1st Summer Semester

• Language Arts & Writing Instruction
• Theories and Foundations of Literacy
• Problems of Literacy in Secondary Schools

Fall Semester

• Literacy Instruction for Individuals & Small Groups
• Literacy in the Content Areas
• Reading Assessment & Diagnosis

Spring Semester

• Foundations of Literacy Coaching
• Instructional Design & Strategies for Inclusive Education
• Clinical Practicum in Childhood or Adolescent Literacy

2nd Summer Semester

• Teaching Linguistically & Culturally Diverse Learners
• Research Methods
• Clinical Practicum in Childhood or Adolescent Literacy 
  

• Online classes are accessible from anywhere in the country for NYS initially certified teachers; candidates have a one semester grace period from entry into the program to complete NYS initial certification requirements.
• Degree completion in 15 months.
• MSED B-12 Literacy certified teachers are in high demand by school superintendents, making program graduates highly marketable as literacy-trained general education B-12 teachers, reading/literacy specialists, reading/literacy coaches,  and remedial reading educators.
• Students receive the benefit of multiple mentoring relationships. They are connected with an advisor, faculty, mentor-teacher, mentor-coach, teaching professionals and gurus in the world of education, and peers in their program experiences.
• Hands-on experience includes the SBURC practicum in which teachers work 1:1 with students from K-12 grades in a specialized reading program created by the teacher using his/her reading assessment knowledge.
• Video observations of practicums provide greater convenience for students currently working in educational settings while keeping the level of mentoring as high as that of in-person observations.

Admission to this degree program is based on:

• Initial Teaching certificate in elementary or secondary education
  • Note: Candidates can be admitted prior to initial certification with a grace period of one semester from the start of the program to complete certification.
• Official transcripts of all prior college work (3.00/4.00 GPA)
• Two references addressing your ability to teach and do graduate level work
• Interview and Quick Writing sample demonstrating your writing abilities.
  

NOTE: State law requires SBU to collect immunization records from students taking six or more credit hours in any semester.

Exit Criteria

In order to be awarded the degree in Childhood Literacy, the MSED Literacy student must meet the following criteria:

• A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0
• Clinical practicum in literacy (100 hours)
• Literacy/coaching internship (logged hours of field experiences, e-folio)
  

Program-long field experiences are provided to candidates through completion of the course READ 599. Literacy Coaching Internship. This involves a 65-hour in-school or virtual field placement across all semesters.

Candidates can fulfill hours in their own classrooms. If not currently teaching, candidates are matched in their local districts with certified literacy teachers, reading specialists, and/or educational coaches who facilitate their work with school personnel, students, and resources.

Across their field experiences, candidates complete projects that meet the literacy and coaching standards set by the International Literacy Association. These projects will be assigned and graded within the context of courses taken during the program. Details about project requirements are provided by program faculty.

St. Bonaventure's Dean's Scholarship can reduce tuition costs by 20%, making St. Bonaventure an exceptional value among Western New York colleges and universities.

Students pursuing Literacy Teacher Birth-Grade 12 certification may be eligible for the federal TEACH Grant.

For more information, visit our Graduate Tuition and Financial Aid page in Graduate Admissions & Aid.

The B-12 Literacy program requires candidates to have met all requirements for initial teacher certification in a matching area (early childhood, elementary, and/or secondary) prior to admission.

The degree meets the criteria for additional professional certification area in New York.

Upon graduation, teachers are eligible to take their New York state teacher professional certification exam.

State regulations require that candidates seeking professional New York teaching certification have New York State Initial Certification prior to or within one semester of beginning a Master's in Education degree program. The SBU School of Education upholds this regulation.

Teachers can be admitted to the program provisionally and show proof of initial certification by the end of their first semester. In New York, this includes successful completion of the edTPA.  

Upon completion of the MSED in B-12 literacy program, graduates will:

• nurture young readers, inspiring them to fall in love with reading;
• have strong foundational knowledge of the theoretical, historical, and evidence-based foundations of literacy and language and the ways in which they interrelate and the role of literacy professionals in schools;
• design curriculum and instruction to meet the needs of all learners and to design, implement, and evaluate evidence-based literacy instruction for all learners;
• assess and Evaluate reader literacy skills because they will understand, select, and use valid, reliable, fair, and appropriate assessment tools to screen, diagnose, and measure student literacy achievement;
• be able to explain and advocate for learner needs in appropriate literacy practices with stakeholders including but not limited to parents, peers, and other education professionals;
• create classrooms and schools that are inclusive and affirming with a skill set to demonstrate and provide opportunities for understanding all forms of diversity as central to students' identities;
• integrate digital technologies in  engage and motivate all learners with appropriate, safe, and effective ways while fostering a positive climate that supports a literacy-rich learning environment;
• recognize the importance of, participate in, and facilitate ongoing professional learning as part of career-long leadership roles and responsibilities.