Reading specialists are the most sought-after literacy experts in schools — and GCU's Multisensory Literacy M.Ed. gives you the most powerful combination available: NJ Reading Specialist certification eligibility, the full Wilson Reading System Level 1 credential, and a master's degree. All in 34 credits.
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This program produces three distinct, stackable outcomes: a Master of Education degree, eligibility for NJ educational services certification as a Reading Specialist (after two years of teaching), and Wilson Reading System Level 1 credentials. Each of these credentials alone is valuable. Together, they make you one of the most comprehensively prepared literacy professionals in the field.
The Wilson Reading System is among the most evidence-based, widely adopted structured literacy programs in the country — used extensively in public schools, approved private schools, and specialty reading clinics. Wilson Level 1 credentials signal to employers that you can implement multisensory structured literacy instruction with fidelity and skill. GCU's program takes you through the complete Wilson Level 1 sequence: Introduction, Parts 1 and 2, and Practicums A and B.
The reading specialist preparation in this program is comprehensive: Nature of the Reading Process, Multicultural Literature for Children & Adolescents, Responsive Reading & Writing in Content Areas, Articulation/Supervision & Evaluation of Reading Programs, Assessment & Diagnosis of Reading Abilities, Research-Based Techniques for Correcting Reading Challenges, a Reading Specialist Practicum, and Literacy for Multilingual Learners. That's the full scope of a reading specialist's role — from classroom intervention to program leadership.
The Reading Specialist credential in NJ authorizes you not just to deliver reading interventions, but to direct and evaluate reading programs, coach teachers, and lead district-wide literacy initiatives. Courses in Articulation, Supervision & Evaluation of Reading Programs and Research-Based Techniques for Correcting Reading Challenges prepare you for that leadership function — giving you the ability to move beyond the intervention room into program design and teacher coaching.
Every course in this program includes a keystone assessment — a polished artifact demonstrating mastery of that course's goals. These artifacts are archived in an electronic portfolio monitored by program faculty, so you graduate with a documented record of expertise that you can present directly to hiring committees, curriculum directors, and district reading supervisors.
Reading failure is one of the most consequential and preventable challenges in education — and Reading Specialists are the professionals schools rely on to prevent and remediate it. GCU’s M.Ed. in Multisensory Literacy with Reading Specialist Certification prepares you to fill that role with the deepest possible preparation: comprehensive reading specialist coursework, proven structured literacy methodology, and the Wilson Level 1 credentials that distinguish the most skilled practitioners in the field.
The 34-credit program integrates two bodies of expertise. The reading specialist curriculum — grounded in the standards of the International Reading Association (IRA), the New Jersey Student Learning Standards for English/Language Arts Literacy, and the NJ Professional Standards for Teachers — covers the full theoretical and practical scope of expert reading instruction: the nature of the reading process, multicultural literature, content-area literacy integration, program evaluation and coaching, diagnostic assessment, evidence-based remediation techniques, and supervised clinical practicum. The Wilson Reading System sequence adds the applied, structured literacy methodology dimension — giving you a specific, research-validated instructional framework that you can implement with fidelity from your first day in a new role.
Together, these strands produce a graduate who can lead and coach literacy instruction at the classroom level, deliver intensive structured literacy interventions, evaluate and select reading programs, and provide professional development to colleagues — the complete portfolio of the contemporary Reading Specialist.
GCU’s Multisensory Literacy with Reading Specialist M.Ed. is a great fit if you:
| Entry Level (New Reading Specialist) | NJ Median — Instructional Coordinators | Experienced / Lead Literacy Role |
|---|---|---|
| $62,000–$75,000 | $83,490 | $90,000–$115,000+ |
Reading specialists in NJ public schools are often placed on the same salary guide as teachers, with additional stipends common in many districts for specialist roles. Literacy coaches and reading supervisors frequently earn above the teacher guide.
Job Outlook
Demand for reading specialists is strong and growing, driven by the science of reading movement, state-level reading legislation, and growing recognition of dyslexia prevalence. Districts are actively seeking reading specialists with Wilson credentials — making this combination of credentials especially marketable in the current hiring environment.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| M.Ed., Multisensory Literacy with Reading Specialist Certification | ||
| EDC5027 | Literacy for Multilingual Learners | 3.0 |
| EDC5201 | Nature of the Reading Process | 3.0 |
| EDC5202 | Multicultural Lit Child & Adolescents | 3.0 |
| EDC5203 | Responsive Rdg & Wtg in Content Areas | 3.0 |
| EDC5204 | Articulation Superv & Eval of Read Prog | 3.0 |
| EDC6084 | Reading Specialist Practicum | 3.0 |
| EDC6201 | Assess & Diagnosis of Read Abilities | 3.0 |
| EDC6202 | Rsrch-Based Techniq Correct Rding Chall | 3.0 |
| EDC6203 | Introduction to Wilson Reading System | 1.0 |
| EDC6204 | Wilson Reading System Part 1 | 3.0 |
| EDC6205 | Wilson Reading System Part 2 | 3.0 |
| EDC6206 | Wilson Reading System Practicum A | 1.5 |
| EDC6207 | Wilson Reading System Practicum B | 1.5 |
| Total Credits | 34.0 | |
Contact Graduate Admissions at 732-987-2770 or [email protected]
Graduates will be able to:
Q: What makes this track different from the standard Reading/Literacy M.Ed.? A: This track adds the full Wilson Reading System Level 1 sequence (5 courses) and specifically earns Reading Specialist certification eligibility — all within the same 34-credit M.Ed. The standard Reading/Literacy M.Ed. provides the same breadth of literacy specialist preparation but without the Wilson credentials. If you want Wilson Level 1 credentials, this is your track.
Q: Who is the Wilson Reading System designed for? A: The WRS was originally developed for students with dyslexia — but it’s highly effective for any student who struggles with phonological awareness, decoding, and fluency. Wilson Level 1 practitioners are trained to implement the system with fidelity for students with language-based learning disabilities in one-on-one and small-group settings.
Q: Does completing this program mean I’m immediately a certified Reading Specialist? A: Completing the M.Ed. makes you eligible to apply for NJ Reading Specialist certification — but you still need to submit your application to the NJ DOE and document at least two years of fulltime teaching experience. The state issues the certification; GCU prepares you for it.
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