Literacy with Dyslexia Endorsement

[1] Objectives

The major purpose of the MSE programs offered through the Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education is to offer advanced preparation in assessment, planning, and instructional strategies to personnel working with school age children. MSE programs are standards based, designed around exemplary educational practices, and aligned with the Arkansas Competencies. Master’s programs are currently available in literacy and special education with various licensure/endorsement programs offered as well.

[2] Guidelines for MSE in Literacy with Dyslexia Endorsement

1. Admission into the MSE program will be selective and competitive. Contact the Department of Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education or visit the department’s website (https://uca.edu/else/) for program details.
2. In addition to the general application and GPA requirements of the UCA Graduate School, applicants seeking an Arkansas Reading Specialist K–12 license must hold a valid standard Arkansas educator license. Individuals who have an out-of-state educator license and wish to hold an Arkansas Reading Specialist K–12 license, please contact the program coordinator.
3. Applicants to the MSE in Literacy with Dyslexia Endorsement program will be required to submit this form, signed by their principal or superintendent. Individuals not currently teaching, please contact the program coordinator.
4. Individuals not holding a teaching license are eligible for admission into the MSE program, but they will not be eligible for an Arkansas Reading Specialist K–12 license, as the license is considered an endorsement to an Arkansas teaching license in a general education area. Individuals not holding a valid standard Arkansas license must submit either (a) an out-of-state teaching license or (b) two letters of reference from practicing professionals who can speak to the candidate’s knowledge, performance, dispositions, and capability to complete a master’s program.
5. Graduate candidates who enter the program without having previously completed both parts of an approved Arkansas Department of Education Prescribed Proficiency Pathway must take an additional 6 credit hours of coursework—ELSE 6348 Multisensory Approach to Language I and ELSE 6349 Multisensory Approach to Language II—prior to enrolling in further coursework. A Proficiency Pathway verification form must be completed during the application process. This verification form can be found here: https://uca.edu/else/readingprogram/.
6. With approval, a maximum of six hours may be transferred from another institution of higher education. These six hours cannot be part of the 15 hours of dyslexia endorsement courses and must be approved by the program coordinator.
7. Students must complete the Praxis test for Reading Specialists and submit documentation of the score prior to graduation.
8. Students must complete the Knowledge and Practice Examination for Effective Reading Instruction (KPEERI) and submit documentation of the score prior to graduation.

[2.1] Continuous Enrollment Requirement

College of Education graduate students are expected to maintain continuous enrollment throughout their program of study until achieving program completion. Specifically, College of Education graduate students are expected to be enrolled in at least two of the three semesters in a given calendar year (Spring, Summer I or II, and Fall). If a student must take a time-out, the student is expected to notify his/her home department. If a student fails to register for more than one semester out of three in a given calendar year, he/she may be ineligible for readmission unless granted by the home department.

[3] Endorsement and Graduate Certificate

A program of study exists for

• Graduate Certificate in Dyslexia (leading to an Arkansas teaching endorsement)

In addition to the general application and GPA requirements of the UCA Graduate School,

1. Admission into the program will be selective and competitive. Contact the Department of Elementary, Literacy, and Special Education or visit the department’s website (https://uca.edu/else/) for program details.
2. Applicants seeking an Arkansas Dyslexia K-12 endorsement on their license must hold a valid standard Arkansas educator license. Individuals who have an out-of-state educator license and wish to hold an Arkansas Reading Specialist K-12 license, please contact the program coordinator.
3. Applicants will be required to submit this form, signed by their principal or superintendent. Individuals not currently teaching, please contact the program coordinator.
4. Individuals not holding a teaching license are eligible for admission into the program, but they will not be eligible for an Arkansas Dyslexia K-12 endorsement to their license as the license is considered an endorsement to an Arkansas teaching license in a general education area. Individuals not holding a valid standard Arkansas license must submit either (a) an out-of-state teaching license or (b) two letters of reference from practicing professionals who can speak to the candidate’s knowledge, performance, dispositions, and capability to complete graduate coursework.
5. Graduate candidates who enter the program without having previously completed both parts of an approved Arkansas Department of Education Prescribed Proficiency Pathway must take an additional 6 hours of coursework—ELSE 6348 Multisensory Approach to Language I and ELSE 6349 Multisensory Approach to Language II—prior to enrolling in further coursework. A Proficiency Pathway verification form must be completed during the application process. This verification form can be found here: https://uca.edu/else/readingprogram/.
6. No hours may be transferred from another institution of higher education into the graduate certificate in dyslexia program.
7. Students must complete the Praxis test Principles of Learning and Teaching (PLT) and submit documentation of the score prior to completion of the graduate certificate program.
8. Students must complete the Knowledge and Practice Examination for Effective Reading Instruction (KPEERI) and submit documentation of the score prior to prior to completion of the graduate certificate program.

[4] Program of Study for MSE in Literacy with Dyslexia Endorsement/Certificate

Course Requirements (30–36 credit hours)

Candidates entering the program must provide evidence of completion of BOTH parts of an approved Arkansas Proficiency Pathway. If these are not complete, candidates must take these two courses as a prerequisite to the program:

Courses required for the Dyslexia Endorsement or Graduate Certificate are marked with a dagger (†).

[5] Graduate Course Links

Follow this link for ELSE course descriptions: course link.
Follow this link for ASTL course descriptions: course link.
Follow this link for LEAD course descriptions: course link.