Literacy Education
Graduate: Master's
School of Education & Human Services
Literacy is more than the capacity to read and write – it is the ability to apply reading and writing skills to effectively connect, interpret and communicate information and ideas in today’s world. Consider a Master in Literacy if you would like to advance your teaching career in a specialty that may be the most important factor in a child’s educational development.
Program Description
The Master in Literacy program combines academic courses – both online and on campus – with flexible learning options to meet your needs as a working education professional. If you hold an initial teaching certification, the program enables you to earn Literacy certification in either birth through grade 6 or grades 5 through 12.
You will be prepared to become an expert in literacy instruction—in your classroom, as an intervention teacher, or as a literacy coach for the school or district. You will have opportunities to work with tutoring programs offered at the Literacy Center. You also work with a literacy specialist at a school as you complete practicum work. A graduate assistant works closely with faculty and programs.
Each concentration involves working with children in a clinical setting and applying research-tested approaches for literacy instruction. The program meets New York State requirements as a literacy specialist and is recognized by the International Literacy Association for meeting the highest level of its standards.
Highlighted Courses
- EDR 504 Adolescent Literacy
- EDR 508 Emergent Literacy
- EDR 509 Teaching Reading in Classrooms of Diversity
- EDR 600 Role of the Literacy Specialist
- EDR 601/602 or EDR ON 610/611 Diagnosis (of Literacy Achievement)
- EDR 612/613 Literacy Practicum
- EDR 603/604 Literacy Practicum
Distinctions
Most courses in the program are done online and required practicums are completed in an intensive two-week summer experience at the college’s Literacy Center designed specifically for educating literacy specialists.
or better pass rate on literacy certification exam for program graduates.
Faculty-Student Collaboration
Faculty and literacy candidates collaborate during practicum courses. They tutor students in the local community in the Canisius Literacy Center, using research-tested practices, to deliver a balanced approach to literacy instruction.