Literacy Specialist, MSEd

For 

Individuals with a teaching certificate in childhood or adolescent education who want to become certified literacy specialists. 

What You Learn 

Graduates of this 30-credit hour online program will gain an understanding of the interrelationships among language acquisition, cognitive and metacognitive processes, and literacy development; and develop strategies for working with teachers and students to support children with literacy needs at all levels of competencies.

How You Learn 

You choose between an Early Childhood/Childhood (birth–grade 6) or Middle Childhood/Adolescent (grades 5–12) concentration and, after a 12-credit core curriculum, you then take a 12-credit sequence of courses in your concentration. These courses are available online.

Your program culminates in a one-semester practicum with clinical and school experiences and a related teacher-as-researcher course project. 

The Pace University Center for Literacy Enrichment on the White Plains Campus may be a setting for your internship and research project. For more than 25 years, the Center has provided instruction to improve the reading and writing of elementary and middle school children, with emphasis on literature. 

Career Outcomes 

Candidates who complete this program are eligible for an advanced or professional certificate in the teaching of literacy to Early Childhood/Childhood (birth–grade 6) or Middle Childhood/Adolescent (grades 5–12) students.

Prerequisites 

Candidates must have a bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited institution, with a minimum GPA of 3.0. (Upon the recommendation of the dean, graduate faculty admissions committee, or the director of Student Support Services, candidates whose GPA is less than 3.0 may be admitted on a conditional basis, provided that it is determined that the candidate has the necessary knowledge and skills to complete the program successfully.) Candidates must also have a Provisional, Initial, or Professional teaching certificate or comparable certificate from another state. Candidates must also have transcripts demonstrating arts and sciences, content-area major, and pedagogical core consistent with our program requirements. We require the GRE-Graduate Record Examination—General Test.  Performance on the GRE will not outweigh the other required criteria in your application.

Track 1

Early Childhood/Childhood Concentration (Birth-Grade 6)

Track 2

Middle Childhood/Adolescent Concentration (Grades 5–12)