Program Now Only 30 Credits!
Literacy Program Overview
Our CAEP-accredited online Master of Arts in Literacy is designed for individuals who want to strengthen their understanding of literacy, effectively serve a broader spectrum of students, and prepare reading specialists for teaching, diagnosis, instructional leadership, and staff development.
This affordable 30-credit online program can be completed in less than two years and will equip you with the specialized skills and knowledge you need to:
- Collaborate with educators, psychologists, and parents to develop and implement needs-based reading programs for students.
- Assess reading strengths, identify deficiencies, and create intervention plans and strategies for at-risk students.
- Provide recommendations to district administration on improving the instruction of reading and language arts.
Click here to read program testimonials from literacy alumni.
Reading Specialist Certification
State of Texas Students
This program is aligned with the Texas Education Agency (TEA)’s reading specialist certification. The requirements for reading specialist certification in Texas are provided below:
- Master’s degree from an accredited university
- Valid classroom teaching certificate in the state of Texas
- Two years of classroom teaching experience in an accredited PK-12 school
- Successful completion of an approved educator preparation program
- Successful completion of the required exam
Out of State Students
If you are outside of Texas and would like to be certified as a reading specialist, check with your state agency for requirements to obtain certification in your state and to determine if this program meets your state’s eligibility requirements. You may also contact Dr. Wilson for questions about certification outside of the state of Texas.
Meet Our Esteemed Faculty
Click here to view the entire playlist and see what else Dr. Wilson and other College of Education faculty members have to say.
TEACH Grant
The Teacher Education Assistance for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant provides up to $4,000 per year to students who are completing coursework needed to begin a career in a high-need teaching field. UT Permian Basin participates in the TEACH Grant program.
To be eligible to receive a TEACH Grant, you must meet basic eligibility criteria for federal student aid programs, complete the FAFSA, be enrolled at a school that participates in the TEACH Grant program, maintain a minimum GPA of 3.25, receive TEACH Grant counseling for each year you receive the grant, and sign a TEACH Grant agreement. For more information about the TEACH Grant and its service requirements post-graduation, please click here.
Accreditation and Awards
- Nationally recognized Reading/Literacy Specialist Preparation Program by the International Literacy Association (ILA)
- Nationally accredited by the prestigious Council for Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
- Texas Education Agency - State approved/accredited Accountability System for Educator Preparation (TEA/ASEP)
Program Contact
If you have any program-specific questions, please email us directly at mastersinreading@utpb.edu.
Career Options
The University of Texas Permian Basin's Master of Arts in Literacy provides a solid foundation for you to excel in the education industry in many roles, including:
30 Credits. Select EDRD 6319 or EDRD 6317; EDRD 6321 or EDRD 6324; EDRD 6322 or EDRD 6392; EDRD 6323 or EDRD 6315. Please consult with your faculty advisor regarding courses.
Admission Requirements
Regular Admission Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- GPA of at least 3.0 in the last 60 credit hours leading towards a bachelor’s degree
- Essay that answers the following prompt:
- What is your vision of why you want to become a reading specialist?
- Official transcripts
Conditional Admission Requirements
If you do not meet the GPA requirements for this program, you may qualify for conditional admission with the following requirements:
- A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
- GPA between 2.5 and 3.0 in the last 60 credit hours leading towards a bachelor’s degree
- Essay that answers the following prompt (see below for additional details about the essay):
- What is your vision of why you want to become a reading specialist?
- Other evidence (at least one of the following):
- Minimum GRE score of 282 (verbal and quantitative combined)
- May also consider cultural components including, but not limited to, English as a second language, weak academic preparation that can be remediated, student motivation and desire to succeed, evidence of success in career field (e.g., teaching or service awards), and/or candidate’s diverse experiences and perspectives. (This is submitted in the form of a low GPA document explaining the reasons surrounding the lower GPA and evidence of ability to succeed in graduate study.)
- Official transcripts
Essay
The essay prompt is: What is your vision of why you want to become a reading specialist? An acceptable essay will clearly state your purpose in pursuing an MA in literacy. To support your commitment to becoming a literacy educator, include specific examples detailing your understanding of the role of reading specialist and how your prior experiences have informed and motivated your pursuit of an MA and your future goals in the classroom. Your essay should be at least one page in length, but no more than three pages, and written in an academic tone. It should be clear, concise, and well organized. This essay will demonstrate your capability to take on graduate studies.
Official Transcripts
Official copies of transcripts must come directly from the school in a sealed envelope and should be mailed to:
UT Permian Basin
Graduate Studies Office
4901 E. University Blvd.
Odessa, TX 79762
Official transcripts in electronic format can be sent to gradstudies@utpb.edu.
Supporting Documents
All supporting documents related to a graduate program, such as letters of recommendation, essays, statements of interest, resumes, professional work experience, and awards should be sent to the Graduate Studies Office:
UT Permian Basin
Graduate Studies
4901 E. University Blvd.
Odessa, TX 79762-0001
Electronic versions of supporting documents may be emailed to gradstudies@utpb.edu.
Application Fee
The application fee is $40.
Veterans and Active Duty Military: Your application fee is waived for this program. Get details now.
If you have any questions regarding the admission requirements, please email gradstudies@utpb.edu.
We’re pleased to offer program admission on a rolling basis.
Rolling admission refers to our process of accepting and evaluating applications as we receive them and moving any applications that miss the deadline to the next semester. However, if you want to enroll in courses for a specific semester, you will need to make note of the application deadlines found below. If you don’t complete your application and submit the required materials by the deadline, your application will be rolled over to the next semester.