Earn USD Graduate Credit for Structured Literacy Training

How the University of San Diego Validates Course Credits

Third-party training organizations like Lexercise apply to the University of San Diego (USD) for credit validation. The validation is designed to ensure that courses meet academic standards equivalent to post-baccalaureate education standards. USD reviews syllabi, coursework requirements, and contact hours against standards required for professional development in the applicant's specific field of study. For Lexercise, a provider of training in structured literacy methods, USD reviewed the curriculum, learning objectives, and scope of work to ensure alignment with graduate-level standards.

How Does This Partnership Benefit Professionals?

USD's Graduate-Level Extension Credits are designed specifically for post-baccalaureate career advancement. Graduate-Level Extension Credits (GLECs) allow teachers, speech-language pathologists, and literacy specialists to convert the specialized training that Lexercise offers into official academic transcripts, which can be used for:

• Salary Advancement: Moving across "step and column" salary grids in school district pay scales.
• Credential Renewal: Fulfilling state or board requirements for continuing education units.
• Professional Certification: Lexercise's IDA-accredited courses meet the coursework requirement for certification through the Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI). Educators who complete the course series and pass the KPEERI exam can apply for CERI's Structured Literacy Classroom Teacher certificate, and a USD transcript gives them additional documentation of that training.

What Lexercise Professional Courses Can Students Take for Graduate-Level Credit at the University of San Diego?

The Lexercise courses provide structured literacy training aligned with the Knowledge and Practice Standards developed by the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) and used by the Center for Effective Reading Instruction (CERI). The standards outline the knowledge and skills needed to teach all students to read proficiently. 

Science of Reading: Strategies and Tools for Teachers (1 credit)

Designed specifically for K–12 educators, this course provides a clear, accessible foundation in how reading develops and how to teach it effectively using structured literacy principles. Grounded in research and focused on daily application, this course strengthens instructional decision-making.

Course 1: The Structure of Written English (3.5 credit)

This rigorous, graduate-level course provides a deep study of how English works, from speech to print and print to speech. It covers the Science of Reading, including phonetics & phonology, orthography, morphology, syntax, semantics, and discourse. Participants learn how to apply linguistic analysis to reading and spelling instruction.

Course 2: Multisensory, Structured Literacy Intervention (3.5 credit)

Course 1 knowledge is a prerequisite for this course, which moves from knowledge to application, focusing on how to apply Orton-Gillingham–based principles and science-backed instructional routines to teaching structured literacy, including reading, spelling, and writing.

Course 3: Practicum in Structured Literacy Therapy (8 credit)

The knowledge and skills taught in Courses 1 and 2 are prerequisites for this 13-week, live, supervised practicum. The trainee works under the mentorship of a CERI-certified Lexercise therapist, applying a structured literacy curriculum to real students, developing advanced instructional skills and teletherapy best practices. Participants can choose 10 CEUs instead of GLECs, or add USD's Practicum in Structured Literacy Certificate for a one-time $75 fee.

Lexercise Teletherapy Training Course (up to 3 credit)

This course provides the knowledge and practical experience needed to work comfortably and confidently in a teletherapy setting using the Lexercise structured literacy curriculum and teletherapy platform. Prerequisites include successful completion of Course 1 and Course 2 or their corresponding test-out exams.

How Do You Enroll and Receive University of San Diego Credit for a Lexercise Course?

Once you have successfully completed a Lexercise Course, you will receive a Lexercise Course Certificate of Completion that you can submit to USD, and then you will receive your validated transcript of Graduate-Level Extension Credits (GLEC). For more details, see the USD Credit Validation Participant Guide.

Here is a summary of the steps:

1. Enroll in the Lexercise Course
2. Complete the Lexercise course
3. Purchase your GLECs or CEUs through your course's USD page, linked in the course list above
4. Submit your Certificate of Completion from Lexercise
5. Receive your transcript of credits

Advance Your Career: Enroll in a Lexercise Professional Education Course

With 42 states and Washington, D.C., having passed reading instruction laws, districts are investing in educators trained in the Science of Reading. Earning graduate-level Science of Reading credits for special education, ESL, reading specialist, and EdTech endorsements can boost your salary, your job security, administrative and district mobility, and your ability to pivot to the private sector. 

Move your career ahead.