Home > Graduate Home > Master of Education in Reading and English as a Second Language

Master of Education in Reading and

English as a Second Language
Amie Sarker, Ph.D., Program Administrator

Carolyn Spain, Ph.D., Program Director

The Master of Education in Reading and English as a Second Language (ESL) program is designed for practicing teachers and administrators who desire continued growth and expertise as professionals, specializing in the areas of literacy and ESL instruction. 

Once teachers with their initial teaching certification have successfully completed all coursework in the program, and if they have passed the appropriate state certification (TExES) tests, they will also earn the Reading Specialist Certification, the Master Reading Teacher Certification, the English as a Second Language Certification / Endorsement, and the Bilingual Education Certification.

The M.Ed. in Reading and English as a Second Language degree is earned through completion of a thirty-six hour non-thesis program.  Learning experiences and assignments in this program are designed in order to provide the learner with sufficient theoretical and experiential knowledge to serve successfully as a literacy and ESL specialist in the role of classroom teacher, literacy coach, or administrator. 

The M.Ed. in Reading and English as a Second Language with Bilingual Education is a 39-hour program which supports candidates in developing additional competencies for BIlingual Education Certification.

The faculty in the College of Education teach from a Christian world view; they are committed to equipping educators to provide relevant and meaningful learning experiences for all individuals, emphasizing the concerns, issues, and problems confronting teachers today. Every effort is made to offer courses that meet the specific needs of our graduate students.

PROGRAM CONTINUANCE

Continuance in the program past the first six (6) hours is pending submission of a satisfactory score on the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) or Graduate Record Examinations® (GRE®). 

Master of Education in Reading and English as a Second Language Degree Requirements

Reading Concentration (12 credit hours)

BILINGUAL EDUCATION SPECIALIZATION

The Master of Education in Reading and English as a Second Language with Bilingual Education Specialization degree is a thirty-nine hour, non-thesis program that includes a non-credit reading certification seminar at the conclusion of any certification program.  The program consists of a core curriculum of at least 12 hours of academic concentration in reading, 15 credit hours of academic concentration in ESL, and 9 credit hours of bilingual education specialization. In areas where the student demonstrates sufficient proficiency, co0urse substitution may be approved by the Master of Education Program Advisor and must be in keeping with the requirements of the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC).

Bilingual Education Specialization  (9 credit hours, courses taught in Spanish)

Required (3 credit hours)

Total Credit Hours Required :  Minimum 39 hours

 (S-L) = Course(s) with field-based service-learning component.

College of Education Graduate Portfolio
Because of Dallas Baptist University’s quest for meaningful assessment of graduate students, a portfolio assessment is required in all College of Education graduate programs.  The process of creating a portfolio is explained in the College of Education Graduate Portfolio Manual, which can be downloaded from then DBU website. The portfolio allows the student to present information about themselves as learners and to document growth over a period of time.

The portfolio should be a collection of artifacts accompanied by self-reflections that not only help the learner to understand and extend learning, but also invite the reader of the portfolio to gain insights about the learner. Please refer to the Portfolio Manual for appropriate procedures to follow in preparation of the portfolio.  Students must register for the Professional Portfolio course as prescribed in their degree plan during the semester in which they will present their portfolio to the Educator Preparation Board. The Educator Preparation Board is a group of experienced and widely successful educators from Dallas Baptist University and the Metroplex. Practicing teachers, administrators, consultants, superintendents, guidance directors, personnel directors, and Educational Region Service Center personnel as well as DBU professors and administrations volunteer their time for this highly selective process. The Educator Preparation Board serves as the College of Education Graduate Programs' advisory board and meets three times a year to assess graduate students' professional portfolios.

