Join us and elevate your career and earning power with a Master of Arts in Literacy, an advanced 30-credit master’s degree program for K-6 elementary or 7-12 secondary classroom teachers, supervisors, administrators, librarians, and community educators. If you are seeking current knowledge in literacy research, practice and policy this program can be tailored to your background, interests and time constraints. It is a unique program in the Department of Education, as each candidate’s program is individually designed with a faculty advisor. For example, programs may be designed to include emphasis on children’s literature, emergent literacy, diagnosis or the writing process. In this way the M.A. in Literacy, provides advanced coursework on current theory and research in the fields of reading and literacy .As a result, we believe you will be ready to meet any challenge in intellectual leadership as a change agent in our diverse world of literacy.
The M.A. in Literacy program is designed with the practicing professional in mind. Courses typically begin at or after 4:00 p.m. and include the option to complete the program on a full or part-time basis. Be confident as you take advanced coursework on current policy, theory and research in the fields of reading and literacy. Know that the program meets the new State Board of Education policy, which reads: Applicants for a professional educator certificate who are first certified in Connecticut after July 1, 2016, shall complete a minimum of 15 graduate credits of content or content pedagogy, either as part of or in addition to a master’s degree. http://http://portal.ct.gov/-/media/SDE/Certification/Alerts/certalert_nov2016.pdf?la=en
Program Outcomes:
- Create and complete an unique and individual collaborative field-based program that makes connections between contemporary literacy policy, theory and research and its ultimate use in the school or community.
- Formulate a process to bring together critical perspectives of literacy that develop socially just and diverse modes of understanding in a print & technology rich world.
- Influence educational excellence for literacy education as well as diversity and social justice for all.
Acceptance requirements
- Admission application and nonrefundable $50 admission fee. apply.usj.edu/apply
- A conferred bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution
- A minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 2.67
- Two official transcripts of all undergraduate work and any prior graduate work
- Two letters of recommendation accompanied by the Letter of Recommendation Cover sheet www.usj.edu/gradforms. Note: Recommendations must be obtained from individuals who are not family members, personal friends or members of the USJ Department of Education.
- An individualized planned program of study developed by the candidate and the faculty advisor, approved by the chair of the Department of Education.
- A letter of intent.
Continuation requirements
Candidates must earn a grade of B or better in their first attempt in their first two classes to remain in the program. They must earn a B or better in all courses for continuous progression throughout the program.
Exit requirements
Eligible candidates for the Master of Arts degree take a comprehensive exam in March or July. The application for the comprehensive exam is available from the Department of Education. It is the candidate’s responsibility to obtain his/her faculty advisor’s signature and to submit the application to the office manager of the Department of Education by the due date.
