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A reading specialist endorsement program can be pursued online at Regent University, Virginia Beach.

M.Ed. in Reading Specialist (Endorsement)

Be Equipped to Excel Through the M.Ed. – Reading Specialist Endorsement

The gift of reading opens up possibilities not yet imagined. You can help unlock the potential in each student through Regent’s CAEP-accredited Master of Education in Reading Specialist (with endorsement) program. Designed to meet the growing demand for trained reading specialists, you will enjoy competency-based courses that fulfill the requirements for a Virginia Reading Specialist endorsement as you earn your master’s degree.

Online
38+
January 13, 2025
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EXPAND YOUR INFLUENCE & PURPOSE

Change the lives of children and give them a brighter future.

WIDEN YOUR JOB PROSPECTS

Enjoy rewarding opportunities in schools and communities.

GAIN THE CREDENTIALS NEEDED

Endorsement enables you to do more and have a greater impact.

ALIGN YOURSELF WITH EXCELLENCE

Experience Regent, ranked among top national universities by U.S. News & World Report for two consecutive years (2019 & 2020). Its programs have also been recognized among the Top 5 Online Graduate Education Programs in Virginia for seven consecutive years. Regent graduates are empowered to make a difference in lives, which has led to more than 850 alumni being recognized as Teachers of the Year in Hampton Roads since 2004.

Presented from a Christian worldview, this specialty degree is supported by award-winning faculty in Virginia Beach.

Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) Logo
Best Online Master's Education - AC Online - 2018-19
Best Online PHD - AC Online - 2018-19
The School of Education’s educational leadership and teacher preparation programs and the College of Arts and Science’s interdisciplinary studies program are awarded TEAC accreditation by the Inquiry Brief Commission of the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) for a period of seven years, to 12/31/2023.

On completing the M.Ed. – Reading Specialist degree with endorsement, you will be able to:

  • Develop reading instruction using technology and data-driven assessment tools.
  • Create a supportive learning environment that fosters improved reading skills.
  • Apply all of the Virginia Department of Education competencies and the skills required for state licensure.

Career Opportunities

  • Virginia Reading Specialist
  • Reading Consultation
  • Reading Tutoring
Top5
Best Online Graduate Education Programs in Virginia U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2020

2020-2021 Semester Check-In Deadlines:

All new students are expected to check-in for the semester 2 weeks prior to the session start date. Students should apply, be accepted, enroll in their first courses, and confirm a plan to pay for their courses prior to this date.

Session

Semester Check-In

Session Start Date

Session A

Friday, August 14

Monday, August 24

Session M

Friday, September 11

Monday, September 21

Session B

Friday, October 16

Monday, October 26

Session C

Tuesday, January 5

Monday, January 11

Session T

Friday, January 29

Monday, February 8

Session D

Friday, March 5

Monday, March 15

Session E

Friday, April 30

Monday, May 10

Session F

Friday, June 11

Monday, June 21

Application Process – Master of Education (M.Ed.)

Note: All items submitted as part of the application process become the property of Regent University and cannot be returned.

Step 1: Application & Application Fee
Submit your application using our Regent University Online Application.

Pay the $50 nonrefundable application fee by check or money order mailed to Regent University, Enrollment Support Services, 1000 Regent University Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23464.

Fee Waiver: Attend a graduate School of Education on-campus or online information session to learn how to streamline your application process, discover financial aid resources and waive your $50 application fee.

Note: If you are unable to complete our application due to a disability, please contact our Admissions Office and an admissions representative will provide reasonable accommodations to assist you in completing the application.

Step 2: Submit your Unofficial College Transcripts*
We are able to examine and view your unofficial transcript from a U.S.-based school, which indicates successful completion of a bachelor’s degree program, in order to review you for an admissions decision. Please submit your unofficial transcript to our Admissions Office by email to apply@regent.edu using the subject line: SOE Master’s Application Pieces.

Non-U.S. transcripts must be evaluated by an NACES-approved company. For further details, please review the International Admissions Checklist on the International Students Admissions page.

International Applicants: Please visit the International Students Admissions page for a more detailed explanation of the Regent University application information and to determine whether or not you qualify as an international student.

*Upon conditional acceptance to the program by review of unofficial transcripts, Regent University’s Admissions Office will attempt to obtain your official transcripts from your U.S. degree-granting institution, which indicate successful completion of a bachelor’s degree program. We will notify you if your previous institution will not release transcripts directly to us.

Step 3: Active Teaching License
Please send a copy of your active teaching license to apply@regent.edu using the subject line: SOE Master’s Application Pieces.

Step 4: Complete Your Admissions Questionnaire
In lieu of the previously required writing sample, please complete a brief admissions questionnaire based on your professional goals and interests. This should only take a few minutes to complete but please answer the questions completely and thoughtfully. This gives us a better opportunity to get to know you and align your objectives with our programs. The admissions questionnaire can be found here. Once completed, it will be sent directly to an admissions counselor who will be in touch with you right away to help complete the rest of your application.

