Masters of Education in Dyslexia Therapy

WILLIAM CAREY UNIVERSITY

Dyslexia Therapy Program

The William Carey University Dyslexia Therapy Training Program is a research-based program to train therapists to work with students with dyslexia and related disorders.  The core of the training evolved from Orton-Gillingham, a scientific, universally successful, specific teaching approach that combines all three learning modalities auditory, visual, and kinesthetic.  The training program has been strongly supported by the Mississippi Legislature, both the National and Mississippi Scottish Rite Masons, and the Mississippi Dyslexia Therapy Association.

William Carey University’s Master’s Degree Program works in partnership with Neuhaus Education Center, Houston, Texas. Neuhaus Education Center is accredited at both the Therapy and Instructor of Therapy levels by the International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council (IMSLEC).

The Cohort program is a two-year graduate level course of study leading to a Master of Education degree in Dyslexia Therapy and is structured to accommodate the schedule of working teachers.  The M.Ed. in Dyslexia Therapy at William Carey University has been approved by the State Board of Education as a graduate degree meeting all requirements for an advanced degree by licensed teachers.  The State Board of Education has established licensure requirements for holding an "AA" Teaching License in "Dyslexia Therapy".  Those requirements include holding a valid standard "A" teaching license (valid for five years) and completion of a master's degree in dyslexia therapy. The AA License may be added to an existing A License for both elementary and secondary level teachers.

Program Goals

• To provide an educational experience which meets a state need and enables participants to become professional dyslexia therapists
• To become a part of an effort to assist Mississippi students struggling with dyslexia and written-language disorders by working in a private or public school settings
• To provide participants with relevant theory and research, history, appropriate methodologies, curricular knowledge, and applied techniques

Program Entry Requirements

Candidates for this program must:

• Have an undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university
• Must be admitted to the William Carey University Graduate School
• Hold an "A" teacher's license and have evidence of experience in teaching or working with students.  A photocopy of the standard educator license is required
• Three letters of recommendation completed by a school superintendant or head master, a principal, and an immediate supervisor

REQUIRED COURSES

EDU 670 – Introduction to Dyslexia Therapy and Multisensory Teaching – 3 hrs

EDU 671 – Dyslexia Therapy – Theory and Practice – 3 hrs

EDU 672 – Dyslexia Therapy – Internship I (15 hrs; 120 clinical hrs) – 3 hrs

EDU 673 – Dyslexia Therapy – Internship II (15 hrs; 120 clinical hrs) – 3 hrs

EDU 674 – Dyslexia Therapy – Internship III (15 class hrs; 120 clinical hrs.)- 3hrs

EDU 675 – Dyslexia Therapy – Planning and Application of Multisensory Teaching – 3hrs

EDU 676 – Dyslexia Therapy – Assessment and Evaluation of Multisensory Teaching – 3hrs

EDU 677 – Dyslexia Therapy – Internship IV – (15 class hrs; 120 clinical hrs.) – 3hrs

EDU 678 - Dyslexia Therapy – Internship V – (15 class hrs; 120 clinical hrs.) – 3hrs

EDU 679 - Dyslexia Therapy – Internship VI – (15 class hrs; 120 clinical hrs.) – 3hrs

TOTAL: 30 Hours/720 Supervised Clinical Hours

COHORT SCHEDULE

1^st   Summer Trimester – EDU 670 EDU 671

Fall Trimester – EDU 672

Winter Trimester – EDU 673

Spring Trimester – EDU 674

2^nd Summer Trimester – EDU 675 EDU 676

Fall Trimester – EDU 677

Winter Trimester – EDU 678

Spring Trimester – EDU 679 

DEFINITIONS

"Dyslexia" is  a specific learning disability that is neurological in origin, characterized by difficulties with  accurate and fluent word recognition and poor spelling and  decoding abilities, which typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction, and secondary consequences which may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge (International Dyslexia Association, 2012).

"Dyslexia therapy" means an appropriate specialized dyslexia instructional program that is delivered by a Mississippi Department of Education licensed dyslexia therapist which is scientific, research-based, Orton-Gillingham based, and is offered in a small group (MS Code Sec. 37-173-1).

"Dyslexia therapist" means a professional who has completed training in a department approved Orton-Gillingham based dyslexia therapy training program attaining an AA license in dyslexia therapy or a professional participating in a state approved dyslexia therapy training program to attain a AA license in dyslexia therapy (MS Code Sec. 37-173-1).