Inclusive classrooms need teachers who can serve learners with disabilities — and who can also address their specific literacy needs. GCU's Multisensory Literacy with TOSD M.Ed. gives you both: New Jersey TOSD certification and Wilson Level 1 Dyslexia Practitioner credentials, in a 31-credit master's degree built for early childhood and elementary teachers.
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Most teachers pursue TOSD certification through one program and structured literacy training through another — if at all. This M.Ed. integrates both in a single, coherent program. You'll develop the knowledge and skills to serve students with disabilities across the full range of exceptionalities, and the specific instructional competency to address their literacy needs using the Wilson Reading System's multisensory, evidence-based approach.
The Wilson Reading System Level 1 credential earned through this program qualifies graduates as Wilson Level 1 Dyslexia Practitioners — a recognized marker of expertise in structured literacy instruction for students with dyslexia and other language-based learning disabilities. This credential is increasingly sought by schools, approved private schools, and specialty educational settings.
This track has a specific prerequisite: a standard certification or CEAS in P–3 or elementary education. It's designed for the teachers already working in early childhood and elementary settings who want to deepen their expertise in serving students with disabilities — particularly those with literacy-related learning differences. The curriculum reflects that focus, combining TOSD special education competencies with early and elementary literacy knowledge.
The TOSD and structured literacy knowledge bases are taught separately in most preparation programs. Here, they're woven together deliberately — because students with learning disabilities are disproportionately represented among struggling readers, and because the teachers most likely to serve them early are general education P–3 and elementary teachers. This program prepares you to be the specialist those students most need.
Like all GCU literacy programs, every course in this program includes a keystone assessment that documents your mastery of course goals. Your growing portfolio of artifacts is monitored by program faculty and demonstrates your expertise to future employers, supervisors, and district administrators.
Students with learning disabilities — including dyslexia — are largely taught by general education teachers in inclusive classrooms. And in many elementary schools, those teachers are the first line of identification, support, and intervention. GCU’s M.Ed. in Multisensory Literacy with TOSD Certification prepares you to fill that role with exceptional skill, combining the legal and pedagogical knowledge of special education with the evidence-based instructional methodology of the Wilson Reading System.
The 31-credit program draws on two curricular traditions. The TOSD special education sequence covers educating students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment, curriculum planning and accommodations for students with disabilities, community services for students at risk, understanding learning disabilities, psychological and educational assessment of students with disabilities, strategies for teaching students with autism and developmental disabilities, and social communication interventions for students with ASD. The Wilson Reading System sequence — Introduction, Parts 1 and 2, and Practicums A and B — develops your structured literacy instructional competency and earns you the Wilson Level 1 Dyslexia Practitioner credential.
Together, these strands prepare you to identify students who are struggling with literacy, understand the nature of their learning differences, and implement targeted, evidence-based interventions — all within the legal and ethical framework of special education. Graduates are equipped to work across general education, resource room, co-teaching, and early intervention settings.
OPI and WPT exit requirements apply — ensuring graduates meet professional English proficiency standards.
GCU’s Multisensory Literacy with TOSD M.Ed. is a great fit if you:
| Entry Level (New TOSD-Certified Teacher) | NJ Median — Special Education Teachers | Experienced / Specialist Role |
|---|---|---|
| $56,000–$70,000 | $76,530 | $88,000–$110,000+ |
Special education teachers with TOSD certification in NJ are placed on district salary guides, typically on the MA column given this degree. Dual-credentialed teachers (TOSD + Wilson Dyslexia Practitioner) are among the most marketable educators in NJ’s special education hiring landscape.
Job Outlook
Special education teacher positions are projected to generate approximately 38,600 openings per year nationally. New Jersey consistently faces special education teacher shortages — particularly in early childhood and elementary settings. Candidates with both TOSD certification and Wilson credentials are in especially high demand in the current environment.
In addition to completing the courses listed below, students must earn a passing score on oral (OPI) and written English proficiency (WPT) examinations by the end of the program.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| M.Ed., Multisensory Literacy with Teacher of Students with Disabilities Certification | ||
| EDC5030 | Educ Students w/Disab in LRE | 3.0 |
| EDC5031 | Curr Plan Accom & Mod Students w/Disab | 3.0 |
| EDC5032 | Comm Serv for Stdts at-Risk & w/ Except | 3.0 |
| EDC5034 | Understanding Learning Disabilities | 3.0 |
| EDC5037 | Psych & Ed Assess of Studnts w/ Disabl | 3.0 |
| EDC5302 | Strategies Teach Students w/Aut & DevDis | 3.0 |
| EDC5303 | Soc Communic Intervent Students w/ASD | 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 | 31.0 | |
Contact Graduate Admissions at 732-987-2770 or [email protected]
Graduates will be able to:
Q: Why does this track require a P–3 or Elementary certificate for admission — when the other Multisensory tracks don’t? A: This track is specifically designed to deepen the expertise of early childhood and elementary educators who are already working with the age group most likely to have early literacy challenges identified. The prerequisite ensures that your TOSD and Wilson training is directly applicable to your current students and role.
Q: What is the Wilson Level 1 Dyslexia Practitioner credential? A: Upon completing the Wilson Reading System sequence in this program, you earn Wilson Level 1 credentials — specifically recognized as the Wilson Level 1 Dyslexia Practitioner designation. This is a nationally recognized credential indicating that you can implement the Wilson Reading System with fidelity for students with dyslexia and related learning disabilities.
Q: Is TOSD certification the same as special education certification? A: Not exactly. The TOSD (Teacher of Students with Disabilities) endorsement in NJ authorizes you to work with students with disabilities within the same grade level(s) and subject area(s) covered by your instructional certificate — it’s an add-on to your existing certificate, not a standalone special education certification. It’s one of the most in-demand endorsements in NJ hiring.
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