Earn your advanced degree in reading with our flexible and affordable programs. As the largest teacher preparation program in the state, Southern plays a leadership role in educator preparation and professional development.
Candidates for the Sixth Year Professional Diploma Program in Reading are already certified teachers (elementary education, special education, 7–12 social studies, English, etc.) who are seeking to further develop their professional knowledge and practice in literacy. Our candidates build on their expertise as they study:
- Typical and atypical literacy development
- Best practices in intervention
- Instruction for students with learning difficulties or disabilities, including dyslexia
- Discipline-specific literacies
- Literacy acquisition of English learners
- Adult learning theory
- School-wide literacy leadership
- School-wide literacy intervention
This program includes 13 courses totaling 39 credits. Upon completion, students will have the necessary coursework to be eligible for certification as a Remedial Reading and Language Arts Specialist (102) as well as a Reading and Language Arts Consultant (097). Additional requirements for the 102 CT certification include 30 months of full-time teaching and a passing score on the Literacy Specialist Test. Ten months of teaching experience under the 102 (reading specialist) certification is additionally required for the 097 CT certification. The Graduate Reading Program is accredited by the International Literacy Association and the International Dyslexia Association.
For candidates who already have a master’s degree, the Sixth Year Professional Diploma leads to eligibility for certification as a reading specialist and certification as a reading and language arts consultant (102 & 097/grades K–12).
The reading and language arts consultant (097) is an administrative endorsement in Connecticut.
Sixth Year candidates develop all of the same competencies, knowledge, and skills as M.S. candidates, but then go on to take additional coursework in school literacy leadership, coaching, program and professional development, and intervention planning.
Careers
A Reading, Sixth Year Certificate qualifies experienced educators for advanced roles in literacy instruction and leadership. Graduates are well prepared for careers as reading specialists, literacy coaches, or interventionists, supporting students with reading challenges and guiding teachers in effective literacy practices. They may also work as curriculum coordinators, Title I reading coordinators, or district-level reading consultants. This certificate enhances a teacher’s ability to lead schoolwide literacy initiatives, develop reading programs, and analyze assessment data to improve student outcomes. It is especially valuable for those aiming to influence literacy education beyond the classroom while continuing to support equity and achievement in reading.
Typical Job Titles
- Reading Specialist
- Literacy Coach
- Reading Interventionist
- Title I Reading Coordinator
- Curriculum Specialist – Reading/Language Arts
- District Literacy Coordinator
- Instructional Coach – Literacy
- K–12 Literacy Consultant
- Academic Intervention Specialist
- RTI (Response to Intervention) Coordinator
- Language Arts Instructional Leader
Accreditiation
Accredited by the International Literacy Association and the International Dyslexia Association.