Sixth Year Certificate in Remedial Reading and Remedial Language Arts
The Reading and Language Development Program is deeply committed to preparing graduates who understand the complex and varied presentation of remedial reading profiles, including the profiles of students at risk for and identified with dyslexia.
Graduates typically seek employment in public and private schools, hospital-based education settings, therapeutic schools, the State Department of Education, the State Education Resource Center; state Regional Education Service Centers; and child advocacy/law firms.
Unique features of Fairfield University's Reading and Language Development Program include:
An Exclusive Partnership with Wilson Reading Systems (WRS)
The WRS program targets the remediation of reading/spelling accuracy and oral reading fluency deficits of students in Grades 3-12 who present with profiles characteristic of/identifications of dyslexia. It is the most widely used remedial reading intervention program employed across the nation. School districts, private schools and clinics across Connecticut utilize the WRS program with students, including nearly a dozen public school districts in Fairfield County who utilize the program district-wide.
Fairfield University is proud to feature an exclusive partnership with Wilson Reading that permits our candidates to earn a Wilson Reading Level I certification as part of their MA and SYC degree requirements. Candidates who do so are also eligible to earn a Dyslexia Interventionist Certification with the International Dyslexia Association (IDA).
"Triple-Dip" Programs Permitting Candidates to Earn a Degree and Multiple Certifications
The Reading and Language Development Program offers candidates the opportunity to "triple dip" coursework in order to earn multiple certifications, pending eligibility, as part of meeting their MA or SYC degree requirements.
Through careful and ongoing advisement, candidates map out a plan of study that can lead to a degree and one or both of the following certifications:
- CT #102: Remedial Reading and Remedial Language Arts Consultant Certification, Grades 1-12
- Wilson Reading Level I Certification
Course-Embedded Community Clinics
All candidates in the Reading and Language Development Program serve students and families through several course-embedded community clinics. These clinics provide candidates with the opportunity to apply taught assessment and intervention skills to select students from across the state of Connecticut, under faculty supervision during designated course/practicum hours.
Program Admission and Requirements
The following admission requirements are based on State of Connecticut Regulations §10-145d-481.
- Master's degree with a minimum 3.00 GPA
- Active Connecticut teaching certification (if interested in pursuing the 102 Certification)
- Personal statement
- Interview
Candidates interested in earning an SYC (Sixth Year Certificate) in Remedial Reading and Remedial Language Arts, with the option to apply for #102 Certification in Remedial Reading and Remedial Language Arts, are to complete the 21 credits outlined for the Remedial Reading and Remedial Language Arts certification as well as 15 additional credits, for a total of 36 credits as outlined below.
Candidates may be eligible to transfer up to 6 credits into their planned program.
Candidates are advised that they may earn either a Master's degree or a Sixth Year Certificate in Remedial Reading, but not both.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| RLDV 5486 | Developmental Literacy I: Fundamentals of Reading and Language Development | 3 |
| RLDV 5488 | Content Area Literacy Strategies | 3 |
| RLDV 5583 | Tests and Measurement in Reading and Language Arts Contexts | 3 |
| RLDV 5585 | Writing Components and Processes in the Language Arts Program | 3 |
| RLDV 6586 | Diagnosis and Remediation of Reading and Language Arts Difficulties | 3 |
| Select 15 elective credits 1 | 15 | |
| Clinical Practicum | ||
| RLDV 6951 | Clinical Practicum: Structured Literacy | 3 |
| RLDV 6952 | Clinical Practicum: Structured Literacy Applications with Peer Coaching Elements | 3 |
| Total Credits | 36 | |
- 1
Candidates may opt to apply 10 of their 15 required elective credits toward earning a Wilson Reading Level 1 Certification as part of their SYC program. In such instances, candidates will select the remaining 5 credits of electives under faculty advisement. Alternatively, candidates may opt to craft an individualized concentration in consultation with their faculty advisor.
A Plan of Study is developed during the candidate's interview.