LITERACY EDUCATION
Want a Quick Overview?
Contact: Graduate Program Director
Application Deadlines:
For domestic classified status, the deadline is approximately a month before the start of classes (Definite dates are on the application itself). International students, please see the FAQs #16 for your deadline. NOTE: If you are a new graduate student and you intend to apply for a Competitive Graduate Award (CGA), the deadline for having all of your application materials turned in moves up to January 15th. If you apply for the CGA but your SIUE application is incomplete, your application for the Competitive Graduate Award will be removed from consideration.
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN EDUCATION
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction offers a program of study leading to the Master of Science degree with a major in Literacy Education. This program is intended to provide advanced preparation in Literacy Education for a Literacy/Reading Specialist, Literacy/Reading Coach or Literacy Coordinator. Upon passing the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) Reading Specialist Content-Area Test (176), and the Assessment of Professional Teaching Standards Test (APT 104), the Basic Skills test and completion of this program, candidates will earn Illinois Type 10 Reading Specialist Certification which is valid for teaching reading, supporting teaching professionals and coordinating literacy programs for kindergarten through grade twelve.
ADMISSION
Minimum admission criteria include a bachelor’s degree with a grade point average of 3.0 (A=4.0) or above; a teaching certificate in early childhood, elementary, secondary, or special education; a minimum of two years of full time contract teaching prior to CI 571; and 3 hours of children’s literature at the undergraduate or graduate level (or obtain before graduation).
PROGRAM OF STUDY
39 semester hours of graduate credit are required for Master of Science degree with a major in Literacy Education. Requirements are as follows:
General professional core (9 hours):
EPFR 501 (Research Methods in Education)
EPFR 515 (Advanced Educational Psychology)
EPFR 520 (Analysis of Educational Issues: Philosophic-historic Perspectives) or
EPFR 521 (Analysis of Educational Issues: Socio-cultural Perspectives)
Literacy Core (30 hours):
CI 520 (Theoretical Foundations in Literacy)
CI 521 (Emergent and Primary Level Literacy)
CI 525 (Upper Elementary and Middle Level Literacy)
CI 540 (Content Area Literacy)
CI 548 (Study of Classroom Instruction)
CI 571 (Diagnostic Assessment and Instruction)
CI 572 (Diagnostic Literacy Practicum for Elementary Level)
CI 573 (Diagnostic Literacy Practicum for Middle and Secondary Level)
CI 578 (Organization and Administration of Literacy Programs)
CI 591 (Current Issues and Trends in Literacy)
Field Experience
Intensive and extensive field experiences (CI 521, 525, and 540) help prepare candidates to analyze their own instruction and assume the new role of consultant and collaborator with other school professionals. Candidates begin on-going reflection and development of their knowledge of literacy processes, assessment, instructional strategies, and materials to plan and adapt instruction to meet the diverse needs of students in pre-kindergarten through grade twelve. Through collaboration and constructive coaching, candidates enhance their knowledge, skills, and dispositions.
Entry to Clinic Practicum
Prior to enrolling in CI 571, the first clinical course, candidates must complete with a minimum grade of B the following four core courses (CI 520, CI 521, CI 525, CI 540) Candidates must also have a passing score on the Reading Specialist Content – Area Test (176), have a minimum of two years of successful full time contract teaching meet passing criteria on initial Literacy Program Notebooks and a passing score on the literacy perspectives paper..
Literacy Clinic Practicum
The Cougar Literacy Clinic in the Reading Center is a low cost diagnostic and instructional service that provides literacy development support for students in grades one to twelve from the surrounding communities. Literacy Specialist candidates complete three practicum courses, CI 571, 572, and 573. Graduate candidates conduct and analyze diagnostic literacy assessments, provide individualized developmental and remedial instruction, and write comprehensive literacy development reports for each student. Clinicians are supervised during the clinic through direct observation, as well as videotaping, case study discussions, and lesson plan reflections. Candidates work with colleagues to observe, plan, and provide coaching on each other’s practice during the three semesters of clinic.
Upon completion of the three practicum courses (CI 571, 572, and 573) with a minimum grade of a B, candidates will present and meet passing criteria for their on-going Literacy Program Notebooks demonstrating a more thorough understanding and application of the previous standards along with resources for each component of literacy.