DBU also offers two Accelerated Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programs that include the M.Ed. in Reading and ESL programs for qualifying undergraduate students:

• B.A. Early Childhood-6 Generalist/M.Ed. in Reading and ESL
• B.A. 4-8 English Language Arts and Reading/M.Ed. in Reading and ESL

Students in these programs will complete state requirements for initial teacher certification in the areas of EC-6 Generalist or 4-8 English Language Arts. Students completing these programs will learn and demonstrate how to serve as an effective literacy teacher and leader through synthesis and application of knowledge regarding the interrelated components of reading, writing, speaking, and listening across developmental stages of oral and written language. Degree candidates will also learn and demonstrate sufficient theoretical and experiential knowledge for serving as an ethical and effective teacher, advocate, and leader for culturally and linguistically diverse students. 

Students completing either of the Accelerated Degree Programs will take the following courses at the graduate level as substitutes for their undergraduate cross-listed course requirements, thereby requiring 30 instead of the regular 36 graduate hours for the program beyond the regular undergraduate degree requirements.

READ 5332 - Reading: Diagnosing and Correcting Reading Difficulties with Clinical Experience

READ 5337- Pedagogy of Reading III (Literature & Visual Representation)

Retention in and Graduation From the Program:

Students must fulfill the following conditions to enroll and continue enrollment in either of the Accelerated Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Programs:

• Students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0.
• Students must meet the admission requirements for the undergraduate educator preparation program and the graduate admission requirements for the M.Ed. in Reading and ESL program.
• Students must apply and be accepted for graduate admission before taking READ 5332 or READ 5333 (S-L), but after completing a minimum of 90 undergraduate credit hours, or within the semester that 90 credit hours will have been completed.

Further details regarding Accelerated Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree Program requirements are included in the Undergraduate Catalog.

STATE CERTIFICATIONS

Reading Specialist 

Master Reading Teacher

English as a Second Language

What is the Reading Specialist Certification?

Teachers desiring to specialize in the important area of Reading may pursue the Reading Specialist Certificate, an all-level (P-12) certificate.  The Reading Specialist is a certification recognized across the U.S., and many holding this advanced certification work as literacy coaches, assisting teachers with implementation of best literacy practices.  Teachers may add the Reading Specialist Certificate to their existing valid credential upon completion of a master's degree with sufficient coursework in literacy, two years of acceptable classroom teaching experience, and after passing the Reading Specialist TExES examination.  For more details on applying for certification click here.

What is the Master Reading Teacher Certification?

The Master Reading Teacher Certificate is an all-level (EC-12) certificate specific to Texas that offers advanced preparation in the area of literacy for teachers working in diverse classrooms.  To qualify for this certificate, teachers must complete nine graduate credit hours in literacy and either have taught for three years or have passed the Master Reading Teacher TExES examination.  For more details on applying for certification click here.

What is the English as a Second Language Certification?

The English as a Second Language (ESL) Certification prepares candidates to teach children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and it is a requirement for those teachers working with students in grades K-12 whose home (or first) language is not English.  Candidates do not need to speak languages other than English for ESL Certification, and this all-level (EC-12) certificate may be added to any valid Texas teacher certificate. 

DBU's four graduate courses and practicum in this area of ESL offer advanced preparation for working in the increasingly multicultural and multilingual classrooms of today, and the courses prepare teachers to take the English as a Second Language TExES examination for state certification.  This certification can be pursued independently of a master's degree, or as a part of other master's degrees, and individuals will have the opportunity to receive DBU's ESL Advanced Certificate in addition to the state certification through completion of the ESL courses.  For more information on the ESL Program, click here.

Dual Master's Degrees

Earn two degrees with the efficiency of learning

available through a dual degree program!

