Master of Science in Education
Literacy Education [LED]

This program is intended for students who have a bachelor’s degree in teacher education. It requires a minimum of 33 hours of approved graduate course work including a culminating experience.

Career Potential
Graduates of our program will be prepared to provide specialized literacy instruction and assessment across a variety of levels and settings.
• Literacy Resource Teacher
• Literacy Teacher/Coach
• Classroom Teacher
• Facilitator of Intervention Services
• Curriculum Specialist for school or district level

Admission Requirements
In addition to meeting the requirements for admission to a degree program as stated in this catalog, the applicant for enrollment in the program leading to a M.S.Ed. in Literacy Education should present the following:

1. Official transcripts documenting a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university

2. Documentation of an initial/provisional certificate (or a certificate of qualification for initial or provisional certification) in early childhood, childhood education, elementary education, middle school education, adolescence education or secondary education, speech pathology and audiology, and/or special education issued by the New York State Education Department

3. An overall undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.0

4. Two recommendation checklists (forms available from the Graduate Studies Office Web site)

5. A typewritten statement demonstrating commitment to and interest in literacy education as well as an ability to write clearly and well (question/rubric available from the Graduate Studies Office Web site)

Before beginning course work, students must select from one of two tracks:

Track 1

Study leading to the initial and professional certificate in the Teaching of Literacy Birth to Grade 6

Track 2

Study leading to the initial and professional certificate in the Teaching of Literacy Grades 5-12

Students should matriculate (be accepted and enrolled in the program) before beginning course work and must establish candidacy for the degree between their sixth and 15th hour of course work.

According to College policy, no more than six graduate credit hours may be transferred from another college. In addition, only course work completed in five years prior to completion of the graduate program may be included in the degree program.

Additional Requirements
Candidates for the degree must meet any additional undergraduate and graduate requirements for the award of the degree established by the department. Such additional requirements must be ascertained by the student in consultation with the department’s chairs.

Specific information regarding requirements (state examinations, identification and reporting of child abuse and maltreatment, alcohol and drug abuse education, fingerprinting, violence prevention, and foreign language requirements) for New York State teaching certification can be found on page 104 of the Graduate Catalog.

More detailed information is found in the Graduate Advisement Manual available in the Literacy Department. For a copy, call (607) 753-2705.

A. Required courses for Track 1: Study leading to the certificate in the Teaching of Literacy B-Grade 6

LIT 528: Language and Literacy Development
LIT 540: Current Practices in Literacy Assessment and Instruction B-Grade 6
LIT 560: Children’s Literature in the Curriculum
LIT 610: Seminar in Literacy History, Instruction, and Research
LIT 630: Literacy and Society
LIT 669: The Literacy Specialist and The Literacy Program
LIT 680: Assessment and Instruction of Learners Experiencing Literacy Difficulties B-Grade 6
LIT 693: The Literacy Practicum and Seminar

LIT 698: The Master’s Project in Literacy Education
or
LIT 699: The Master’s Thesis

One from the following:
SPE 510: Teaching the Special Education Learner in the General Education Classroom
AAS 581/LIT 525: Teaching the Inner City Child
WST 552: Gender Issues in Education

Total credit hours required: 33

B. Required courses for Track 2: Study leading to the certificate in the Teaching of Literacy Grades 5-12
LIT 528: Language and Literacy Development
LIT 550: Current Practices in Literacy Assessment and Instruction Grades 5-12
LIT 570: Young Adult Literature
LIT 610: Seminar in Literacy History, Instruction, and Research
LIT 630: Literacy and Society
LIT 669: The Literacy Specialist and The Literacy Program
LIT 681: Assessment and Instruction of Learners Experiencing Literacy Difficulties Grades 5-12
LIT 693: The Literacy Practicum and Seminar

LIT 698: The Master’s Project in Literacy Education
or
LIT 699: The Master’s Thesis

One from the following:
SPE 510: Teaching the Special Education Learner in the General Education Classroom
AAS 581/EDU 525: Teaching the Inner City Child
WST 552: Gender Issues in Education

Total credit hours required: 33