Master of Education in Special Education with Dyslexia Credential
Master of Education in Special Education with Dyslexia Credential
The Master of Special Education with Dyslexia Credential prepares current state-certified teachers and tutors to educate students who are reading below grade level or have been diagnosed with a reading or language disability. The program includes the courses and training needed for Wilson Reading System® (WRS) Level I Certification. Students who complete this certificate would become eligible for the Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner credential from the Wilson Reading System® Corporation. Additional coursework in Special Education provides foundational content knowledge and skill development that are applicable to the field of special education in general with an emphasis on dyslexia studies.
The program is open to students with a bachelor’s degree who currently hold, or who have completed all requirements to obtain, a state teaching credential.
This program is currently offered in a hybrid format. Accommodations can be made for someone who requires a fully online delivery.
Graduate Education Virtual Info Sessions
Wilson® Reading System Credential
The Wilson® Reading System is a fully online, stand-alone credential designed to provide highly effective, explicit, and systematic reading and spelling intervention for students with severe language-based learning disabilities, such as dyslexia. By enrolling as a graduate non-degree student, you will develop the skills to help students become fluent, independent readers using multi-sensory, structured language methodologies and strategies for teaching reading and spelling successfully.
Courses
- EDU 575 Wilson Reading System Introductory Course (1 credit)
- EDU 577 Wilson Reading System Steps 1-6 Practicum (3 credits)
- EDU 585 Wilson Reading System Intensive Instruction for the Non-responsive Reader, Part 1 (3 credits)
- EDU 586 Wilson Reading System Intensive Instruction for the Non-responsive Reader, Part 2 (3 credits)
Cost
See tuition rates here. An additional $830 is required for Wilson coursework.
Delivery Method
Fully online.
How To Apply
Complete the graduate non-degree application for Special Education.
One great thing about the graduate programs is that you’re not only surrounded by students who just graduated college. You also have peers and faculty who are working professionals and teachers in the field. They provide such an important perspective to your learning experience. Some work in public schools, charter schools, or private schools and through collaborating with them, you learn how the concepts you read about actually apply in the real world.
Jamie Comeau ’25G, Master of Education in Special Education with Dyslexia Credential
As a graduate of Providence College and now a second-grade teacher working with all English learners, I have seen firsthand the impact of structured literacy. Providence College’s Wilson and dyslexia training gave me a strong foundation in evidence-based instruction, allowing me to build my students’ confidence and foundational skills. This training has reinforced the power of explicit instruction in closing literacy gaps and fostering lifelong reading success.
Heidi Grove ’24G
M.Ed. in Special Education with Dyslexia Credential Program Information
Objectives
Master the methods of intensive multisensory, explicit teaching and assessment practices and apply them to help a student(s) with language-based learning disabilities (dyslexia) to read.
Understand the structure of the English language as it pertains to the science of reading and multisensory reading instruction.
Complete a 65+ lesson practicum with an approved student that helps the student make significant progress in learning to read and spell more effectively with the effective practitioner earning a Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner® credential.
Understand key components of effective practice in the field of special education including assessment, diagnosis of disabilities, inclusion, modified instruction, current research, and individualized educational planning.
Apply knowledge and skills to educational programming for students with a variety of special educational needs. Understand and properly select from a variety of instructional and placement options to meet individualized students’ learning needs and develop appropriate plans for individualized support.
Sequencing
The academic coursework of the program is sequenced to run during the summer, fall, and spring semesters with a full-time student completing the coursework in one academic year. This sequence will allow a full-time student to complete their Wilson Level I Dyslexia Practitioner Certification sequence and the remainder of the coursework during the same year. A part-time student will complete the Wilson Level I Dyslexia Practitioner Certification sequence and coursework during the 1st year and the remainder of the coursework during the 2nd year which concludes in the spring.
Coursework
The program includes 34 credit hours of course work and features the 10-credit Wilson Reading System® training with its required practicum.
- EDU 550 Fundamentals of Special Education (3 credits)
- EDU 557 Research and Evidence Based Practice in Special Education (3 credits)
- EDU 559 Assessment of Special Learning Needs in Children and Adolescents (3 credits)
- EDU 565 Inclusion: Theory and Practice (3 credits)
- EDU 579 The Science of Reading (3 credits)
- EDU 575 Wilson Reading System Introductory Course (1 credit)
- EDU 577 Wilson Reading System Steps 1-6 Practicum (3 credits)
- EDU 578 Collaborative Approach to Individualized Education Planning (3 credits)
- EDU 582 Structured Literacy (3 credits)
- EDU 584 Language-based instruction in Vocabulary, Comprehension, and Writing (3 credits)
- EDU 585 Wilson Reading System Intensive Instruction for the Non-responsive Reader, Part 1 (3 credits)
- EDU 586 Wilson Reading System Intensive Instruction for the Non-responsive Reader, Part 2 (3 credits)
Tuition and Fees
- See tuition rates here.
- An additional $830 is required for Wilson coursework. This fee must be paid by all enrolled students and is not waived for anyone with a tuition waiver or Graduate Assistants.
The following four courses fulfill RIDE’s Proficiency level understanding of the Science of Reading, per the Right to Read Act: EDU 584, 579, 582, and 559.
Sample Plan of Study
The Program begins in early July (Summer II)
FULL TIME
Summer II (7 credits)
EDU 550 Fundamentals of Special Education
EDU 559 Assessment of Special Learning Needs in Children and Adolescents
EDU 575 Wilson Reading System Introductory Course
Fall (12 credits)
EDU 577 Wilson Reading System Steps 1-6 Practicum (this practicum will stretch across the full academic year)
EDU 585 Wilson Reading System Intensive Instruction for the Non-responsive Reader, Part 1
EDU 584 Language-based instruction
EDU 565 Inclusion: Theory and Practice
Spring (9 credits)
EDU 579 The Science of Reading
EDU 582 Structured Literacy
EDU 586 Wilson Reading System Intensive Instruction for the Non-responsive Reader, Part 2
Summer I (6 credits)
EDU 557 Research and Evidence Based Practice in Special Education
EDU 578 Collaborative Approach to Individualized Education Planning
PART TIME
Year 1: Summer II (4 credits)
EDU 550 Fundamentals of Special Education
EDU 575 Wilson Reading System Introductory Course
Year 1: Fall (6 credits)
EDU 577 Wilson Reading System Steps 1-6 Practicum (this practicum will stretch across the full academic year)
EDU 585 Wilson Reading System Intensive Instruction for the Non-responsive Reader, Part 1
Year 1: Spring (3 credits)
EDU 586 Wilson Reading System Intensive Instruction for the Non-responsive Reader, Part 2
Year 1: Summer I (6 credits)
EDU 557 Research and Evidence Based Practice in Special Education
EDU 578 Collaborative Approach to Individualized Education Planning
Year 2: Summer II (3 credits)
EDU 559 Assessment of Special Learning Needs in Children and Adolescents*
Year 2: Fall (6 credits)
EDU 584 Language-based instruction*
EDU 565 Inclusion: Theory and Practice (3 credits)
Year 2: Spring (6 credits)
EDU 579 The Science of Reading*
EDU 582 Structured Literacy*
* denotes RIDE-approved Dyslexia proficiency endorsement coursework. Coursework can be started with non-degree student status.
Dr. Marcy Zipke
Director – Special Education
Harkins 319
401.865.2695
mzipke@providence.edu
Taylor Odell
Graduate Assistant for Counseling & Special Education
todell.ga@providence.edu
