Reading & Language Arts
Specialist Credential
Division of Curriculum and Instruction
CSULA, Charter
College of Education
The Reading and Language Arts Specialist Credential is an advanced
credential above and beyond the Multiple Subject, Single Subject, or
Special Education teaching credential. For those who qualify, this 45
unit Specialist Credential program automatically also fulfills
requirements for 3 other CSLA graduate reading programs: the M.A in
Education: Option in Reading, the California Reading Certificate, and
the Postsecondary Reading Certificate programs. The Reading and
Language Arts Specialist Credential authorizes the holder to be a K-12
Reading Specialist at the school, district, or county office of
education level. The California Reading Certificate authorizes the
holder to be a school site Reading Specialist at the grade levels
authorized by his/her basic teaching credential. The CSULA
Postsecondary Reading Certificate authorizes the holder to teach
reading courses at the Community College level.
This program fulfills the requirements of the National Council for
Accreditation of Teacher Education, the International Reading
Association's Guidelines for Reading Specialists and the State of
California requirements for the Reading & Language Arts Specialist
Credential. Since this program is NCATE approved, graduates may be able
to take advantage of interstate reciprocity to many states within the
US; contact receiving state department of education for more
information. Since this Reading and Language Arts Specialist Credential
program is so closely linked to the Master of Arts: Option in (K-14)
Reading, and the California Reading Certificate, and the Postsecondary
Reading Certificate programs, with careful planning, students can earn
all four (4) concurrently. (See Graduate Reading Programs Advisor
for more information.)
As graduates of the Reading & Language Arts Specialist Credential
program, one may find work as:
- Reading & Language Arts teachers at the K-12 level
- Reading & Language Arts Specialists in public and private
schools
- Developers of Reading and Language Arts curriculum
- Reading and Language Arts Specialists at the County Office of
Education and/or the School District Office
- Educators within informal non-academic environments such as
museums, zoos, aquaria, and tutoring clinics
- Providers of professional development and in-service workshops in
Reading and Language Arts
- Authors of Reading and/or Language Arts textbooks
- Reading and Language Arts consultants for publishing companies
Program Outcomes
Students will be authorized to:
- Develop and coordinate reading programs at the school, district,
or county level in California.
- Select and adapt reading and language arts instruction materials
- Plan and conduct reading and writing staff development
- Assess student progress and monitor student achievement in
reading and writing
- Provide direct reading and writing intervention work with
students in any grade level K-12, or in classes organized for adults
- Develop an understanding of current issues, practices and
directions in reading and language arts curriculum and the ability to
inquire into these.
- Develop knowledge and skills in educational research; develop
analysis and reflection skills and written and oral communication
- Develop analysis and reflection skills for written and oral
communication
- Increase their confidence to teach reading and language arts
- Improve their ability to manage and assess their students’
reading and language arts.learning
- Augment their capacity to think reflectively about their teaching
of reading and language arts
- Increase their capacity to become an agent of change in the field
of reading and language arts education
Program Faculty:
As a part of the Reading & Language Arts Specialist Credential
students receive individual advisement and instruction from expert
faculty members who combine extensive classroom-teaching experience,
research, and pre-service and in-service teacher development in the
area of Reading and Language Arts. For more information regarding the
Reading & Language Arts Specialist Credential option, contact any
of the program coordinators below:
Dr. Darlene Michener
http://www.calstatela.edu/faculty/dmichen
dmichen@calstatela.edu
Dr. Joan Fingon
http://www.calstatela.edu/faculty/jfingon
jfingon@calstatela.edu
Application to the Program
Click HERE
to find out how to apply to the program.
Program Description
Click on the 
Program
Plan to learn what types of classes you’ll be taking as part
of the Reading & Language Arts Specialist Credential.
Scholarship Information
http://www.calstatela.edu/academic/ccoe/scholarships.htm
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