M.S. Language and Literacy Studies Course Requirements (31 credits)

The Language and Literacy Studies master's degree is non-licensure program designed for students interested in developing expertise in topics such as multilingual literacy or reading, writing and assessment. Students may use this program as preparation for work in curriculum development, school leadership, or doctoral study in literacy and may incorporate courses into this program to qualify for professional licensure.

Core courses (9 credits)
HDF 521 Children's Cognitive Development or HDF 702 Language, Literacy and Culture  (3 credits)
MLE 535 Second Language Acquisition and Assessment (3 credits)
RES 722 Research in Language and Literacy (3 credits)

Specialty courses (21 credits)
Specific program developed with advisor. Suggested areas of focus given below.

Working in Multilingual Communities
RDG 530 Teaching Literacy to English Language Learners (3 credits)
RDG 558 Multicultural Children's Literature (3 credits)
RDG 559 Latino Children's Literature (3 credits)
RDG 560 African-American Children's Literature (3 credits)
RDG 568 Developing Young Writers (3 credits)
MLE 525 Content Area Instruction for English Language Learners (3 credits)
MLE 530 Supporting Second Language Acquisition (3 credits)

Reading, Writing and Assessment
RDG 616 Assessment of Reading and Writing (3 credits)
RDG 618 Literacy Across the Curriculum (3 credits)
RDG 558 Multicultural Children's Literature (3 credits)
RDG 568 Developing Young Writers (3 credits)
RDG 601 Multisensory Approaches to Teaching Literacy (3 credits)
RDG 622 Individualized Instruction in Literacy (3 credits)
RDG 626 Diagnosis and Correction of Reading Problems (3 credits)

Completion of program
EDU 708 Capstone: Language and Literacy Studies (1 credit)

M.S. Teacher of Reading  Course Requirements (31 credits)

The Teacher of Reading master's program is designed for students who want to become reading specialists or classroom teachers who are experts in teaching reading and writing in multilingual and multicultural settings. Upon successful completion of the program and the required Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL), students are eligible for Massachusetts Teacher of Reading Initial license (all levels).

Before program entry, students must have an initial teacher license, and must have at least one year of teaching experience in the area of this first license. The Master's in Reading fulfills state content requirements for advancing an Initial license to the Professional level for teachers with initial licenses in Early Childhood , Elementary , English as a Second Language or Moderate Disabilities .

Core courses (9 credits)
MLE 535 Second Language Acquisition and Assessment (3 credits)
HDF 702 Language, Literacy and Culture (3 credits)
RES 722 Research in Language and Literacy (3 credits)

Program courses (21 credits)
RDG 558 Multicultural Children's Literature (3 credits)
RDG 530 Teaching Literacy to English Language Learners (3 credits)
RDG 618 Literacy Across the Curriculum (3 credits)
RDG 622 Individualized Instruction in Literacy (3 credits)
RDG 626 Diagnosis and Correction of Reading Problems (3 credits)
RDP 609 Teacher of Reading Practicum (3 credits)

Program selective: (choose one) 3 credits
RDG 559 Latino Children's Literature (3 credits)
RDG 560 African-American Children's Literature (3 credits)
RDG 568 Developing Young Writers (3 credits)
RDG 601 Multisensory Approaches to Teaching Literacy (3 credits)
RDG 616 Assessment of Reading and Writing (3 credits)
MLE 530 Supporting Second Language Acquisition (3 credits)
MLE 525 Content Instruction for English Language Learners (3 credits)

Completion of Program*
ACD 507 MTEL Preparation-Reading Specialist Review (0 credits)
EDU 706 Capstone: Teacher of Reading (1 credit)

*Entrance to capstone requirement: passing scores on the Reading Specialist and Communication and Literacy Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL).