Literacy: Birth-Grade 6 Master of Science in Education degree

Department of Language, Learning and Leadership

Office: E262 Thompson Hall

[phone]

Anna Thibodeau, Chairperson, Department of Language, Learning and Leadership

Cindy Bird, Program Coordinator

Email: [e-mail]

Email: [e-mail]

Website: http://www.fredonia.edu/coe/lll.asp

The program leads to a recommendation for initial certification and a Master of Science in Education: Literacy Education Birth to Grade 6 degree, and results in the ability to teach as a reading specialist, a literary coach, or as a classroom teacher. The content of the program includes clinical work, action research, and opportunities to provide professional development for paraprofessionals and classroom teachers.

Requirements for Admission to the Degree Program without Deficiencies:

• Initial certification to teach early childhood, childhood, or adolescence education in the public schools of New York State or equivalent early childhood, elementary, or secondary preparation.
• Undergraduate GPA of 2.75 or above.
• Completed Graduate Application submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies, including two current (within six months) letters of recommendation that address the applicant's academic and teaching abilities, and official academic transcripts from all prior undergraduate and graduate institutions (except Fredonia).
• Writing Sample: Submit a 2,000 word (maximum) paper that describes your approach to literacy instruction and your experiences with leadership. (Note: This is in addition to the graduate application Statement of Intent).
• Interview. After the application deadline, candidates with completed application materials will be contacted by Literacy faculty for an interview.

Note: The State University of New York at Fredonia does not have the authority to recommend graduating Literacy candidates for a professional certification in the area of their original initial certification, only for Literacy Grades 5-12 (initial and professional). Graduates of the Literacy program who are interested in applying for their professional certification, related to their original initial certified area, will have to submit their materials directly to NYSED for individual evaluation through the TEACH online system. Please see the following link for further information about this topic:

http://www.highered.nysed.gov/tcert/certificate/relatedmasters.html

 

Program Requirements

A minimum of 36 credit hours of graduate level courses, including the following:

Clinical Courses: Six (6) credit hours of Clinical courses must follow the sequence as indicated.

Majors in Literacy Education (Birth-Grade 6) will work with K-6 children.

Literacy Coach Portfolio: Contains documentation from Literacy Conference and EDU 586, EDU 613, EDU 652 and EDU 653.

Required courses:

EDU 506	Introduction to Literacy Instruction	3
EDU 570	Using Educational Research to Improve Instruction	3
EDU 579	Social Foundations of Literacy	3
EDU 583	Literacy Interventionist Practicum I	3
EDU 613	Literacy Interventionist Practicum II	3
EDU 651	Issues and Research in Literacy	3
EDU 659	Master's Thesis/Project in Literacy	3

As of December 31, 2013, candidates in all education programs are required to complete training under the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA). Beginning in the Fall 2013 semester, the training required under the Dignity for All Student Act (DASA) will be included in EDU 303 at Fredonia. Undergraduate candidates planning to graduate after Fall 2013 who have already completed EDU 303 on campus or taken a workshop as a substitution for EDU 303 must also complete the EDU DASA workshop prior to graduation.