Earn a master's degree in literacy

The Master of Science in Education/Literacy degree is designed for classroom teachers who desire to meet the literacy needs of all their students through dynamic, effective, and research-based approaches in education. Upon completion, teachers will become knowledgeable of best practices for teaching reading and other literacy skills to all students. They will also gain a deeper understanding of effective assessments and evaluations necessary to ascertain students’ strengths and weaknesses in literacy-related skills and concepts. The degree will assist teachers in meeting the needs of today’s schools by preparing them to be leaders in best practices for literacy growth and development in their classrooms and in their schools. A Christian perspective is woven throughout the program, with an emphasis on helping teachers to further develop as caring, effective, practitioners in today’s schools.

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Visit the Graduate Education page to learn more about the application and admissions process, financial aid, and more.

Admissions Information

Course format

Online courses face-to-face classes

Curriculum and Instruction courses are offered in both online and face-to-face formats.

The SBU Advantage

Learn from faculty who are highly qualified educators with experience as teachers, principals and superintendents. In addition to their roles as faculty members, many also serve on state and national education boards.

Benefit from an engaging and relevant curriculum with an emphasis on practical application. Learn in our classroom one night and apply it in your classroom the next day.

Fit classes into your busy schedule through our convenient online and hybrid offerings that are scheduled with the time-constrained demands of the working educator in mind.

Full-Time Faculty

MSE Literacy Courses

EDU 5023	Curriculum Design and Development
EDU 5033	Learners and the Learning Process
EDU 5073	MS Capstone
EDU 5083	Educational Research
EDU 6013	Analyzing and Amending Reading Problems
EDU 6213	Evaluation of Abilities and Achievement

EDU 6503	Addressing Deficits in Language Processing/Dyslexia
EDU 6263	Principles of Coaching
EDU 6243	Essentials in Reading
EDU 6433	Practicum I - Diagnosis of Reading Difficulties
EDU 6443	Practicum II - Remediation of Reading Difficulties
Total Hours: 33

Special Reading K-12 Certification

In addition to the required courses for the completion of the Masters of Science in Education/Literacy, students’ transcripts will need to be evaluated for the completion of requirements determined by DESE.

2 years of successful classroom teaching experience

Language Acquisition and Development (2 to 3 hours)

EDU 2343 Emergent Literacy (or equivalent)

Teaching Reading Methods courses (minimum 3 hours)

Elementary:
- EDU 3114 Teaching Literacy I OR
- EDU 3124 Teaching Literacy II (or equivalents)
MS/Secondary:
- EDU 3613/5613 Content Area Literacy OR
- EDU 4543 Methods of Teaching Writing in Secondary OR
- EDU 3303 American Literature for Young Adults (or equivalents)

Child Development & Adolescent Development (2 separate courses or 1 combined course)

EDU 3043/6043 Learner Development
PSY 4153 Child Development AND PSY 4033 Adolescent Development
PSY 3063 Human Growth and Development

Psychology and/or Education of the Exceptional Child (3 hours)

EDU 4623/6623 Teaching Diverse Learners (if only taken for two hours, audit class with a one hour of additional requirements?)

Behavior Intervention Strategies (2-3 hours)

EDU 3823 Behavior & Classroom Management in Elementary
EDU 3833 Behavior & Classroom Management in MS/Secondary
EDU 5833 Behavior & Classroom Management

Counseling Techniques (2-3 hours)

EDU 2483 School, Home, and Community Collaboration
EDU 3483 School, Home, and Community Collaboration
EDU 6483 School, Home, and Community Collaboration

3.0 GPA

Passing score on MOCA Special Reading Assessment

Literacy - Master of Science in Education