EXIT REQUIREMENTS
Candidates must pass the Assessment of Professional Teaching (APT 104) and the Illinois Basic Skills Test one semester prior to program completion; must earn an A or a B in all program courses; present and pass the literacy action research project, present and pass the final Literacy Program Notebooks and final disposition paper demonstrating proficiency in all the standards and have resources for each of the literacy areas; and provide evidence of membership in an organization that will enhance their professional development in literacy (ie. IRC, IRA, NRC, or NCTE).
LITERACY SPECIALIST POST-MASTER'S CERTIFICATE
The Department of Curriculum and Instruction offers a program of study leading to a Post- Master’s Literacy Specialist Certificate. This program is intended to provide advanced preparation in Literacy Education for a Literacy/Reading Specialist, Literacy/Reading Coach or Literacy Coordinator. Upon passing the Illinois State Board of Education Reading Specialist Content-Area Test (176), and the Assessment of Professional Teaching Standards Test (APT 104), the Illinois Basic Skills Test, and completion of this program, candidates will earn Illinois Type 10 Reading Specialist Certification which is valid for teaching reading, supporting teaching professionals and coordinating literacy programs for kindergarten through grade twelve.
ADMISSION
Minimum admission criteria include a master’s degree in education with a grade point average of 3.0 (A=4.0) or above; a valid Illinois teaching certificate in early childhood, elementary, secondary, or special education; a minimum of two years of full-time contract classroom teaching; and 3 hours of children’s literature at the undergraduate or graduate level (or obtain before graduation).
PROGRAM OF STUDY
27 semester hours of graduate credit are required for a Post-Master’s Literacy Specialist Certificate. Requirements are as follows:
Literacy Core (27 hours):
• CI 520 (Theoretical Foundations in Literacy)
• CI 521 (Emergent and Primary Level Literacy)
• CI 525 (Upper Elementary and Middle Level Literacy)
• CI 540 (Content Area Literacy)
• CI 571 (Literacy Diagnostics: Assessment and Instruction)
• CI 572 (Diagnostic Literacy Practicum for Elementary Level)
• CI 573 (Diagnostic Literacy Practicum for Middle and Secondary Level)
• CI 578 (Organization and Administration of Literacy Programs)
• CI 591 (Current Issues and Trends in Literacy)
Field Experience
Intensive and extensive field experiences (CI 521, 525, and 540) help prepare candidates to analyze their own instruction and assume the new role of consultant and collaborator with other school professionals. Candidates begin on-going reflection and development of their knowledge of literacy processes, assessment, instructional strategies, and materials to plan and adapt instruction to meet the diverse needs of students in pre-kindergarten through grade twelve. Through collaboration and constructive feedback, candidates enhance their knowledge, skills, and dispositions.
Entry to Clinic Practicum
Prior to enrolling in CI 571, the first clinical course, candidates must complete with a minimum grade of B the following four core courses (CI 520, CI 521, CI 525, and CI 540); one course may be taken concurrently with CI 571. Candidates must also have a passing score on the Reading Specialist Content – Area Test (176), and meet the passing criteria on two initial Literacy Program Notebooks: a standards notebook and a resource notebook.
Literacy Clinic Practicum
The Cougar Literacy Clinic in the Reading Center is a low cost diagnostic and instructional service that provides literacy development support for students in grades one to twelve from the surrounding communities. Literacy Specialist candidates complete three practicum courses, CI 571, 572, and 573. Graduate candidates conduct and analyze diagnostic literacy assessments, provide individualized developmental and remedial instruction, and write comprehensive literacy development reports for each student. Clinicians are supervised during the clinic through direct observation, as well as videotaping, case study discussions, and lesson plan reflections. Candidates work with colleagues to observe, plan, and provide feedback on each other’s practice during the three semesters of clinic.
Upon completion of the three practicum courses (CI 571, 572, and 573) with a minimum grade of a B, candidates will present and meet passing criteria for their on-going Literacy Program Notebooks demonstrating a more thorough understanding and application of the previous standards along with resources for each component of literacy.
EXIT REQUIREMENTS
Candidates must pass the Assessment of Professional Teaching (APT 104) and the Illinois Basic Skills Test one semester prior to program completion; must earn an A or a B in all program courses; present and pass the final Literacy Program Notebooks and final literacy perspectives paper demonstrating proficiency in all the standards and have resources for each of the literacy areas; and provide evidence of membership in an organization that will enhance their professional development in literacy (ie. IRC, IRA, NRC, or NCTE).