E-mail this pageLiteracy Education Master's Degree
If you already have a provisional or initial teaching certificate and want to specialize in literacy instruction, please read on.
Our newly-designed program allows teachers to work toward state certification in either Literacy Birth-Grade 6 or Literacy Grades 5-12. The program has been structured to be in alignment with the Standards for Reading Professionals adopted in Fall 2003 by the International Reading Association. In order to comply with New York State Education Department requirements, the program includes fifty hours of supervised practica at the range of grade levels our candidates seek for certification.
As you'll see in our sequence of courses, we have developed a program that has just the right mix of flexibility and specificity for today's professionals.
Our Literacy Education Master's Degree Allows You To
- Tailor Your Own Professional Development: Our candidates take a variety of electives throughout their program in order to pursue interests in such things as instructional technology, linguistics, and children's literature. These elective courses can also focus on areas of particular need, such as special education, classroom management, and subject-specific pedagogy.
- Specialize in Literacy: Required courses in literacy instruction build on the prior experience of our candidates. We concentrate on connecting theory with practice, encouraging practical applications to classroom settings. Our Tier II courses, offered each spring, allow candidates to perfect their administration of a range of assessment devices while offering tutorial experiences to children in our Literacy Education Center. Our program concludes with a five week long, intensive clinical experience during the summer as a one-on-one tutor under the direction of our talented faculty members. We facilitate professional cooperation and help our candidates develop useful networks of support and continued access to instructional resources.
- Study Full-time or Part-time: When applying for the program in either spring or fall, potential candidates have two choices. They may indicate their desire to pursue the degree on a full-time basis (generally twelve credit hours per semester). This allows people to graduate in August after twelve months of study. Other applicants indicate that they wish to take a few courses at a time, due to full-time teaching responsibilities in the schools where they work. This facilitates the real use of course assignments and allows our candidates to share their ongoing experiences.
- Study at Convenient Hours: Courses are offered in the afternoon and evening so that our candidates may work as substitute or full-time teachers during the regular school day. Some of our classes are offered in a web-based format through distance learning so that they can fit into many people's busy schedules.
- Learn from Experienced Faculty: We love teaching. Our faculty members have many years of experience across a wide range of grade levels. Please consult our departmental faculty webpage or our individual faculty websites for details. Contact us if you'd like more information.
Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) Literacy
Birth-Grade 6 (Curriculum Code: 828 or 8016)
Grades 5-12 (Curriculum Code: 829 or 8017)
Sequence of Courses (33 credits total)
(Please see pages 189-191 of the graduate catalog for course titles. Graduate program information and policies are on pages 174-207 of the catalog. Explore the course descriptions for specific details. Consult the master schedule of particular semesters for more information because course days and times may change from year-to-year and because some courses may be available in a web-based, on-line format or at the SUNY Plattsburgh Branch Campus at Adirondack Community College in Queensbury. Note: the 294kb graduate catalog requires the latest version of Acrobat Reader, which is available as a free download. )
Tier I - Literacy Education Foundation (9 credits)
These three courses (focusing on theory, research, and cultural diversity) are offered at many times during the year. They do not have to be taken concurrently and may be taken in any order.
Tier I must be completed before starting Tier II.
Tier II - Literacy Education Specialization (6 credits)
These two courses (focusing on assessment and tutoring) are taught in a combined format one day per week starting in the afternoon and ending near 10 p.m. They are only available during the spring semester in the Literacy Education Center on the Plattsburgh campus.
Tier III - Literacy Education Electives (12 credits)
These four elective courses may be taken before, during, or after Tier I and Tier II courses.
Based on professional interest, select courses in three focus areas:
- Children's Literature Elective (3 credits)
- Pedagogical Electives (6 credits)
- Reading Elective (3 credits)
Tier IV - Literacy Education Application (6 credits)
This five-week, Monday-Thursday, clinical experience is offered in the Literacy Education Center on the Plattsburgh campus. It may be taken in the afternoon (4:00-8:00 p.m.) during summer session "B" (June and part of July), or in the morning (8:00 a.m.-noon) during summer session "C" (July and part of August).
