Return to: 4170 Department of Middle and Secondary Education
The program for the major in literacy provides for master’s level study of literacy processes and literacy instruction for culturally diverse learners in urban spaces. Students will integrate research and theory in practice and will focus on the following concentrations in the field of literacy: (a) literacy specialist, (b) digital literacies, and (c) families, communities, and culture.
This M.Ed. program is a 36-semester hour program (9 hours of Professional Studies; 9 hours in a Literacy Education Core; 18 hours in a concentration). The literacy education core meets the requirements for a reading endorsement. The literacy concentration is designed to prepare the graduate to work as a teacher of reading and writing, or literacy coach in grades P-12 and leads to certification as a Literacy Specialist. This degree adheres with the professional standards from the International Literacy Association for literacy professionals and classroom teachers of reading/literacy.
Program Admission
Entry into all concentrations requires a bachelor’s degree, 2.5 grade point average and two letters of recommendation.
Students who pursue the Literacy Specialist concentration need three years teaching experience and a T4 certification to apply for Literacy Specialist Certification.
Program Academic Regulations
Students must complete a portfolio as an exit requirement.
Certification Only
Individuals who already have a master’s degree in education and T4 certification will be eligible to be recommended for the Literacy Specialist Certification after successfully completing the following course work and key assessments and successfully passing the GACE 117/118 Literacy Specialist examinations.
- EDCI 7660 Practicum I (3)
- EDRD 7550 Literacy Assessment and Curriculum Development (3)
- EDRD 7600 Theory and Pedagogy in the Study of Literacy (3)
- EDRD 7630 Critical Literacies in the Content Areas (3)
- EDRD 7650 Individualized Literacy Assessment and Instruction (3)
- EDRD 8610 Professional Learning and Leadership of Literacy (3)