The Department of Curriculum, Instruction, and Special Education and the DuBard School for Language Disorders in the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences collaborate to offer the Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree in Dyslexia Therapy. The program requires official admission to the dyslexia therapy M.Ed. program, completion and submission of the application form for a master’s degree at least one semester in advance of the date of graduation, successful completion of the comprehensive examination, and completion of all coursework and practicum requirements.
Admission Requirements
Admission to the Dyslexia Therapy M.Ed. program is selective. To be considered for regular admission to the program, an applicant must submit or provide documentation of:
- a baccalaureate degree with an academic record reflecting a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 (4.0 scale) for the last two years of undergraduate study in education, speech and hearing sciences, or a related field;
- official results from a national standardized achievement/aptitude test predictive of the ability to complete a graduate program successfully. These include the Graduate Record examination (GRE) (all sections); the Miller Analogies Test (MAT); or the Praxis II: Content Area Examination;
- three letters of recommendation from professionals in education or speech and hearing sciences who are qualified to assess the applicant’s readiness for graduate study in dyslexia therapy;
- a letter of intent stating professional goals, reasons for pursuing the degree, and how attainment of this degree will help meet those goals. (This will be used as a writing sample.);
- a professional resume; and
- a copy of all current teaching licenses (if applicable).
Admission
Representatives from both academic areas review qualified applicants for graduate work throughout the academic year. Members of underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply.
Admission to the program is contingent on the approval of the Departmental Graduate Committee for Dyslexia Therapy, the department chair, the dean of the college, and the dean of the Graduate School. An applicant who fails to meet the criteria for regular admission may be considered for conditional admission on an individual basis. Students accepted on a conditional basis MUST attain grades of B or better on the first nine hours of specified coursework 500-level or higher or all coursework taken while completing this nine-hour requirement. It is the responsibility of the student to inform the department chair or the graduate coordinator when conditional status is to be removed. Additional requirements may be specified based on the applicant’s deficiencies.
The program is a 30-semester hour degree delivered in a hybrid format, including on-campus instruction during part of two summers, online courses, three weekend sessions (Friday evening and Saturday) in the fall and spring, and a supervised practicum experience.
All graduate programs require a 3.0 GPA or better for graduation. No courses with a grade lower than a C will count toward the degree.
Comprehensive Exam
Students are required to pass comprehensive examinations to graduate from the program.
Outcomes
Graduates will be eligible to sit for the Alliance for Accreditation and Certification national examination, which, when successfully completed, will lead to eligibilty for the Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) national credential and membership in the Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA). Graduates will be eligible for the MDE Educator Licensure endorsement #203 for dyslexia therapy.
Research and Scholarly Integrity Education
All faculty holding regular or associate graduate faculty status, must complete CITI training modules required by the Graduate School and their departments. All graduate students must complete the CITI training modules required by the Graduate School and their departments the first semester they are enrolled in graduate school. The RSIE policy and training information are found on the Graduate School web page –www.usm.edu/graduate-school. Contact the dean of the Graduate School if you have any questions regarding the policy of training information.
