
Inspire the Future
Reading expands one’s mind and imagination. Prepare to address the individual needs of your students as well as understand the needs of schools and students nationwide.
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Reading takes time, and reading with understanding takes effort. According to the most-recent National Assessment of Educational Progress report, only 72% of high school graduates in the United States have the basic literacy skills necessary to be successful. Be part of the movement to increase literacy rates among high school graduates by earning your master’s degree in reading. Our 36-credit hour master’s program prepares you for a career in various educational settings and further graduate coursework and research. Gain greater knowledge of curriculums, instruction and literacy dynamics facing students in a dynamic global arena by earning your master’s degree in reading from A&M-Commerce.

SEE YOURSELF SUCCEED WITH A master’s DEGREE IN reading
Focus Your Passion
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction offers four tracks for a master’s degree in reading. Discover which reading program works best for you and your career goals.
Master of Arts (MA) in Reading: Thesis Track
Is there a specific topic that you would like to investigate while producing a publication-quality paper? Then, our master of arts thesis track is your answer. During our 36-credit hour program, you'll use the knowledge you gain to develop research skills and explore your chosen topic in Language Arts. This track prepares Texas certified teachers, and out-of-state certified teachers to explore literacy development and instruction more deeply. At the completion of this program, you will have written a thesis on a literacy topic of your choice. This track is often preferred by those in the humanities field. It has a twelve-hour language requirement.
Master of Arts (MA) in Reading: Non-thesis Track
Are you interested in helping students improve their literacy skills? Our master of arts non-thesis track allows you to develop your expertise in literacy development and instruction. Our 36-credit hour program gives you the flexibility to investigate an interesting trend in the field of literacy while deepening your understanding of its importance and of current effective pedagogy. This track prepares Texas certified teachers or out-of-state certified teachers to enhance their understanding of literacy development and instruction. This program is preferred by students in the humanities field who may not wish to write a thesis at the completion of their program, but who would still like to become more skilled literacy instructors. This track has a twelve-hour language requirement. Additionally, successful completion of a comprehensive exam is required of all students within this program.
Master of Science (MS) in Reading: Non-thesis Track
If you are without a Texas teaching certification, you'll find this track to be a perfect entry point into the world of literacy development and instruction. This 36-credit hour program allows out-of-state certified teachers and non-certified teachers who have an interest in working with and for students to increase their understanding of literacy development and instruction. This track is often preferred by those who have out-of-state teaching certifications and are also seeking Texas Teaching Licensing Reciprocity in order to continue their teaching careers in Texas schools. Additionally, this track is for teachers from other states who would like to continue their teaching careers in their own state, while expanding their understanding of literacy issues, literacy development, and effective literacy instructional strategies designed to accelerate student learning. Finally, this track is also preferred by those who do not wish to seek a teaching certification but would like to expand their own understanding of literacy instruction and learning. Successful completion of a comprehensive exam is required of all students within this track. No foreign language coursework is required for this non-thesis track.
Master of Education (MEd) in Reading: Non-thesis Track
Are you a current Texas certified educator? Enhance your literacy knowledge and teaching skills with our 36-credit hour Master of Education track. Increase your knowledge of how to serve striving students and diverse learners in the areas of reading and writing. This program will allow you to increase your literacy expertise so that you may provide responsive, strategic, and engaging literacy experiences for students in the following areas: phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Additionally, you will experience authentic writing practices and learn to replicate those practices in your classroom. Successful completion of a comprehensive exam is required of all students within this program. Completing the requirements of this track prepares you to become a Certified Reading Specialist in the State of Texas.
READING SPECIALIST CERTIFICATE
Many children struggle with reading at or above grade level and often need differentiated individualized and small group instruction within their classrooms. You can gain the skills and knowledge to help improve their literacy abilities within our Reading Specialist Certification Program. As a Reading Specialist, you will assess, diagnose, and instruct striving and diverse learners, in the areas of reading and writing. Reading Specialists work alongside Pre-K-12 classroom teachers, and other school specialists to select and create appropriate literacy resources in order to promote literacy development. They often partner with other educators on their campus to provide targeted literacy instruction. Finally, they may model effective literacy practices for teachers, collaborating with them to ensure that students have developmentally appropriate, engaging, and effective literacy learning experiences.
Available as part of the MED in Reading only. Not available with MS or MA in Reading or other masters programs.
Supplemental Certifications
Learn about specialized topics from our experienced faculty! Available courses include those that can help prepare you for supplemental certification exams. Once you hold a Texas Teaching Certificate, you may then take additional tests to add any of these supplements to your certificate.
- Bilingual Education – Spanish
- English as a Second Language (ESL)
- Gifted and Talented
- Special Education
Note: These supplemental certificates are optional.
What you will learn
A master’s degree in reading offers the opportunity to:
- Understand interrelated components of reading across all developmental stages
- Gain expertise in reading instruction at all grade levels
- Assess writing based on the needs and abilities of the class and individual
- Research classroom strategies for student comprehension, development and expression
- Learn to assess students for reading problems and enhance classroom instruction

Careers
Gain the recognition you deserve by earning your master's degree in reading. Many ISDs reward educators who pursue higher learning with salary increases and job openings. Our graduate program also opens opportunities to make a difference at the administrative level.
Career Possibilities and Current Median Salaries
US DOL Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2018
Potential Employers
Local ISDs often seek after our graduates. Job placement and satisfaction is ranked highly in our education program. These are just a few examples of districts where our students found employment. Now's your chance to discover where you belong.

COURSE DELIVERY AND RESOURCES
Our flexible program is designed to meet the needs of working professionals. We offer our degrees fully online or face to face at our Mesquite Metroplex Center.
Featured Courses
Graduate Program Cost
PROGRAM COSTS
Tuition and fees for graduate students taking nine credit hours are $3,669 for Texas residents and $7,341 for non-residents.
ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS International/Domestic Tabs (USE THIS ONE)
Admission
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Course Delivery and Resources
Receive your master’s degree in reading online. Our flexible programs are designed to meet the needs of working professionals and current educators. Study at your own convenience, wherever that may be!
Masters Reading Program Faculty
Contact Us
- Department of Curriculum and Instruction
- 903.886.5537
- 903.886.5581