GRADUATE PROGRAMS
Programs Offered
The Elementary Education Graduate program requires the completion of 30 semester hours.The Reading Specialist Graduate program requires the completion of 33 semester hours. Teachers seeking the Iowa K-12 Reading Specialist program will complete 36 semester hours to meet the Iowa requirements for this endorsement.
Program Locations
Elementary Education graduate courses are offered online and on the Macomb and Quad Cities campuses.
The Reading Specialist Program is offered in Macomb, Quad Cities, and Springfield., IL
Program Accreditation
Our programs are accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and use national professional organization standards as the foundation of the curriculum.
Certified Teachers Seeking Additional Certification
Individuals already holding teaching certification may be able to add elementary education or early childhood education certification through coursework in the graduate program. Please contact the certification office to request an evaluation of your transcripts, (309) 298-1438.
Program Faculty
Courses in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction are taught by full-time faculty, most of whom have doctorates or terminal degrees in their field. Our faculty have taught in a variety of public and private school settings and have been recognized for their teaching excellence and the use of technology in teaching. They are active in the profession at the international, national, state, and local levels.
The faculty are committed to helping candidates develop into skilled, competent, and creative teachers. The individual assistance that professors provide ensures this goal is achieved. Students are encouraged to communicate frequently with their professors through office visits, e-mail, and phone calls.
Admission Requirements
Individuals applying for admission in the graduate reading specialist or elementary education program must hold a bachelor’s degree from an institution that is accredited by the appropriate agency or that is recognized by the Board of Education of the state in which the institution is located.
Other requirements for admission to the elementary education or reading specialist graduate program include the following:
- Admission to the School of Graduate Studies
- Cumulative GPA of 2.75 (based on all hours attempted) for their undergraduate work, OR a 3.0 or higher average for their last two years of undergraduate work
- Acceptance by the Department Graduate Committee
- Teacher certification (All candidates for the reading specialist graduate program must be certified teachers. Candidates for the elementary education graduate program who are not certified teachers must have a bachelor's degree in child development or a closely related field and complete an interview with the Department Graduate Committee or its designee, which will provide the basis for acceptance or nonacceptance of the application.)
The Graduate Record Examination is not required.
Graduate Assistantships
Graduate assistantships are available for those pursuing a Master of Science in Education degree with a major in Elementary Education or Reading Specialist. These positions offer opportunities for graduate students to provide instructional, research, and clerical support for faculty.
A graduate assistant completes at least nine semester hours of coursework each semester and works with one or more faculty for fifteen hours each week.
Graduate assistants do not pay tuition for these hours and receive a monthly stipend. Assistantships are awarded for a single year, but may be renewed for one additional year.
Positions are available on both the Macomb and Quad Cities campuses. Applications are available through the School of Graduate Studies. For additional information, contact Dr. Cindy Dooley (CJ-Dooley@wiu.edu).