2020-2021 Graduate Academic Catalog

M.Ed. in Specialist Teacher of Reading (All Levels) 36 credits

This program of study is approved by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for Initial License in Specialist Teacher of Reading (All Levels) in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

This Master's degree program offers thorough training in a variety of literacy strategies and approaches to meet the needs of diverse learners and is highly regarded for its outstanding professional training and for the expertise and diverse backgrounds of the faculty who specialize in literacy. Emphasis is on the teaching of reading, narrative and expository writing, assessment informing instruction, and staff development. The coursework for the specialist teacher of reading program can be used to move an Initial license in early childhood, elementary, or special education to the professional level.

Note: An Initial or Professional license and at least one year of teaching experience under that license are required by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to be eligible for a license as a specialist teacher of reading.

Program Prerequisites

  • Initial or Professional license for classroom teacher or special education teacher
  • EEDUC 5400 Literacy and Literature: Methods and Materials (1-6) (or equivalent)
  • EEDUC 5122 Development and Learning: Psycho-social Perspectives in Education (or a course in child development and a course in adolescent development)
  • EECLD 6115 Sheltered English Instruction (PreK-6), EECLD 6116 Sheltered English Instruction (5-12), or documented state approved SEI endorsement.

Program of Study

Courses may have prerequisites for registration; please check course descriptions before registering.

Required Courses (30 credits):

EEDUC 6164Perspectives on Literacy, Learning, and Teaching

3

EECLD 6001Culturally Responsive Teaching

3

EEDUC 6174Literature for Children, Tweens, and Teens in a Diverse Society

3

EEDUC 6101Content Literacy

3

EEDUC 6032Exploring Nonfiction for the Elementary and Middle School Classroom

3

EECLD 6002Essential Linguistics: What Every Teacher Needs to Know about Language

3

EEDUC 6001The Teaching of Writing (K-12)

3

EEDUC 6136Struggling Readers and Writers

3

EEDUC 6135Assessment: A Literacy Perspective

3

EEDUC 7103Roles of the Language Arts Professional: Consultation and Collaboration

3

EEDUC 7103 may be taken concurrently with EEDUC 7105.

Practicum (6 credits):

Prerequisites: Successful completion required pre-practicum courses and satisfactory completion of appropriate Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) requirements. This 150-hour practicum is accompanied by a weekly seminar and requires a field experience fee.

EEDUC 7105Practicum: Interactive Assessment and Instruction for Literacy

6