Evidence-Based Reading Instruction and Intervention Graduate Certificate
This online graduate certificate in evidence-based reading instruction and intervention in Western Michigan University's College of Education and Human Development, prepares education professionals (e.g., reading interventionists, tutors, elementary teachers, reading coordinators, special education teachers, secondary teachers, district curriculum supervisors, and others) to identify and effectively deliver science-based reading instruction to address the academic needs of diverse K-12 learners. Students who complete this certificate will learn about how children learn to read and why some have difficulty. They will practice implementing essential elements and principles of effective reading instruction that have been shown to improve reading skills and support literacy development. They will learn to apply data-based decision making grounded in a comprehensive assessment system to support all learners (including those with educational disabilities like dyslexia) within a multi-tiered systems of support.
Note: Admission begins Fall 2025
Why Western Michigan University?
- Earned credits from this program can be applied towards the M.A. in Literacy Studies (12) and M.A. in Special Education (6)
Admission criteria
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.
- An overall grade point average of at least 3.0 during undergraduate work.
- A 250-word statement of purpose indicating why you have chosen this program and what you hope to accomplish.
- Three letters of recommendation
Required Courses (a minimum of 12 credits)
| Course Number | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| LS 6180 | Literacy Acquisition and Reading Instruction | 3 |
| SPED 5340 | Evidence-Based Practice I | 3 |
| SPED 6200 or SPED 5330* | Advanced Assessment in Schools/ Introduction to Assessment and Data-Based Decision Making in Special Education | 3 |
| LS 6240 | Reading Assessment and Effective Instruction | 3 |
*Students who have already completed a Master’s Degree in Special Education can take SPED 6200, all others should take SPED 5330.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Program candidates demonstrate knowledge of typical and atypical reading development, characteristics of dyslexia and other educational disabilities, and essential instructional practices that support reading skill and literacy development.
- Program Candidates demonstrate the ability to provide scientifically-based reading instruction in phonemic awareness, decoding, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
- Program candidates demonstrate skills related to utilizing universal screening data to identify students at risk for reading difficulty, developing individualized reading intervention plans, selecting and utilizing valid and reliable progress monitoring measures, and implementing data-based individualization to adapt instruction based on data.
- Program candidates demonstrate knowledge, skills, and dispositions related to the implementation of multi-tiered systems of support to address the needs of diverse k-12 students demonstrating reading difficulty.
Questions?
