Literacy, MA
Administrative Unit
This degree is administered by the Office of Graduate Studies through the faculty of Literacy, Department of Language, Literacy and Special Populations, College of Education.
Objectives
The Master of Arts in Literacy program is designed for teachers who want to strengthen their understanding of literacy for application within their classrooms, and to prepare reading specialists for teaching, diagnosis, instructional leadership, and staff development. The program culminates with writing three scholarly research papers, an action research project, or a thesis.
Admission Requirements
Regular Admission
- Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university.
- GPA of 3.0 or better in the last 60 credit hours - or - successful completion of previous Master's Degree.
- Essay submitted and reviewed: "What is your vision of why you want to become a reading specialist?"
Conditional Admission
- Bachelor's Degree from an accredited college or university.
- GPA below 3.0 - 2.5 in the last 60 credit hours
- Essay submitted and reviewed: "What is your vision of why you want to become a reading specialist?"
- OTHER EVIDENCE: At least one of the following:
- Minimum GRE score of 282 (verbal and quantitative combined); or
- May also consider cultural components including, but not limited to, English as a second language, weak academic preparation that can be remediated, student motivation and desire to succeed, evidence of success in career field (e.g., teaching or service awards), and/or candidate's diverse experiences and perspectives.
Program Requirements
+See program coordinator if simultaneous ESL endorsement is sought.
Education Foundations Requirements
| EDUC 6301 | | 3 |
| | Or | |
| EDUC 6302 | Cultural Diversity in Education and the Social Sciences | 3 |
| | | |
| EDUC 6303/EDEC 6312 | Human Growth And Development | 3 |
| | Or | |
| EDUC 6304 | Educational Psychology | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 6 |
Reading Core Requirements
Culminating Experience
| EDRD 6397 | Research in Literacy | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 3 |
Total Credit Hours: 36
Professional Certification Preparation
A graduate student seeking certification as a Reading Specialist must have at least two years of satisfactory teaching experience in accredited PK-12 schools. The student should consult the program coordinator to verify current requirements for the desired certification. These requirements are established by the Texas State Board for Educator Certification and may change more frequently than published degree requirements.
Masters in Literacy with Teacher Certification
A graduate student seeking certification as an elementary or middle school classroom teacher may apply their graduate-level certification coursework toward the requirements for the Master of Arts in Literacy. Contact the Literacy program coordinator or the certification program coordinator for information about this option.
Program Recommendations
All students should include EDRD 6305 Research Design in Reading Education near the end of their coursework as preparation for their culminating experience.