Step 5: Government-Issued ID
To ensure academic integrity, Regent University requires a copy of a government-issued ID. Please email a scanned copy or photograph of it to apply@regent.edu with the subject line: Government ID.

Step 6: Admissions Interview
If an interview is necessary, the admissions office will contact you to schedule an appointment. The interview can be conducted on campus or over the phone and typically takes about 20 minutes.


Important Information

Background Check: Students in endorsement programs are required to complete a background check because the program includes direct contact with students in field experiences. Regent University School of Education has entered into an agreement with Certified Background/Castle Branch (CB), a private vendor that conducts background checks for many universities and educational institutions. After you are admitted into the program, you will be provided instructions set up an online profile with Certified Background and request your background check. Learn more.

2019-20 Tuition Rates

Degree Level / ProgramCost Per Credit Hour

Master of Education (M.Ed.)

$550 per credit (In-state & Out-of-state)


 

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (Online Students)$550
Library Orientation$50 (one-time fee)
Blackboard Orientation$50 (one-time fee)

2020-21 Tuition Rates

Degree Level / ProgramCost Per Credit Hour

Master of Education (M.Ed.)

$550 per credit (In-state & Out-of-state)


 

Student Fees Per Semester

University Services Fee (Online Students)$600
Library Orientation$50 (one-time fee)
Blackboard Orientation$50 (one-time fee)

*Rates are subject to change at any time.

Estimated Cost of Attendance:View the estimated cost of attendanceto see an example of the total cost of tuition and fees.

Faculty

Dr. Hunter is the concentration chair for Reading Specialist and is committed to your success.

Dr. Elizabeth Hunter earned her B.A. in Fine Art from Old Dominion University and her M.Ed. in Special Education concentrating in MR, LD and ED at Regent University. In 2005, Hunter became a Doctor of Education in Special Education & Communications. Her doctoral studies culminated into a final dissertation that incorporated an ethnographic documentary film about the expressed opinions of young adults with Down Syndrome about their classroom placement.

Hunter is an assistant professor in the School of Education M.Ed. K-12 Special Education and Reading Specialist programs and the Ed. S. Educational Leadership with Special Education emphasis program. She has built years of experience in the field of Special Education, as well as Communication Technology especially in television and video education production. Hunter has been involved in numerous publications and presentations in her areas of expertise and holds honors and awards for her contributions to both fields.

Using her talents as a painter, photographer and production designer, Hunter has successfully worked in film and television production since 1979. She has won several awards for her contribution to television and film, one in particular an after-school special that earned her the honor and privilege to judge for the Annual Daytime and Primetime Emmy Awards. She has been a voting member of The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences since 1987.

Hunter currently holds appointments and positions of leadership in both fields in her church and community. She serves as the president of the Virginia Federation of Council for Exceptional Children and represents the VA CEC at the International Council for Exceptional Children Representative Assembly and Leadership sessions.

She consults with ETS in assessment development of the Special Education and the Intellectual Disabilities PRAXIS II exams. Additionally, Hunter consults privately with schools, churches and parents in the areas of exceptional disabilities especially Developmental Delay, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disabilities.

Hunter has expertise in instructional technology and media and enhances her on-line and face-to-face courses and publications with visual media technology. She presents her course curriculum using her skills to turn words into pictures and uses video streaming as an educational tool. She has also been instrumental in turning the hybrid courses into an online format providing content to students nationally and internationally.

Hunter pursues ethnographic research to produce educational and documentary film with content based on grounded research that is appropriate for use in higher education. She writes and produces educational articles and books utilizing instructional videos and documentary film that educate and entertain. She has embarked on the production of a documentary series and book called Waking Up with Jack, an autobiographical story that touches on how a family deals with Down Syndrome and all the things that go along with it. It is an ongoing examination of special needs students.

“From the professors to advisors to support staff, my experience at Regent has been extremely satisfying, and I highly recommend the program to others.”

Lorri Wilke, M.Ed., 2012 NILD Educational Therapy

“The Career Switcher program gave me the skills that I needed to feel comfortable stepping into my classroom and allowed for my success. I am now a first-year teacher who is thriving in an environment that applauds creativity and innovation.”

Breanna Mead, M.Ed., 2018 Career Switcher

“My career has evolved over a short period of time because of my faith and the teacher preparation programs at Regent. The academic, spiritual and leadership guidance shared during my time at Regent gave me the foundation needed to excel in my field.”

Chonita Walker, M.Ed., 2011 Reading Specialist

“I was equipped with the critical thinking skills I needed to strategically implement and assess fresh and creative ways to approach instruction and learning. I received consistent encouragement from my professors and cohort to push beyond my personal best in research and daily practice.”

Alicia Langley, M.Ed., 2012 TESOL

“Regent's M.Ed. in TESOL program has prepared me so that I am able to organize and run the ESL courses at my school. Regent's TESOL professors assign the most applicable projects, which have helped me with planning lessons, selecting curriculum and creating assessments as well as with conducting several teacher-in-service sessions for my school.”

Katherine Tipton, M.Ed., 2011 Teacher