Reading Endorsement
What you can earn
Duration
Credits earned
Format
Time commitment
This endorsement is currently offered to current UW students and UW graduates only. MIT Candidates pursuing this endorsement will remain matriculated as UW graduate students.
The Reading Endorsement is a multi-quarter program for current UW students and graduates that builds deep expertise in literacy instruction, assessment, and professional leadership. Through evidence-based coursework, supervised fieldwork, and an intensive 11-credit practicum, candidates develop the skills needed to teach readers across grade levels and address diverse literacy needs.
A required practicum seminar supports ongoing reflection and growth, and upon completion, educators are prepared for roles such as reading specialists or literacy coaches. To complete the endorsement requirements, candidates must pass the NES test.
Curriculum
Overview
The Reading Endorsement extends over multiple quarters, including the summer.
In addition to coursework taken during the academic year, Reading Endorsement Candidates are required to complete an 11-credit, 3-week summer experience that includes coursework and on-site supervised practicum experience. Course activities during the summer may be held with students at a school site or other on- or off-campus organizations.
Courses
- EDC&I 517: Early Literacy Development and Instruction - Year 1 (3 credits)
- EDC&I 534: Reading Comprehension Instruction K-12 - Year 1 (4 credits)
- EDC&I 530: Approaches to Literacy Instruction - Year 2 (4 credits)
In the summer*, these courses must be taken together:
- EDC&I 561: Methods of Reading Instruction (7 credits)
- EDC&I 601: Seminar: Secondary Reading Supervised Practicum (4 credits)
In addition to the courses above, students must choose one of the following elective courses:
- EDC&I 507: Teaching and Learning Toward Intersectional Justice (3 credits)
- EDC&I 528: Foundations of Language, Literacy & Culture (4 credits)
- EDC&I 568: Youth Multiliteracies: Multimodality, Culture, and Identity (4 credits)
- EDSPE 514: Fundamentals of Reading and Writing for Students with Disabilities (4 credits)
- EDTEP 544: Differentiated Instruction (ELTEP and STR students) (3 credits)
- EDC&I 548: ELL/ML Methods (4 credits)
- EDC&I 545: Multilingual Socialization and Development (3 credits)
- EDC&I 537: Classroom Discourse (3 credits)
*MIT students (except for SPED-TEP) may join the program in the summer upon completion of their literacy course sequence. Only the two summer courses (and one elective course) are required. If none of the elective courses are offered through your program, you must also enroll in an elective course.
SPED-TEP students follow their own course sequence.
For UW MIT graduates only the two summer courses (and one elective course) are required. If none of the elective courses were offered through your program, in addition to the summer courses you must enroll in an elective course.
Fieldwork
There is a required practicum seminar where teachers continue to develop their practice teaching readers through peer support and reflection. The practicum experience is concurrent with coursework.
Completion
Upon completion of coursework and fieldwork, you must take the NES Essential Components of Elementary Reading Instruction (104) to meet all the endorsement requirements. You can register for the exam online at http://www.west.nesinc.com/
Advising
For more information please contact uwteach@uw.edu or rashank@uw.edu
Admission requirements and process
Overview
Express your interest to participate in this program by May 8th by reaching out to Renee Shank, PhD, Reading Endorsement Coordinator, at rashank@uw.edu
Costs and funding
Estimated Costs
For current UW graduate students, the estimated cost of completing the spring or summer coursework is $6,528 for Washington state residents, plus any applicable registration, practicum, and technology fees. Current UW TEP students register for classes just as they have in previous quarters. If you plan to extend your program, please contact Michael Nielsen (mnielsen@uw.edu) for guidance.
For non-matriculated students, the estimated tuition is approximately $7,062 plus additional fees (see the Graduate and Professional Tuition Dashboard for details).
Registration for In-Service Teachers
STEP 1: Apply for Non-Matriculated (NM) Status
If you're not requesting tuition exemption, follow the correct registration link depending on the quarter:
- Fall–Spring: Register as an NM student (or GNM with the College of Education if you want your credits to count toward a future graduate degree). Note that the College of Education has its own process, which is not the same as for other UW graduate programs. For more information see: https://education.uw.edu/admissions/non-matriculated-and-graduate-non-matriculated-students)
Summer: Use the Summer Session non-UW registration process.
- WA State Employees who intend to apply as a first-time or returning non-matriculated (not seeking a degree) students under the tuition exemption program must complete the online non-matriculated application. Submit the online NM application (includes an $80 fee). For more information visit: https://www.summer.uw.edu/registration-costs/how-to-register/non-uw-students
STEP 2: Submit Your Tuition Exemption Form
WA State Employees must complete the Washington State Tuition Exemption Request Form before registering. For more information visit: https://registrar.washington.edu/staff-faculty/tuition-exemption-program/
STEP 3: Register for Your Classes
Once your NM status is active and your tuition exemption form is submitted, log into my.uw.edu to register.
You will need edcodes—email Renee Shank (rashank@uw.edu) if you haven’t received them.
Registration timing:
Newly admitted & returning students register April 20–June 22.
Continuing students can register anytime during this period.
WA State Employees using tuition exemption register on the 4th day of the quarter.
