Education with Literacy (K-12) Concentration (Master of Arts)

This concentration offers courses that focus on issues and practices related to an integrated language arts curriculum, and material, and prepares teachers for Reading Specialist endorsement. Material is considered in terms of learners from diverse backgrounds and school settings. Coursework outside of the concentration strand has been designed to support and enhance the concepts presented. Students select the thesis option (33 credits) or non-thesis option (36 credits).

The concentration prepares individuals with elementary or secondary teaching certification to apply for Reading Specialist endorsement. Individuals who wish to pursue a research career, administrative position and/or doctoral degree in education are encouraged to select the thesis option. The Literacy concentration complies with the guidelines on Advanced Reading Education of the International Reading Association.

Requirements.

1. Core education courses (6 credits).
   EDE 500 - Contemporary Issues in Learning and Teaching.  (3) or EDE 601 - Contemporary Issues in Educational Policy in a Pluralistic Society.  (3)
   EDE 670 - Research Seminar.  (3)
2. Literacy strand (18 credits).
   1. EDR 543 - Foundations of Literacy.  (3)
      EDR 544 - Integrated Language Arts throughout the Curriculum: Theory into Practice.  (3)
      EDR 641 - Literacy Assessment in Elementary/Middle School.  (3)
      EDR 645 - Literacy Instruction for Students Identified with Special Needs.  (3)
   2. Two from:
      EDR 520 - Reading and Writing Development of Young Children.  (3)
      EDR 530 - Children’s Literature.  (3)
      EDR 532 - Multicultural Children’s Literature.  (3)
      EDR 535 - Folklore and Storytelling.  (3)
      EDR 537 - Adolescent Literature.  (3)
      EDR 699 - Seminar in Literacy.  (3)
      EDR 546  / ENG 512 - Writing for Middle and Secondary School Teachers.  (3)
      EDE 580 - Independent Study in Elementary Education.  (3)
      EDT 641 - Technology: Focus on Literacy Learning and Instruction.  (3)
      ENG 532 - The American Novel II.  (3)
      ENG 533 - American Poetry.  (3)
      ENG 534  / THE 534 - American Drama.  (3)
3. Cognate course (6 credits).
   LIN 520 - Linguistics for Teachers.  (3)
   LIN 521 - First Language Acquisition.  (3)
4. Thesis or non-thesis option (33-36 credits). Students must select either the 36-credit non-thesis option or the 33-credit thesis option.
   1. Non-thesis option (6 credits). Additional courses listed under A or B2 above and/or EDE 520 .
   2. Thesis option (3 credits). EDE 698  (prerequisite: completion of at least 24 credit hours).

Reading Specialist Certificate Endorsement

Upon successful completion of the MA in Education with Literacy concentration and the Reading Specialist (Test Code 92) Michigan Test for Teacher Certification, graduates with teaching certificates from the State of Michigan will be eligible for Reading Specialist certificate endorsement (coded BR in Michigan). This endorsement allows teachers to teach reading and language arts as a special subject in grades K-12.