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Deciding which college to attend can be a daunting task. For many, it will be the most important decision that they make in their lives. To make an informed decision, you have to consider a lot of variables, such as cost of attendance, financial aid, student/teacher ratio, academics, student life, and more. These factors will either positively or negatively impact the quality of education that you receive.

Do you want to acquire an online master’s degree in reading education, but don’t know what institution you should attend? Well, if you are as ambitious as I was in my late teens, then you want to attend a top school, instead of an average or mediocre one. Fortunately, we have already done the legwork for you. To help you find the right school for your interests and goals, we’ve compiled a list of 2022’s best online master’s in reading education programs.

What institution did we forget? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

1. University of Florida, Gainesville, FL

UF has two online reading master’s programs: a master of education in reading and a master of arts in reading education. These degrees require 36 credit hours and take four to six semesters to finish. The programs are available entirely online, on campus, or in a blended format. Learners in the master of education in reading degree program take classes in areas such as teaching reading in the elementary school, classroom literacy assessment and instruction, diagnosis of reading difficulties, and secondary ESOL teaching strategies. Learners must pass a three-hour practicum and finish three hours of electives. The degree program does not require a thesis and does not result in Florida K-12 reading licensure. However, graduates are ready to take the Florida Teacher Certification Exam for Reading K-12; candidates submit exam results to the Florida Department of Education when applying for a teaching certificate.

Learners who do not plan to obtain a Florida teaching certificate can work on the master of arts (MA) in reading education. This online master’s in reading contains classes in children’s literature, reading education, English as a second language, and language arts. The degree program culminates in six credit hours of research and a thesis.

2. University of Georgia, Athens, GA

Established in Athens in 1785, UGA is a holistic land- and sea-grant institution with more than 37,000 learners. The online master of education in reading education comprises 36 credit hours and equips practicing K-12 teachers with the skills to help learners achieve as readers. Cohorts progress via a sequence of 12 classes. Learners first finish core classes in research, historical and cultural foundations, and literacy instruction. Learners then take four classes in new and digital literacies before concluding the degree program with two electives. The two-year degree program contains a practicum or clinic and culminates in a final exam and a capstone class, electronic assessment in literacy classrooms.

The degree program can lead to a Georgia Reading Endorsement. Competitive candidates should have a minimum 3.0 GPA, strong GRE or MAT scores, and at least two years of teaching experience. Candidates who do not meet these criteria may still obtain consideration.

3. University of South Florida, Tampa, FL

The master of arts in reading is perfect for current K-12 educators and individuals interested in the field of literacy in contexts outside the classroom. Full-time learners who take summer classes usually graduate in two to three years. Most classes are synchronous and cooperative, and the degree program is available entirely online. Learners take a sequence of 11 classes totaling 33 credit hours. The degree program begins with a three-credit class in the foundations of educational research, after which learners finish a research class in literature for a diverse society. Concentration classes consist of history and foundations in reading and STEM subjects, literacy and technology, and a practicum in reading.

Candidates should have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally sanctioned school or an international equivalent and a minimum 3.0 GPA. Learners adding a reading endorsement to their certificate must hold or be eligible for a teaching license.

4. California State University – Fullerton, Fullerton, CA

CSUF’s master of science with a concentration in education, literacy, and reading is intended for practicing teachers. The 30-unit online master’s reading specialist degree program offers the hypothetical foundations and pedagogical skills necessary to become effective reading professionals. Classes are available online, on campus, and in blended formats. Learners finish 29 units of classwork, including a five-unit practicum and classes in concepts including research in reading and literacy education, literacy in the academic subjects, linguistics and literacy education, and the socio-cultural context of language and literacy for English learners. The degree program concludes with a one-unit capstone, which can be a thesis, project, or holistic exam.

Candidates should have a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA in their last 60 undergraduate units. Candidates should have at least three years of teaching experience and a California single subject, special education, or several subject teaching credential.

5. University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY

The master of arts in education in literacy education is intended for teachers and prospective teachers who want to learn more about developmental reading and who do not intend to obtain a teaching license. The online master’s in reading requires 30 credits. Full-time learners typically graduate in two to three semesters, and part-time learners generally require four to five semesters. Learners finish 27 credits of core classes, a three-credit elective, and a capstone project. Classes consist of literacy acquisition and instruction, classroom literacy assessment and instruction, literature for children and young people, and strategic teaching and reading processes.

Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree from a sanctioned institution and must demonstrate an interest in literacy education. Some graduates work on careers as adult literacy coaches, and others work in private or overseas schools as reading teachers, ESL professors, reading specialists, or individual education teachers. Graduates can also receive the University of Buffalo’s PhD degree in coursework, instruction, and the science of learning with an emphasis on reading education.

6. Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

Texas A&M has an online MEd in coursework and instruction with an emphasis on reading and literacy for education professionals who seek career advancement on their terms. The degree program centers on identifying literacy needs in educational programs and developing literacy in learner bodies. This master’s in reading consists of 36 credit hours. Learners develop advanced knowledge via classes such as:

• Assessment
• Foundations of Reading Instruction
• Literacy Intervention
• Teaching Reading in Elementary Grades

Along with their online classes, learners must finish a practicum, which develops crucial, real-world knowledge and field experience. Candidates to this online master’s in reading degree program must hold a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 2.75 GPA. GRE scores are not required.

7. University of Wisconsin – La Crosse, La Crosse, WI

The University of Wisconsin – La Crosse grants admission to over 10,000 learners in an array of undergraduate, graduate, and professional degree and certificate programs. Established as the La Crosse State Normal School, the institution became part of the University of Wisconsin System in 1971. UW La Crosse has an online master of science in education with reading teacher and reading specialist paths. The master’s in reading program consists of 37 credits and comprises online college classes in areas, such as:

• Critical Issues in Reading Difficulties
• Literacy Assessment
• Program Evaluation and Direction
• Reading and Literacy
• Research Methods

Along with the required core classes, learners earning this master’s in reading online must finish a practicum and a thesis. In so doing, learners develop significant real-world experience and insight along with research capacity and knowledge. Candidates to the degree program should have teaching experience in PreK-12 schools, eligibility for teacher licensure, and a bachelor’s degree.

8. University of Delaware, Newark, DE

The University of Delaware grants admission to nearly 24,000 learners in seven colleges. The institution has 67 doctoral programs, 142 master’s programs, and 135 bachelor’s programs, including a fully online master of education in literacy. The 30-credit master’s degree program readies certified teachers to become licensed reading or literacy specialists in Delaware. The degree program centers on literacy theory, cultural and linguistic relevancy, and digital literacy tools.

Required classes consist of language development in the classroom, teaching writing in the elementary school, literacy instruction for English language learners, and the role of literacy in content areas. Learners finish a six-credit supervised reading clinic. Each class lasts seven weeks, and most learners finish the degree program in about two years. To graduate, learners receive a passing score on the Praxis II Reading Specialist test.

Candidates should have earned a bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA and must demonstrate knowledge and experience in literacy education. Learners need access to technology that enables them to video their classroom work.

9. California State University – Fresno, Fresno, CA

CSU Fresno offers an online master of arts in education with a reading/language arts focus. This degree program is intended to serve educators in achieving success and professional advancement.

This online master’s in reading degree program consists of 30 credit hours grounded in theory, research, and practice to give learners advanced knowledge and skills in reading education. Learners engage with classes in concepts, such as:

• Development
• Language Issues
• Literacy Processes and Practices
• Program Evaluation
• Research in the Field

To finish this degree program, learners may select to complete a project, thesis, or holistic exam. Learners earning this master’s in reading online finish classes in eight-week sessions.

10. Indiana University – Bloomington, Bloomington, IN

IU Bloomington is a state institution enrolling nearly 45,000 learners. The online master of science in education in literacy, culture, and language education readies learners to become reading specialists in schools and clinics. The 36-credit degree program trains future English teachers, second language educators, and reading specialists. Learners earning the master’s in reading online finish classwork in areas such as instructional issues in language education and strategies for educational inquiry. Learners also finish 15 elective credits and a capstone in literacy, culture, and language education.

Available concentrations consist of early childhood and elementary literacy, children’s and young adult literature, language arts education, content literacy, English as a foreign language, and secondary literacy. Learners planning to work on research careers can utilize the online masters in reading degree program as preparation to receive IU Bloomington’s EdD or PhD in literacy, culture, and language education.

Learners can begin the degree program in the spring, summer, or fall semesters. Candidates should have earned a bachelor’s degree from a regionally or nationally sanctioned institution with a minimum 2.75 GPA. Candidates with a GPA below 3.0 must submit GRE scores.

