Dyslexia Endorsement and Certificate
The fully online Dyslexia Endorsement and Certificate program provides teachers, clinicians, and specialists with specific knowledge and skills related to reading and language development, diverse reading profiles, assessment, and structured literacy instruction and intervention. This 15-credit hour program is accredited by the International Dyslexia Association (IDA), and courses are aligned with the IDA’s Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading.
Highlights
- Approved by the Georgia Professional Standards Commission (GaPSC), which allows program completers to add a dyslexia endorsement to a GaPSC teaching certificate.
- Can be completed as a stand-alone endorsement/certificate program (non-degree), or it can be embedded in a GaPSC-approved initial preparation program (e.g., BSEd, MAT) or an advanced (degree-only) preparation program (e.g., MEd, EdS).
- Includes coursework and field-based experiences that reflect current research in the science of reading and best practices in teaching reading and literacy.
- Incorporates video-based, engaging curriculum to ensure that candidates engage in the practice of teaching while receiving the feedback necessary to gain fluency and confidence in their practice.
- Allows candidates to engage directly with expert faculty who are working to shape policy and inform practice at the local, state, and national levels.
Curriculum
The Dyslexia Endorsement and Certificate courses are aligned with the IDA’s Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading (PDF) and provide students with practical, hands-on training and experience with research-based methods for reading instruction and intervention. Candidates will receive:
- foundational content that will result in a comprehensive understanding of typical and atypical language and literacy acquisition, diverse reading profiles, including dyslexia and learning disabilities, and assessment
- direct training in the principles and practices of structured literacy instruction and intervention,
- fieldwork in delivering evidence-based reading instruction and intervention to elementary and secondary students with reading difficulties
The program requires the completion of five courses (15 credit hours) across three to five semesters. The practicum course in intensive reading interventions provides candidates with hands-on practical experience working with students with reading difficulties or disabilities in a one-on-one or small group setting.
Courses
- EDSE 5120E/7120E*: Dyslexia and Other Learning Disabilities
- EDSE 5150E/7150E: Designing Reading Interventions for Special Education (Pre-Requisite: EDSE 5120E/7120E)
- EDSE 5020E/7020E: Assessment of Dyslexia and Other Learning Disabilities
- EDSE 5250E/7250E: Teaching Writing to Students with Disabilities
- EDSE 5770E/7770E**: Practicum in Intensive Reading Intervention (Pre- Requisite: EDSE 5150E/7150E)
* Must be taken in the first semester of the program.
** Must be taken in the Summer semester and after EDSE 5150E/7150E has been completed.
Upon completion of the program, candidates are required to take the Knowledge and Practice Exam for Effective Reading Instruction (KPEERI) .
Georgia Department of Education Partnership
In a partnership between the Mary Frances Early College of Education and the Georgia Department of Education, Dr. Kristin Sayeski created a four-part video series that begins with an overview of the characteristics of dyslexia, followed by explanations of the relationship between reading development and dyslexia. Next, common questions about dyslexia and services offered under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are answered. The series ends with a description of what a structured literacy approach to reading instruction means and what this looks like for students with dyslexia.
How to Apply
The Dyslexia Endorsement and Certificate program may be completed independently as a non-degree (endorsement-/certificate-only) course sequence or integrated into the program of study of undergraduate (B.S.Ed.) or graduate (M.A.T., M.Ed., Ed.S.) degree-seeking students.
Current UGA Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate students must apply for the certificate in Athena .
- Log into Athena
- Under the Student Tab, click “My Programs”
- Click the Add Certificate button
- Select the endorsement/certificate program from the “My Certificates” drop-down menu.
Graduate Students
All applicants must complete a UGA Graduate School application .
If you are enrolled in the M.A.T./M.Ed. Special Education- General Curriculum, the Dyslexia endorsement will be automatically added to your record.
- Current UGA Graduate Students will be charged a $25 application fee. Make sure to answer “Yes” to the question “Are you a current student?”.
- Non-UGA students will be charged a $75 application fee.
- Select your campus from the drop-down menu.
- Select “Endorsement/Certificate” from the Degree Level drop-down menu.
- Then select the endorsement/certificate program from the Intended Program drop-down menu. (Dyslexia Endorsement/Certificate Program Code:
CERT_2DLX_ON)
Undergraduates Apply Now Graduates Apply Now
Required Documents for Application
Non-Degree Seeking Applicants, please include the following documents with your application:
- Current resume/CV
- Unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended
Deadline to Apply
Domestic Applicants
- Fall Semester: July 1
- Summer Semester: April 1
- Spring Semester: November 15
International Applicants
- Fall Semester: April 15
- Spring Semester: October 15
- Summer Semester: February 15
Applying for Graduation
All endorsement/certificate candidates must apply for graduation using the graduation application available in Athena upon completion of the last endorsement class by a given deadline for the semester in which they intend to graduate.
Deadline to Apply to Graduate
- If you are graduating in Fall semester, apply to graduate by October 15.
- If you are graduating in Spring semester, apply to graduate by March 15.
- If you are graduating in Summer semester, apply to graduate by June 15.
Additional Resources
Please use our online form if you have any questions for the department. Please be as specific as possible so that we may quickly assist you.
All undergraduate students at UGA meet with an academic advisor each semester. This meeting is critical to a student’s success as a chance to discuss courses and electives, certification criteria, and general graduation requirements.
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