Southern Miss Welcomes Inaugural Class of Dyslexia Therapy Masters Program

The University of Southern Mississippi held a welcoming reception for the inaugural class of the new master of education degree in dyslexia therapy on Monday, June 2, prior to the start of the group's first in-person class. This is the first program of its kind in the State of Mississippi offered by a public institution.

A collaboration between the DuBard School for Language Disorders in the Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences in the College of Health and the Department of Curriculum, Instruction and Special Education in the College of Education and Psychology, this degree program will prepare graduates to become dyslexia therapists licensed by the Mississippi Department of Education.

The program is offered in a hybrid format, offering a mixture of on-campus instruction, online courses, weekend classes and supervised practicum experiences, built around a working professional's schedule. The inaugural class features 13 students.

“It is exciting to see this program come to fruition,” said Dr. Maureen Martin, director of the DuBard School. “We've been working on this degree for approximately four years, ensuring we are able to provide the highest quality education in a format fitted for working professionals. These students are the future educators of children with learning differences – I look forward to seeing the impact they'll have on our area and state as a whole.”

The DuBard School's professional development program has been accredited by the International Multisensory Structured Language Education Council (IMSLEC) since 1998, is accredited by the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) and meets the IDA's Knowledge and Practice Standards for Teachers of Reading, credentials also associated with the degree program.

All instructors are highly qualified and hold a Ph.D., Ed.D., CALT, QI (Certified Academic Language Therapist, Qualified Instructor), or combinations of these credentials, therefore are experts in dyslexia. In addition, they hold credentials in literacy, communication disorders, learning disabilities, related disorders, elementary education, special education and school administration.

For more information about this and other educational programs, visit www.usm.edu/dubard.