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Master of Arts in Education

Redesigned Reading and Literacy Leadership Specialist Credential (RLLSC)

  • Are you passionate about Reading?
  • Have you always wanted to know more about impactful literacy instruction?
  • Would you like to work as a District Reading Specialist or Literacy Coach? 

Earn your Reading and Literacy Leadership Specialist Credential!

Advantages of the Newly Redesigned Program:

✔Earn your credential in only two semesters!
Courses are online!
✔Program combines one PLC meeting per week with asynchronous work!
Option to apply credential coursework towards Master’s Degree in Reading!
✔Program accredited by California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation

NOTE: Candidates interested in pursuing a Reading/Literacy Leadership Specialist Credential need to possess a Basic California Teaching Credential, three (3) years of teaching, and evidence of passing the Basic Skills Requirement at the time the credential application is submitted to the State of California.

For more information, contact Dr. Lisa Bennett at lbennett@csufresno.edu 


∗Program for Candidates Admitted through Spring 2023∗

Graduate students can also earn a Reading/Literacy Leadership Specialist Credential (24 units). The mission of the Reading/Literacy Leadership Specialist Credential is to prepare teachers to develop an advanced understanding of the process through which students learn to read and write. Candidates will learn about the normal developmental process ranging from basic literacy skills in emergent/early readers to more advanced literacy skills required by adolescent and adult readers in content and subject matter disciplines. In addition to the admission requirements for the master’s degree, applicants must possess a valid California basic teaching license and have completed three years of teaching experience by the time the credential is awarded.

Candidates interested in pursuing a Reading/Literacy Leadership Specialist Credential will need to  possess a California Multiple or Single Subject credential by the time all the credential courses have been completed plus three (3) years of teaching and evidence of passing the Basic Skills Requirement at the time the credential application is submitted to the State of California.

Advanced Credential table
Semester Course Number Course Title Units
Semester 1 - Fall LEE 278 Literacy Processes and Practices 3 units
Semester 1 - Fall LEE 213 Teaching the Language Arts K-12 3 units
Semester 2 - Spring LEE 215 Language Issues in Reading 3 units
Semester 2 - Spring LEE 224 Assessment and Development of Reading Abilities 3 units
Semester 3 - Fall LEE 230 Supervised Teaching in Reading/Language Arts 3 units
Semester 4 - Spring LEE 244 Research for Reading Professionals 3 units
Semester 5 - Fall LEE 234 Clinical Experiences in Reading Assessment and Instruction 3 units
Semester 5 - Fall LEE 254 Supervised Field Experiences in Reading 3 units

Note 1: If approved, a maximum of 3-6 graduate level  transfer units "outside" of  California State University, Fresno may be used for the RLLSC  program. (Fresno State's Extension and/or Open University, and Subject Matter Project units  are not eligible.)  (University Time Limitations and Valdation Policies apply.)  Please contact the Reading/Language Arts Program Coordinator for specifics. 

Visit the Fresno State Catalog for course descriptions.