Online Graduate Certificate in K-12 Reading

• Applicants may apply for admission to master’s degree and graduate certificate programs at any time during the year.
• Applicants must have completed an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution and maintained an overall grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.00 scale.
• Applicants must hold, or be eligible to hold, a Tier 3 or 4 license.

Students with transcripts from universities located outside of the United States unless the foreign transcripts come from an institution located in a waiver country listed here are required to take and pass English Proficiency testing.

Saint Mary’s accepts: 

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a minimum score of 72 
• International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with a minimum score of 6.0 
• International Test of English Proficiency (ITEP) with a minimum score of 4.0 
• Pearson Test of English with a score of 51 
• Duolingo with a minimum score of 100.

1. A completed application form 
2. An official transcript(s) issued to Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota from the institution posting the applicant’s completed bachelor’s degree and other relevant transcripts documenting program prerequisites and potential transfer credits. An official transcript is one that is sent to the university by the credit-granting institution.
   • You have two possible options for obtaining official transcripts:
     1. Order official transcripts from all institutions yourself.
     2. Saint Mary’s can order and cover the cost of transcripts from institutions that allow third-party requests for eligible degree-seeking applicants. Contact your enrollment counselor for more information.
   • Transcripts from countries other than the U.S. must be evaluated on a course-by-course basis by a university-accepted evaluation service, such as World Education Services, Educational Credential Evaluators, Educational Perspectives, or One Earth International Credential Evaluators and be deemed equivalent to accredited U.S. university standards. Evaluations from an approved member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES.org) will also be accepted.
   • Official Transcripts should be sent to Office of Admission:
     Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota
     2500 Park Avenue
     Minneapolis, MN 55404
     Or electronically: tcadmission@smumn.edu
   • Please reach out with any questions about the application process.
     • Phone: (612) 728-5100
     • Toll-free: (866) 437-2788
     • E-mail: tcadmission@smumn.edu
3. A personal statement which includes:
   • brief description of the applicant’s background, training, and experience; and,
   • statement indicating the career goals of the applicant and his or her reasons for seeking admission to the program and,
   • personal information the applicant wishes to share.
4. Names of two people (including title, organization, email, phone number) who could serve as professional references, if needed, during the application review process. The best references are those who know you in a professional capacity, such as current or former supervisors.
5. A current résumé listing educational background and work experience.

Fall 2025 Term 1: Aug. 1, 2025

Fall 2025 term 2: Sept. 27, 2025

The priority application deadlines are listed but these are general as not all of our programs have a start every semester.

Fall 2025: Oct 27, 2025

You can expect to be notified about your acceptance approximately two weeks following your application completion date.

At Saint Mary’s, we want you to succeed, and we help you do so, inside and outside of the classroom: 

Student Central: Your one-stop for student services.

Library: Resources and services are available 24/7 to all students.

Writing Center: Offers virtual and face-to-face services to support students. 

Career Services: Can help you develop your career-readiness skills at any point in your education.

Yes, this program offers flexibility through online coursework, allowing you to continue working in a school setting while completing our program Learn more about how online learning at Saint Mary’s can fit seamlessly into your busy life.

The K-12 Reading Graduate Certificate is a fully online program. However, three courses during eight weeks will have required scheduled meeting times; students are expected to attend during these class hours.

Yes, this program is designed to meet educational requirements for K-12 Reading licensure in Minnesota and is not designed or intended to meet educational requirements for special education licensure in other jurisdictions.

Yes, this program does require a 90-hour practicum.

Yes, all current teachers are welcome to enroll in this program. To pursue K-12 Reading licensure in Minnesota, you must hold, or be eligible to hold,  a Tier 3 or 4 license.