Reading Endorsement

The Level I Reading Endorsement at Utah State University is designed to strengthen the classroom teacher’s knowledge of literacy content and pedagogical knowledge and assessment. Graduates learn to read, interpret, and apply evidence-based practices gleaned from the research literature. The reading endorsement programs are designed for working professionals, with courses offered in the evenings and summers. Courses are taught once a week during fall and spring and twice a week during the summer (summer semesters are 7 weeks long instead of 15 weeks). Courses are currently offered through the Statewide Campuses broadcast network and follow a regular schedule so that students can complete the endorsement in two years.

*Additional courses can be offered on-site at school locations in collaboration with school districts. Please contact Dr. Nicole Pyle at nicole.pyle@usu.edu or 435-797-0392 if you are interested in this option.

Information Info
Info The Utah State Board of Education (USBE) will accept applications for the Reading Level 1, Reading Level 2, and Reading Interventionist Endorsement through June of 2023. As of July 1, 2021, USBE offers two new competency-based endorsement options (K-12 Literacy Specialist and Secondary Literacy Interventionist) in addition to the three current reading endorsements. However, beginning July 1, 2023, USBE will ONLY offer these two new endorsement options. The three current endorsement applications will then be retired. The competencies and pathways for earning the new endorsements are available on the USBE licensing website. Please refer to the applications for the Literacy Specialist K-12 Endorsement and the Secondary Literacy Interventionist on the USBE Educator Endorsement website (available under Literacy). More information will be posted as the literacy faculty at Utah State University secure approval for the pathways to meet the competencies for each of the two new literacy endorsements. Learn more about the USBE competency-based endorsements here.

Level I Reading Endorsement

There are two ways to pursue the Level I Reading Endorsement: 1) as a non-matriculated graduate student for the reading endorsement only; 2) as a master's degree student, with the reading endorsement courses used as electives. To become a non-matriculated graduate student, you must complete an online application here: http://rgs.usu.edu/graduateschool/apply/. Browse all instructions for the application. 

To apply for the master's degree program, you must apply to the School of Graduate Studies:http://rgs.usu.edu/graduateschool/apply/

We highly recommend that you pursue the second path. If you start taking classes as a non-matriculated student, please be aware that if you change your mind and decide to go for the master's, only 12 of the non-matriculated credits can be transferred into your master's degree program.

The Teaching Reading: K-12 Praxis test (test #5206) is required for the Level I Reading Endorsement.

See the Utah State Board of Education website for more detail and the following application for the Reading Endorsement Level I: https://www.schools.utah.gov/file/922d07f2-5039-4c3c-9e82-2b0956c73428

Level I Reading Endorsement Courses (21 credits)

  • TEAL 6235 Instructional Implications of Literacy Development (Fall semesters)
  • TEAL 6350 Reading Assessment and Intervention (Spring semesters)
  • TEAL 6380 Effective Writing Instruction (Summer semesters)
  • TEAL 6390 Teaching with Literature and Information Text (Summer semesters)
  • TEAL 6310 Integrating Literacy Across the Curriculum (Fall semesters)
  • TEAL 6320 Theories and Models of Reading (Spring semesters)
  • TEAL 6570 Advanced Comprehension (Summer semesters)

Questions? Please ask!

Nicole Pyle, Associate Professor
435-797-0392
nicole.pyle@usu.edu