Reading (MS)

Catalog Year

2024-2025

Degree

Master of Science

Major Credits

31

Total Credits

31

Locations

Online

Career Cluster

Education and Training

Accreditation

CAEP

Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation

Apply

Program Requirements

Common Core

This course focuses on the development of emergent and beginning readers. Students will become familiar with the evidence-based components of literacy instruction for children at this level, including oral language, phonemic awareness, phonics, and word recognition skills.

Prerequisites: none

This course focuses on the administration and analysis of literacy assessments appropriate for emergent and beginning readers. Students will complete a 10-hour in-person or virtual field experience providing instruction at the K-2 level. They will conduct assessments appropriate for the reader and use the results from these assessments to design interventions that are consistent with evidence-based instruction for emergent and beginning readers.

Prerequisites: none

This course provides a comprehensive practicum experience for students in literacy planning, instruction, and assessment. Students will complete an in-person and/or virtual 80-hour practicum experience working outside of their current teaching licensure area. Students will plan, provide, and reflect on evidence-based and data-informed literacy instruction to differentiate literacy instruction based on student¿s cognitive, cultural, linguistic assets and needs.

Prerequisites: none

This course provides a study of the characteristics and causes of literacy difficulties of older students. Students will administer and analyze appropriate assessments to design evidence-based individual and group intervention strategies. Students will complete a case study over the course of 10 hours in which they analyze and identify gaps in literacy data at the individual, group, classroom, and school level at the middle level, and create a plan for how teachers can create data-informed literacy instruction.

Prerequisites: none

This graduate course presents a variety of research-based pedagogical content strategies for literacy and advanced pedagogical strategies for literature-based instruction.

Prerequisites: none

This course provides an overview of current reading policy initiatives, at both the federal and state levels on systemic literacy support systems. Students will also develop professional knowledge related to research and theories in literacy instruction viewed through the critical lens of equity, social justice, and inclusion.

Prerequisites: none

Research/Methods Course(s)

This course focuses on developing skills related to academic writing.

Prerequisites: none

Examines research and theory in education. Explores major research and theoretical thinking in education.

Prerequisites: none

Restricted Electives

Choose 6 Credit(s).

Presents information about elementary learners' writing development, genres for the elementary curriculum, and assessment of elementary students' writing. Research-validated practices for teaching diverse learners will be the focus of the course.

Prerequisites: none

Students will develop expertise in working with culturally and linguistically diverse students in literacy learning. The course focuses on culturally responsive instructional strategies for literacy learning in reading, writing, and oral language to meet the cognitive, linguistic, cultural, and dispositional needs of English learners and culturally diverse learners. English language development, linguistics, academic language, assessment, family engagement, strengthening students' cultural connections, vocabulary development, comprehension strategies, writing instruction, and differentiation are major topics.

Prerequisites: none

Develop skills, knowledge, and dispositions related to technology use for literacy learning in the elementary classroom.

Prerequisites: none

Capstone Course

For students completing a Master's degree with the alternate plan paper option.

Prerequisites: none

For students completing a Master's degree with the creative project option.

Prerequisites: none

For students completing the Master's or Specialist degree using the thesis option.

Prerequisites: none

Degree Plan

The Degree Plan is a model for completing your degree in a timely manner. Your individual degree plan may change based on a number of variables including transfer courses and the semester/year you start your major. Carefully work with your academic advisors to devise your own unique plan.
* Please meet with your advisor on appropriate course selection to meet your educational and degree goals.

First Year

Fall - 6 Credits

This course focuses on the development of emergent and beginning readers. Students will become familiar with the evidence-based components of literacy instruction for children at this level, including oral language, phonemic awareness, phonics, and word recognition skills.

Prerequisites: none

This course focuses on the administration and analysis of literacy assessments appropriate for emergent and beginning readers. Students will complete a 10-hour in-person or virtual field experience providing instruction at the K-2 level. They will conduct assessments appropriate for the reader and use the results from these assessments to design interventions that are consistent with evidence-based instruction for emergent and beginning readers.

Prerequisites: none

Spring - 6 Credits

This course provides a study of the characteristics and causes of literacy difficulties of older students. Students will administer and analyze appropriate assessments to design evidence-based individual and group intervention strategies. Students will complete a case study over the course of 10 hours in which they analyze and identify gaps in literacy data at the individual, group, classroom, and school level at the middle level, and create a plan for how teachers can create data-informed literacy instruction.

Prerequisites: none

This graduate course presents a variety of research-based pedagogical content strategies for literacy and advanced pedagogical strategies for literature-based instruction.

Prerequisites: none

Summer - 6 Credits

This course provides an overview of current reading policy initiatives, at both the federal and state levels on systemic literacy support systems. Students will also develop professional knowledge related to research and theories in literacy instruction viewed through the critical lens of equity, social justice, and inclusion.

Prerequisites: none

Examines research and theory in education. Explores major research and theoretical thinking in education.

Prerequisites: none

Second Year

Fall - 6 Credits

This course focuses on developing skills related to academic writing.

Prerequisites: none

Students will develop expertise in working with culturally and linguistically diverse students in literacy learning. The course focuses on culturally responsive instructional strategies for literacy learning in reading, writing, and oral language to meet the cognitive, linguistic, cultural, and dispositional needs of English learners and culturally diverse learners. English language development, linguistics, academic language, assessment, family engagement, strengthening students' cultural connections, vocabulary development, comprehension strategies, writing instruction, and differentiation are major topics.

Prerequisites: none

Spring - 3 Credits

Presents information about elementary learners' writing development, genres for the elementary curriculum, and assessment of elementary students' writing. Research-validated practices for teaching diverse learners will be the focus of the course.

Prerequisites: none

Summer - 4 Credits

This course provides a comprehensive practicum experience for students in literacy planning, instruction, and assessment. Students will complete an in-person and/or virtual 80-hour practicum experience working outside of their current teaching licensure area. Students will plan, provide, and reflect on evidence-based and data-informed literacy instruction to differentiate literacy instruction based on student¿s cognitive, cultural, linguistic assets and needs.

Prerequisites: none

For students completing a Master's degree with the creative project option.

Prerequisites: none

Policies

Admission

  1. A bachelor's degree from an accredited U.S. institution, or a comparable degree from a recognized college or university in another country, is required.
  2. 2.75 GPA or above is required for immediate consideration of your application. If your GPA is less than 2.75, your application will require special review. In this situation, an Extenuating Circumstances statement may be appropriate.
  3. Transcripts: Official transcripts from all previous institutions.
  4. Resume
  5. Letters of recommendation. Two letters of recommendation from those who can speak to your experience working with children or youth, or who can vouch for your commitment to educational equity.
  6. Extenuating circumstances statement (optional). While this is not required, if there is something on your transcript that does not accurately reflect who you are as a student, please write no more than 500 words documenting unusual circumstances or hardships you have faced and the ways in which you have overcome or responded to them.

P/NC Standards: Courses may not be taken as P/NC. 

Retention Standards: Continuance throughout the program is not automatic. Students will be monitored for a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.