College to offer master’s program for reading specialists

Grove City College is launching a new Master of Science in Education in Reading Specialist degree program this summer.

The degree is designed to take certified educators to the next level of practice by increasing their skill set and knowledge to support students and reach their own professional goals. The curriculum includes courses in leadership, educational policy and law, theory and practice, assessment and intervention, remediation, and more with an emphasis on the science of reading.

The 30-credit online program begins in the summer of 2025, with enrollment open now. To learn more about the program and apply, visit gcc.edu/gradprograms. 

The Reading Specialist master’s program is the latest in a growing suite of Grove City College Graduate & Online Studies programs that build on the private Christian college’s strongest undergraduate programs. The College’s Education Department is recognized statewide and beyond as one of the most effective in training K through 12 teachers in a variety of specialties.

“This historic milestone builds upon our institution’s rich legacy of teacher preparation, dating all the way back to the founding of the College as Pine Grove Normal Academy,” Dr. Constance Nichols ’93, chair and professor of Education, said. “Our new graduate program reflects both our roots and our vision for the future. We are dedicated to cultivating teacher leaders who bring expertise, innovation, and inspiration to their schools and communities.”

The graduate program features expert faculty with deep expertise in the science of reading and firsthand experience as reading specialists; application-driven learning that empowers students to use what they are learning in real time, where it is needed most; and the College’s Christian mission to answer the call to serve the common good.

Reading specialists provide one-on-one or small group instruction to students who struggle to read; coach teachers on methods, assessment, and curriculum changes; assess students’ reading abilities; identify deficiencies; and create intervention plans and strategies. They work in a variety of educational and clinical settings.

To help establish the College’s place in graduate and advanced study preparation, the Department of Education is hosting the Raising Readers conference in February in partnership with the Pennsylvania Chapter of the International Dyslexia Association.

Grove City College’s Department of Graduate & Online programs are designed for career-focused adult learners who want to improve their positions and undergraduates who want to jump start their early career with an advanced degree.

In addition to the Master of Science in Education in Reading Specialist degree, the College offers online Master of Business Administration, Master of Business Analytics, Master of Accounting, and Master of Arts in Economics degrees as well as an innovative 3+1 program from the Department of Biblical and Religious Studies that allows some students to earn their B.A. and an M.A. in ministry in the time it usually takes to earn a four-year degree.

The degree programs are designed around Grove City College’s firm educational foundation and legacy of exceptional student outcomes. The College’s Christ-centered approach integrates faith and learning, fostering a moral and ethical approach to the profession that values service along with success.

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