Reading/Language Arts

Admission to the Program

In addition to meeting the general requirements of the university for admission as a postbaccalaureate student, admission to the reading certificate requires the following:

  1. A valid California Multiple Subject or Single Subject credential and at least one year of full-time teaching in any grades, preschool through adult, exclusive of student teaching, internship teaching, or teaching while holding an emergency credential or permit;
  2. A 3.0 grade point average in all course work taken in education;
  3. Application packet (obtained from the Department of Language, Literacy and Culture or the College of Education Master's Program Office) which includes information to complete:
      1. Program application;
      2. Letter of interest which includes experiences working with diverse populations;
      3. Three letters of recommendation: one from the candidate's school principal, and two from other district professionals who can speak to the strengths of the applicant's personal qualities and professional qualifications;
  4. Upon completing the application packet, meet with the Reading/Language Arts Coordinator to complete the program plan.

Recommendation for the Certificate

In order to be recommended for the certificate, the candidate must have:

  1. Completed all of the prescribed course work with a grade point average of 3.0 ("B") or better;
  2. Verified that all California Commission on Teacher Credentialing Standards have been met;
  3. Verified at least three years of successful full-time teaching experience in any grades, preschool through adult, exclusive of student teaching, internship teaching, or teaching while holding an emergency credential or permit;
  4. Obtain a letter of recommendation from the coordinator of the program.

Certificate Requirements (20 units)

  1. ERDG 620. Foundations of Reading and Writing (4)
    • Note: This course is the prerequisite for all courses in the program.
  2. ERDG 622. Basic Materials and Approaches to Reading and Writing (4)
  3. ERDG 625. Practicum in Reading and Writing (4)
  4. ERDG 640. Early Reading: Assessment and Intervention (4)
  5. ERDG 642. Images of Culture through Children's Literature (4)