Literacy Education (MA)

Why UM-Flint

What Sets UM-Flint's Masters in Literacy Education (MA) Program Apart?

FOCUS:

UM-Flint’s Literacy Education program is developed for individuals who hold elementary or secondary teaching certificates, and offers courses that focus on issues and practices related to an integrated language arts curriculum.
Literacy (MA) candidates engage with materials and ideas in practice to address the needs of learners from diverse backgrounds and school settings.

FLEXIBILITY:

The Literacy program is typically completed part-time over two years but offers the flexibility for you to take courses at your desired pace.
Classes are held on UM-Flint’s campus, primarily in the evening, and in mixed-mode format.

RESOURCES:

Course instructors are student-focused and have doctoral degrees.
Coursework fulfills Michigan’s PA32 requirement and aligns with the standards of the International Reading Association.
The program includes clinical work with students in the UM-Flint School of Education and Human Services Reading Center.

RESULTS:

The program prepares you to take the MTTC to add the Reading Specialist (BR) endorsement to your Michigan teaching certificate.
Graduates from the Literacy Education (MA) program who pass the MTTC are qualified to teach reading as a special subject and serve as building resource professionals (i.e., reading specialist or literacy coach).

Admission

Admission Requirements

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
Minimum overall undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
Elementary or secondary teacher certification

Applying

To be considered for admission, submit the following to the Office of Graduate Programs, 251 Thompson Library:

Application for Graduate Admission
$55 application fee (non-refundable)
Official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
Statement of Purpose describing your goals for entering the graduate program and how these goals connect to your views on teaching and learning
Résumé
Three letters of recommendation, preferably with at least one from an academic reference and one from an individual familiar with your teaching or professional work
A copy of your teaching certificate
International students must submit additional documentation. Visit the International Students page for details.

Application Deadlines

The program has rolling admissions and reviews completed applications each month.

Application deadlines are as follows:

Fall (early deadline*) – May 1
Fall (final deadline) – August 1
Winter – November 15
Spring – March 15
Summer – May 15

* You must apply by the early deadline to be eligible for scholarships, grants, and research assistantships.

International students are required to apply earlier than the deadlines posted here. The final deadlines for international students are May 1 for the fall semester, September 1 for the winter semester, and January 1 for the spring term.

Courses

Literacy Education (Master of Arts)

The Master of Arts in Literacy program offers courses that focus on teaching issues and practices related to an integrated language arts curriculum, and prepares teachers for Reading Specialist endorsement. Appropriate material is considered in terms of learners from diverse backgrounds and school settings. Coursework outside the literacy core has been designed to support and enhance an individual student’s program of study.

The program prepares individuals with elementary or secondary teaching certification to apply for Reading Specialist endorsement. The Literacy program complies with the guidelines on Advanced Reading Education of the International Reading Association.

Requirements.

Literacy core (30 credits).
1. Prerequisite courses (9 credits).
    EDR 543 - Foundations of Literacy.  (initial course in the program)
    EDR 645 - Literacy Instruction for Students Identified with Special Needs.  (prior to
    EDR 646 )
    LIN 520 - Linguistics for Teachers.  (prior to EDR 522 )

2. Additional literacy courses (18 credits).
    EDR 522 - Teaching English Language Learners in the K-12 Classroom.
    EDR 544 - Integrated Language Arts throughout the Curriculum: Theory into Practice.
    EDR 646 - Literacy Assessment in Elementary/Middle School.
    EDR 670 - Reading and Writing Development/Research and the Construction of Meaning.
    EDR 672 - The Literacy Specialist.
    EDT 641 - Technology: Focus on Literacy Learning and Instruction.

3. Literature course (3 credits). One from:
    EDR 530 - Children’s Literature.
    EDR 532 - Multicultural Children’s Literature.
    EDR 537 - Adolescent Literature.
Additional Electives (6 credits).* From:
EDE 500 - Contemporary Issues in Learning and Teaching.
EDR 520 - Reading and Writing Development of Young Children.
LIN 521 - First Language Acquisition.
EDR 530 - Children’s Literature.
EDR 532 - Multicultural Children’s Literature.
EDR 535 - Folklore and Storytelling.
EDR 537 - Adolescent Literature.
EDR 546 / ENG 512 - Writing for Middle and Secondary School Teachers.
EDE 601 - Contemporary Issues in Educational Policy in a Pluralistic Society.
EDE 670 - Research Seminar.
EDR 699 - Seminar in Literacy.

*Note: When a candidate has undergraduate coursework equivalent to core courses, additional electives will be selected in consultation with an Education advisor to complete a total of 36 credits.

Reading Specialist Certificate Endorsement

Upon successful completion of the Master of Arts in Literacy program and the Reading Specialist (Test Code 92) Michigan Test for Teacher Certification, graduates with teaching certificates from the State of Michigan will be eligible for Reading Specialist certificate endorsement (coded BR in Michigan). This endorsement allows teachers to teach reading and language arts as a special subject in grades K-12.

Dr. Suzy Knezek’s endless patience, deep knowledge of all things literacy, and engaging teaching had a huge impact on my UM-Flint graduate career. I had a very specific goal to finish the program in 16 months, while also being as thorough as I could. Suzy guided me through that goal with everything from helping me choose classes for my specific goals and interests, to letting me have an occasional panic moment in her office. I truly cherished my time in the Literacy Education graduate program, and Suzy played a huge role in that.

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