Tier IV may only be taken after completion of 24 credit hours (including all of Tier I and Tier II).
This program is designed for candidates admitted in Fall 2003 and later or who will finish their programs after Feb. 1, 2004.
Capstone Evaluation
Candidates must take a comprehensive exam (after 24 hours in the program) or write a thesis. Those electing to complete a research project must enroll in EDR555, Thesis/Research Project Seminar
Candidates must fulfill one of the following options:
- Option A: Completes successfully 33 hours of approved coursework and performs successfully on a written comprehensive examination. The examination, taken after completion of at least 24 hours in the program, provides an opportunity to express an understanding of major theorists, research, issues, and implications for practice related to the teaching of reading.
- Option B: Completes successfully 33 hours of approved coursework that includes EDR555, Thesis/Research Project Seminar in which the student will present to the reading program committee an acceptable research, grant, or project proposal and subsequently carry out this proposal under the supervision of a pre-approved faculty committee.
Application Deadline Dates and General Information
Applicants should be prepared to attend an Interview Day in Sibley Hall, Room 308, on the Plattsburgh campus on Friday, February 29, 2008 (9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.).
The application deadline for fall matriculation is February 15th and for spring admission, October 15th. The number of openings in the program is limited. Admission to State University of New York College at Plattsburgh is granted without regard to race, creed, color, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or handicap.
Application Forms and Instructions
Graduate application materials that need to be submitted to the Graduate Admissions Office (Kehoe 113) can be found at http://www.plattsburgh.edu/admissions/graduate/
Specific materials that applicants must submit directly to the Department of Literacy Education (Sibley 302) on or before the application deadline are the Literacy Questionnaire for Applicants and the "Literacy Application Artifact" with an attached written rationale. Here are the guidelines for the artifact:
Literacy Application Artifact
Please provide the admissions committee with an artifact that gives additional and unique information about you and a written rationale for your selection: for example, a video of you working with children; an artistic or creative product; a link and printed materials from a classroom Web site you have designed; a children's book you have written; or a scrapbook of experiences from Alternative Spring Break.
Send or deliver the artifact and the written rationale (clearly labeled with your name, phone, and date of submission) to:
Admissions CommitteeDepartment of Literacy Education, 302 Sibley Hall
SUNY Plattsburgh
101 Broad Street
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
If you want the artifact returned, submit a self-addressed stamped envelope or box with sufficient postage for return.
Admission Requirements for M.S.Ed. Literacy
- appropriate preparation at the baccalaureate;
- a completed application form with required supporting materials;
- evidence of a 2.5 undergraduate GPA on a 4.0 scale;
- three letters of recommendation (at least two must be from a professor or academic advisor if you are currently taking graduate courses or if you have taken undergraduate or graduate courses within the last three years) that address your ability to take part in a graduate program in education;
- a statement of purpose indicating why you want to enter this specific program;
- a resume' indicating relevant teaching experience;
- a copy of your teaching certificate at the elementary and/or secondary level, or a written explanation indicating how all NYSED requirements (including NYSTCE exams) for such a certificate will be completed prior to matriculation into this M.S.Ed. program;
- a completed Literacy Questionnaire for Applicants (sent directly to the Department of Literacy Education, Sibley Hall--guidelines are above);
- an artifact that gives additional and unique information about you and a written rationale for your selection (sent directly to the Department of Literacy Education, Sibley Hall--guidelines are above);
- attendance at an on-campus interview, if invited.
"Caring, Competent, and Qualified Professionals"
Questions, Comments, Suggestions?
If you would like more information about literacy education at SUNY Plattsburgh, please contact:
Robert Ackland, Department Chair
Phone: (518) 564-5131
E-mail: robert.ackland@plattsburgh.edu
Faculty Website: http://faculty.plattsburgh.edu/robert.ackland/
Jessica Chase, Secretary
Office: Sibley Hall 302
Phone: (518) 564-2125
E-mail: chaseja@plattsburgh.edu
Fax: (518) 564-2149