Reading Education (M.Ed.)

Students who read every day perform better on tests, achieve more academically, develop a broader vocabulary, and gain a better understanding of other cultures.

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Program Overview

As a reading educator, foster this love of reading in the classroom and beyond. Develop the skills required of reading specialists-literacy development, assessment, and instruction. 

This three-semester program is designed for licensed teachers or those with equivalent teaching experience who want to focus on literacy development, assessment, and instruction of students with diverse learning and literacy needs. Alumni can be found working as academic intervention specialists, reading specialists, literacy coaches, educational specialists, classroom teachers, and out-of-school literacy program coordinators.

Careers

Of job-seeking Reading Education graduates, 97% were employed or attending graduate school within four months of graduation. Recent career placements include: 

  • Exceptional Education Teacher, LEAD Cameron Middle School, Nashville, Tennessee
  • Fourth Grade Teacher, Northlake Hill Elementary School, Santa Clarita, California
  • Ph.D. Candidate, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
  • Reading Interventionist, European School Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany
  • Study Activation Specialist, Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Nashville, Tennessee
Dan Parsons

"Peabody has given me the necessary tools to provide all of my students an equitable literacy education."

Dan Parsons
M.Ed., Language Arts Teacher, Liberty Middle School

Program Facts

Program Director: Emily Pendergrass
Admissions Coordinator: Erica Bodden
Admission Term: Fall and Summer
Credit Hours: 30

Application Dates

  • Application Deadline 1

    January 3

  • Application Deadline 2

    February 3

  • Rolling Admissions

    After February 3*

    *Applications received after the Feb 3 second deadline are reviewed on a rolling basis and accepted as space and funds allow.

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Program Curriculum

The program is designed to fulfill the requirements for an add-on endorsement as a reading specialist. Careful selection of coursework can lead to dual English language learners (ELL) and reading specialist endorsements.

Coursework

  • Required and Elective Courses

    Reading Required Courses: 21 hours

    • EDUC 6400: Literacy Development [3]
    • EDUC 6410: Literacy Instruction and Assessment for Grades K-5 [3]
    • EDUC 6420: Literacy Instruction and Assessment for Grades 6-12 [3]
    • EDUC 6440: Teaching Digital Literacies [3]
    • EDUC 6470: Literacy Coaching and Professional Development [3]
    • EDUC 6421: Literacy Leaders Practicum [6] (3 hours in fall and 3 hours in spring)

    Research and Diversity (6 hours)

    • EDUC 7810: Inquiry into Contexts [3]

    And either:

    • EDUC 6020: Culturally Relevant Pedagogy [3]
    • EDUC 8040: Diversity and Equity in Education [3]

    Language Development and Language Arts — (required 3 hours)

    Choose from 1 course:

    • ENED 6310: Perspectives on the English Language
    • ENED 6380: Teaching Writing and Multimedia Composition
    • ENED 7320: Untapped Potential: The Power of Books for Fostering Language & Thinking
    • EDUC 6450: Learning to Write: Theory and Research
  • Practicum

    One of the greatest strengths of the Reading Education program is the varied, multiple field opportunities available to you. Through partnerships with several area public schools, you'll gain experience in teaching and assessing P-12 students and collaborating with and supporting teachers, paraprofessionals, and other colleagues.

    Many of our students also work as teaching assistants for undergraduate education classes, a rich experience of learning about teaching through practice alongside a Vanderbilt education professor.

Our Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

The Reading Education Program works with licensed teachers to enhance instruction for students who might be struggling with school-based reading. This entails paying attention to equitable instruction for diverse learners and literate environments. Additionally, we think strategically about school-level, literacy-based professional development that is tailored to the needs of each school.

Selected Faculty Research

Emily Pendergrass

Emily Pendergrass, associate professor of the practice of literacy education

Professor Pendergrass specializes in supporting struggling readers in the context of reading as a community practice, with special reference to professional development and new literacies including technologies. Additionally, she works closely with local public schools in literacy coaching and facilitating professional development workshops.

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