Reading Specialist Certification
Reading Specialist Certification
The Reading Specialist Certification program is specifically designed for students who have graduated from the UTRGV Reading and Literacy M.Ed. and now wish to become K-12 Reading Specialists in the state of Texas. This six hour program consists of one course, taught each fall, that focuses on the role of the Reading Specialist. It is followed by the practicum course in the spring. Students will be approved to take the Reading Specialist TExES exam during their practicum.
Step #1: Submit a UTRGV Graduate Application at www.utrgv.edu/gradapply. There is no application fee.
Step #2: Request your official transcripts to be sent electronically to gradapps@utrgv.edu or mailed to:
Review and submit all Program Requirements:
- Master's degree in Reading and Literacy from UTRGV
- Current Teacher Certification in Texas
- Documentation of 2 years of teaching experience as a certified teacher
- Personal interview
- Clear Criminal Background Check
- Graduate GPA of at least 3.0
- Official transcripts from each institution attended
- Signed and returned acceptance letter
Students whose native language is not English or who studied at a University outside the U.S.:
- TOEFL or IELTS Language Proficiency Test with minimum scores: 550 on paper-based, 213 on computer based, or 79 on Internet-based for the TOEFL; 6.5 for the IELTS. TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for 2 years. For additional information, visit the English Proficiency Exam section of our website.
- Certified English translation of educational records.
- International applicants are required to use the following credential evaluation services: Foreign Credential Service of America (FCSA) or World Education Services (WES). Applicants are required to select the course-by-course report option – general reports will not suffice.
Students in fully online programs are not eligible for I-20 or student visas.
To view a list of application deadlines and program contacts for our traditional programs, click here.
| Graduate | ||||
| Resident | Non-Resident* | |||
| Hours | Fall or Spring | Summer Session (each) | Fall or Spring | Summer Session (each) |
| 1 | 677.13 | 539.63 | 1,085.13 | 947.63 |
| 2 | 1,079.26 | 941.76 | 1,895.26 | 1,757.76 |
| 3 | 1,481.39 | 1,343.89 | 2,705.39 | 2,567.89 |
| 4 | 1,883.52 | 1,746.02 | 3,515.52 | 3,378.02 |
| 5 | 2,285.65 | 2,148.15 | 4,325.65 | 4,188.15 |
| 6 | 2,687.78 | 2,550.28 | 5,135.78 | 4,998.28 |
| 7 | 3,089.91 | 2,952.41 | 5,945.91 | 5,808.41 |
| 8 | 3,492.04 | 3,354.54 | 6,756.04 | 6,618.54 |
| 9 | 3,894.17 | 3,756.67 | 7,566.17 | 7,428.67 |
| 10 | 4,296.30 | 4,158.80 | 8,376.30 | 8,238.80 |
| 11 | 4,698.43 | 4,560.93 | 9,186.43 | 9,048.93 |
| 12 | 5,100.56 | 4,963.06 | 9,996.56 | 9,859.06 |
Fees included above:
- University Services Fee - $38.10 per hour ($457.20 maximum)
- Student Services Fee - $5.83 per hour ($69.96 maximum)
- Intercollegiate Athletics Fee - $15.00 per hour ($180.00 maximum)
- Recreation Fee ‐ $75 per Fall or Spring; $37.50 per summer term
- Medical Services Fee ‐ $30 per Fall or Spring; $15 per summer term
- Student Union Fee ‐ $30 per Fall or Spring; $15 per summer term
All resident tuition and mandatory fees shown above remain the same for hours over 20. Add $408 nonresident tuition for each hour over 20.
*Includes nonresident statutory tuition charges set by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and subject to annual change.
Total does not include Lab and Supplemental Instruction Fees which vary by course.
Differential Tuition:
Additional tuition will be charged for upper division undergraduate and graduate courses in the following disciplines.
| College or School | Courses | Rate |
| Robert C. Vackar College of Business & Entrepreneurship | All Disciplines | $30 per hour (up to $360) |
| College of Engineering & Computer Science | All Disciplines | $50 per hour (up to $600) |
| College of Health Professions | Communication Disorders | $20 per hour (up to $240) |
| Occupational Therapy | $20 per hour (up to $240) | |
| Physician Assistant Studies | $25 per hour (up to $300) | |
| School of Nursing | Nursing (undergraduate) | $30 per hour (up to $360) |
| Nursing (graduate) | $20 per hour (up to $240) |
Repeated Hours Tuition:
$250 per hour is added for resident undergraduates attempting a class for the third and subsequent times.
Excessive Hours Tuition:
$100 per hour is added for resident undergraduates when the hours previously attempted exceed applicable limits.
Click here to view the program's course requirements from the current catalog.
