Program Overview

Teaching Literacy, Birth to Grade 12

The M.S. in Teaching Literacy, Birth - Grade 12 prepares candidates to be dually certified as a Literacy teacher in both Birth - Grade 6 and Grades 5 - 12 (Dual certification). Our program prepares candidates to become reading teachers, literacy coaches, and remedial reading/writing specialists. Our graduates also remain Elementary and Secondary classroom teachers who have strong competence in classroom literacy instruction and assessment.

Program Overview

• The program is offered by the School of Education.
• It is available in Bronx, Manhattan, Online, and Westchester.
• The program requires 33 credits to complete.

Career Opportunities

• Reading teacher
• Literacy coach
• Remedial reading and writing specialist
• Classroom teacher with strong competence in classroom literacy instruction and assessment

Program Details

• Total credits: 33
• Classes include:
  • Language Development and Literacy Acquisition
  • Literacy Instruction to Students with Disabilities
  • Teaching Writing and the Writing Process
  • Child and Adolescent Literature

Admissions Requirements

• Teaching Certificate
• Bachelor's degree
• Official transcripts
• Résumé
• Effective Educator Statement

Program Outcomes

By the end of this program, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate a solid content knowledge base that enables them to deliver effective educational and professional services based on current research, theory, and practice
• Employ multiple pedagogical and professional strategies and tools to enable them to be effective practitioners in educational settings and deliver services that promote students' intellectual, social, and emotional development
• Understand the diverse cultural, linguistic, learning, and social strengths and needs of all populations, and incorporate and demonstrate sensitivity to the richness of diverse cultures when providing educational and other school services
• Employ technology to deliver information, instruction, and professional services to all members of the school community
• Reflect on professional practice to make educational decisions and enhance student learning
• Demonstrate positive dispositions that enable them to work as effective educators, citizens, and practitioners within the school and broader community

Faculty

Full-Time Faculty

• Mi-Hyun Chung, Professor and Chair, Literacy and Multilingual Studies
• Barbara J Keckler, Associate Professor, Literacy and Multilingual Studies
• Victoria Nunez, Assistant Professor, Literacy and Multilingual Studies
• Gulizar Bahar Otcu-Grillman, Professor, Literacy and Multilingual Studies

Part-Time Faculty

• Kathryn T Accurso, Senior Lecturer, Literacy and Multilingual Studies
• Christine M Baez, Instructor, Literacy and Multilingual Studies
• Lucy Giordano, Senior Instructor, Literacy and Multilingual Studies
• Kathleen M. Lowell, Instructor, Literacy and Multilingual Studies

Frequently Asked Questions

• What careers does the M.S. in Teaching Literacy lead to?
  • Most schools have literacy positions at all levels including emergent literacy, early childhood, childhood education, and literacy for adolescents.
  • Reading teacher, literacy coach, and remedial reading/writing specialist.
• Is there demand for these positions?
  • Yes, schools need teachers who are highly trained in literacy.
• Should I be certified prior to entering the Program?
  • Yes, an initial certification from New York State or an equivalent certification from another state is required.
• What will I learn?
  • More than just how to teach students to read.
  • You'll learn about the background and foundations of literacy, practices for emergent literacy, English language learners, and teaching students with disabilities, as well as child and adolescent literature, content area reading and writing, literacy assessment, and research techniques.