11. SUNY Oneonta, Oneonta, NY

SUNY Oneonta, established in 1889, grants admission to over 6,000 learners in an array of undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs. Among its offerings are two online master’s in literacy education degree programs with concentrations in birth-to-grade 6 and grades 5–12. These 30-credit master’s in reading programs build a foundation of literacy knowledge and skills. The program for birth-to-grade 6 contains classes in concepts such as children’s literature, content literacy, language acquisition, and the writing process in literacy programs. The program for grades 5–12 contains classes in concepts such as reading and writing in specific content areas, foundations of literacy development, and literature for the secondary learner. Both programs include research and practicum components.

Candidates to the online master’s in reading programs must hold a bachelor’s degree from a regionally sanctioned institution and have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0.

12. University of San Diego, San Diego, CA

The University of San Diego is a religious institution in the Alcalá Park area. USD grants admission to nearly 9,000 learners and has 42 bachelor’s degrees, nine master’s degrees, a Juris Doctor, five LLM degrees, and three doctorates.

Learners can earn a master of education with a concentration in literacy and digital learning entirely online. The degree program readies elementary teachers, English and language arts educators, and content area professors to incorporate new media into their classrooms. Learners investigate methods to improve learners’ literacy and reading skills. This master’s in reading consists of 10 classes, and learners take two classes per 14-week semester. Each class lasts seven weeks, and learners take one class at a time. Required classes consist of teaching digital readers, social justice and educational equity, teaching digital writers, cognition and learning, and participatory learning in 21st-century classrooms. Learners also finish a capstone seminar, which entails an action research project.

Candidates should possess a bachelor’s degree from a regionally sanctioned institution with a minimum 2.75 GPA. Candidates do not need teacher licensure, but they should have at least two years of teaching experience. Learners should have access to a classroom during their studies. Candidates may submit GRE scores, but they are not required.

13. University at Albany, Albany, NY

UAlbany grants admission to more than 17,000 learners in nine colleges and schools. The institution has 50 undergraduate majors and 125 graduate degrees on three campuses. UAlbany has delivered online education for more than 20 years.

UAlbany’s online master of science in reading is intended for professionals in non–classroom literacy settings. The adaptable online master’s in reading degree program does not lead to teacher licensure; the degree program equips learners to improve the literacy of young adults and children. This master’s degree comprises 30 credits, evenly split among core classes and electives; it is adaptable and can bend toward learner’s interests and career objectives. Required classes consist of literacy in society, children’s literature, and teaching writing grades 5–12. Electives consist of media literacy and literature for English language learners.

Candidates should possess a bachelor’s degree from a sanctioned institution with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Candidates must submit standardized test scores.

14. University of West Florida, Pensacola, FL

UWF has 18 online graduate programs, including a master of education in reading. The online master’s in reading is intended for credentialed teachers working toward a Florida Department of Education Reading Endorsement. The degree program comprises 36 semester hours in concepts such as teaching pupils to be competent writers, research and culminates in reading, literature for children and young adults, and foundations of measurement. Learners finish a three-hour practicum and a three-hour action research project. Learners must pass the Florida Teacher Certification Examinations in general knowledge, professional, subject area, and reading.

Candidates should have earned a bachelor’s degree with at least a 3.0 GPA and must submit GRE or MAT scores. Candidates should be certified teachers or candidates for licensure.

15. Slippery Rock University, Slippery Rock, PA

Slippery Rock is a state institution about 50 miles north of Pittsburgh. Established in 1889 as a teacher training institute, the institution  grants admission to more than 9,000 undergraduate and graduate learners. The institution’s online offerings consist of a degree completion program, graduate certificates, master’s degrees, and a doctorate in education.

Current educators can work on an online master of education in elementary education with a concentration in K-12 reading specialists. After passing the Praxis II exam in reading, learners can add a Pennsylvania Reading Specialist Certification, which is required for all Title I teachers in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The licensure also qualifies holders for careers as resource specialists, reading teachers, and educational consultants in Pennsylvania and states with reciprocity.

The online master’s degree in reading comprises 30 credits, 21 of which are in reading and literacy classes, such as historical, psychological, and linguistic foundations of literacy, literacy assessment analysis, and instructional decision making. Learners take three credits of educational foundations classes, such as the history of western education, and six credits of research classwork. Like many reading specialist licensure online programs, SRU’s degree program includes a six-credit practicum. Candidates should have a current teaching certificate and a bachelor’s degree and must submit to a background check.