Frequently Asked Questions

Admissions Procedures

Application Procedures

Transfer Credits

Cohort Programs

Financial Aid

Registration Procedures

Flexible Scheduling

Online Programs

Graduate Information

College of Education Graduate Portfolio

Portfolio Requirements

TExES Examination

Course Descriptions

Request Information

M.Ed. Helpful Information Email Carolyn Spain
Frequently Asked Questions

College of Education

UPCOMING EVENTS

Educator Preparation Board

Spring 2013: May 1
Summer 2013: July 18

Educator Banquet

Spring 2013: April 25

Application to Graduate Deadline

November 5 for Spring 2013
April 5 for Summer 2013
June 5 for Fall 2013

Portfolio Workshop

Spring 2013:
February 20 at 4:00
DBU Main Campus
COE Room 100

Graduate Degrees

& Programs

	Master of Business Administration
	M.A. in Management
	M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction
	M.Ed. in Educational Leadership
	M.Ed. in Kinesiology
	M.Ed. in Reading and English as a Second Language
	M.Ed. in School Counseling
	M.Ed. in Special Education
	M.A. in Sport Management
	M.A. in Teaching
	M.A. in Communication
	M.A. in Counseling
	Master of Liberal Arts
	Master of Professional Development

---

Programs available through the Gary Cook Graduate School of Leadership

	M.A. Children's Ministry
	M.A. in Christian Education
	M.A. in Christian Ministry
	M.A. in Family Ministry
	M.A. in Global Leadership
	M.A. in Student Ministry
	M.A. in Theological Studies
	M.A. in Worship Leadership
	M.Ed. in Higher Education

Dual Master's Degrees

	M.A. in Children's Ministry / M.A. in Christian Ministry
	M.A. in Children's Ministry / M.A. in Counseling
	M.A. in Children's Ministry / M.A. in Management
	M.A. in Children's Ministry / M.A. in Theological Studies
	M.A. in Children's Ministry / Master of Business Administration
	M.A. in Children's Ministry / Master of Liberal Arts
	M.A. in Christian Education / M.A. in Christian Ministry
	M.A. in Christian Education / M.A. in Counseling
	M.A. in Christian Education / M.A. in Global Leadership
	M.A. in Christian Education / M.A. in Teaching
	M.A. in Christian Education / M.A. in Theological Studies
	M.A. in Christian Education / Master of Business Administration
	M.A. in Christian Ministry / M.A. in Communication
	M.A. in Christian Ministry / M.A. in Global Leadership
	M.A. in Christian Ministry / M.A. in Student Ministry
	M.A. in Christian Ministry / M.A. in Theological Studies
	M.A. in Christian Ministry / M.A. in Worship Leadership
	M.A. in Christian Ministry / Master of Business Administration
	M.A. in Communication / M.A. in Management
	M.A. in Communication / M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction
	M.A. in Communication / M.Ed. in Higher Education
	M.A. in Communication / M.A. in Worship Leadership
	M.A. in Communication / Master of Business Administration
	M.A. in Global Leadership / M.A. in Management
	M.A. in Global Ministry / M.A. in Student Ministry
	M.A. in Global Leadership / M.A. in Teaching
	M.A. in Global Leadership / M.A. in Theological Studies
	M.A. in Global Leadership / Master of Business Administration
	M.A. in Management / M.A. in Student Ministry
	M.A. in Management / M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction
	M.A. in Management / M.Ed. in Higher Education
	M.A. in Management / M.Ed. in Kinesiology
	M.A. in Student Ministry / M.A. in Teaching
	M.A. in Student Ministry / M.A. in Theological Studies
	M.A. in Student Ministry/M.A. in Worship Leadership
	M.A. in Student Ministry/M.Ed. in Higher Education
	M.A. in Teaching / M.Ed. in Higher Education
	M.A. in Theological Studies / M.A. in Worship Leadership
	Master of Business Administration / M.Ed. in Educational Leadership
	Master of Business Administration / M.Ed. in Higher Education
	M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction / M.Ed. in Educational Leadership
	M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction / M.Ed. in Reading and English as a Second Language
	M.Ed. in Educational Leadership / M.Ed. in Reading and English as a Second Language
	M.Ed. in Educational Leadership / M.Ed. in School Counseling
	M.Ed. in Educational Leadership / M.Ed. in Special Education
	M.Ed. in Higher Education / M.Ed. in Kinesiology
	M.Ed. in Reading and English as a Second Language / M.Ed. in Special Education

Contact the Education Program:
214.333.5413

Contact the
Office of Graduate Programs:
214.333.5242 or
1.800.460.1328