Program: Dyslexia Therapy, Ed.S. (36 hrs) - William Carey University

Program Overview

The purpose of the Specialist in Dyslexia Therapy is to train candidates to meet the needs of students with dyslexia in public schools, non-public schools, and private centers. The program provides instruction in Structured Literacy, a proven approach that is based on current reading research. The Dyslexia Therapy techniques are based on the works of Samuel Orton and designed for students with dyslexia and related disorders.

Upon completion of the program, the candidate will have met the requirements for attaining a state AAA license in dyslexia therapy. Candidates who successfully complete the program will be eligible to sit for the Academic Language Therapy Association (ALTA) examination for the opportunity to gain national certification as a Certified Academic Language Therapist (CALT) and the International Dyslexia Association examination (KPEERI).

The Specialist in Dyslexia Therapy program is accredited through the International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council (IMSLEC) and the International Dyslexia Association (IDA).

The program is designed to be in compliance with the 2012 Mississippi Dyslexia Law (MS Code Sec. 37-173-1). The specialist degree meets the MDE licensure requirements and has been approved by the Mississippi Department of Education and the State Board of Education.

Graduate Outcomes

Upon degree completion, students will demonstrate:

proficiency of the knowledge of cursive handwriting theory and practice;
proficiency of the knowledge of sound-symbol association;
knowledge and application of the Literacy Competency Components; and
knowledge and application of the theories and practice of dyslexia therapy.

Program Admission Requirements

Students are admitted to the Specialist of Education in dyslexia therapy program as a cohort class each summer term. No student will be admitted on a provisional or probationary basis. Coursework used in a previous degree may not be used toward the specialist’s degree.

Students who hold a Master’s Degree in Dyslexia Therapy from William Carey University may not apply for the Specialist Program in Dyslexia Therapy because the first 10 courses are the same.
Students who hold a Master’s Degree in Dyslexia Therapy from another university may apply to the Specialist Degree Program in Dyslexia Therapy at William Carey University.

To fulfill requirements for admission to the Specialist of Education in dyslexia therapy program, the student must:

hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university.
submit an admission application and pay the required fee prior to the deadline.
provide official transcripts of all college work completed to date for the registrar and the graduate office. After the applicant is accepted, a supplementary official transcript showing any additional work completed at other institutions is also required.
have a GPA > 3.25 in a related master’s program.
currently hold or qualify to hold a teacher’s license to teach at the elementary or secondary level in Mississippi if seeking AAA teaching license approval upon completion of the degree.
submit two letters of recommendation completed by a school administrator and an immediate supervisor.

Program Progression Requirements

Students will complete 720 supervised clinical hours over the two-year program.
Students will complete a student case study that includes a research paper and study of their students with Dyslexia who demonstrate an Associated Disorder. The format of this study will be done in APA style.
Students will be required to sit for the Knowledge and Practice Examination for Effective Reading Instruction (KPEERI) through the International Dyslexia Association.
Refer to Academic Regulations in this catalog for grade, degree progression, and degree completion requirements.

Program of Study (36 hrs)

Program Requirements and Professional Licensure Disclosure

Teacher education programs at William Carey University are designed to meet the professional competency standards for licensure in Mississippi. William Carey University cannot determine whether any program leads to licensure in any state other than Mississippi. It is recommended that students who intend to seek licensure in another state verify that their program of study meets the desired state’s licensure requirements.

Further, the Mississippi Department of Education establishes and maintains state licensure requirements, policies, and procedures, which supersede requirements listed in this catalog. Mandatory changes to this program of study will be communicated to the student through the School of Education.

Refer to the Mississippi Department of Education Office of Educator Licensure (http://mdek12.org/OEL) for the most current licensure requirements, application procedures, and deadlines.

Dyslexia Therapy, Ed.S. (36 hrs)