experiences (READ 558  and READ 559 ), licensure as a reading specialist with the Massachusetts State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education or
    b) A qualifying score on the MTEL® Reading Specialist (08)
  • Successful completion of a Literacy Professional’s Portfolio
  • Support for the work of professional literacy organizations

Total minimum credits: 30