Nov 21, 2024  
2024-2025 Westminster College Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Westminster College Catalog

Master of Education in Special Education and Reading Specialist


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The Special Education & Reading Specialist Program is designed to develop the requisite knowledge and appropriate skills to work with students with disabilities in K-8.

The program is particularly designed for those who seek to hold the master’s degree, reading specialist certificate and/or the special education certificate. The reading specialist may:

1) work directly or indirectly with students in elementary through developmental reading at the college level who have not thrived with general classroom instruction and/or,

2) work in the capacity of resource teacher and curriculum adviser and/or,

3) work with teachers, administrators, and other professionals as a literacy coach, supervisor, or professional developer to enhance and coordinate the total reading program in a school or district.

Reading courses examine the current reading research and psycholinguistic contributions to literacy and mediate these new directions in the light of the practical and proven. The program reflects the recommendations of the International Reading Association, the National Council of Teachers of English, and is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Pennsylvania requires PRAXIS Examinations for certification.

Those seeking certification in Special Education will be certified in PreK-8 and have the capability of working with individuals who have a documented disability in the following areas:

• Learning Disability

• Intellectual Disability

• Communication Disorders

• Emotional and Behavioral Disorders

• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

• Multiple Disabilities

• Autism

• Traumatic Brain Injury

• Physical Disabilities and Other Health Impairments

• Hearing Loss

• Visual Impairment

For the most current information on PA or OH state test requirements, PA students go to http://www.ets.org/praxis/pa/requirements and Ohio students go to Ohio Assessment for Educators at http://www.oh.nesinc.com.

Additional Requirements


  • Successful completion of Data-driven Research Report
  • PECT Exam - Pass both modules of PreK-8 and Special Education
  • PRAXIS Test - Pass one module, Reading Specialist
  • PDE Application - submission of PDE Certification Application on PDE TIMS
  • QPA for program - 3.000 or higher for admission and completion

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