Master of Arts in Literacy Instruction

The Master of Arts in Literacy Instruction, offered through the Caldwell College Division of Education, is a 30-credit program. Fifteen credits constitute the program’s required core courses. Candidates are then required to choose a 15-credit concentration in either reading or writing from the elementary or secondary strands offered. Through selection of appropriate courses, a Reading Specialist certification may also be acquired.

The Master of Arts in Literacy Instruction program is designed for K-12 certificated classroom teachers who seek to improve and/or enhance their knowledge and skills in literacy instruction. Through the structure of the course offerings, this graduate literacy program is designed to balance the requirement of successful K-12 reading and writing development.

Admission requirements to the Master of Arts in Literacy Instruction include:

• formal application to Caldwell College School of Graduate Studies
• official transcript(s)
• two(2) letters of recommendation
• a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0
• a one to two-page statement of goals and objectives expected by the candidate while in the   program
• a personal interview

Program Requirements


Required Core Courses (15 credits)
• +ED 528 Literacy Assessment and Evaluation (3) 12-hour field requirement
• +ED 576 Reading Foundations (3)***
• +ED 564 Diagnosis and Correction of Reading Problems (3) 12-hour field requirement
•   ED 577 Teaching Writing: Process to Product (3)
• +ED 628 Supervised Practicum and Reading (3) 40-hour field requirement

*** ED 510 Reading and Communication (3) may be substituted for this course.

Areas of Concentration


A. Elementary Strand (15 credits)

The Elementary Strand for the Master of Arts in Literacy Instruction offers K-5 classroom teachers courses that will provide them with an opportunity to concentrate on reading or writing at the elementary (K-5) school level. Selection of three (3) of the following courses that are preceded by a “+” along with four of the required “+” core courses listed above constitutes the Reading Specialist Certification Track. The reading specialist certification requires that a teacher have at least two years of successful fulltime teaching experience.

+ED 526 The Reading Specialist as Teacher Consultant (3)
+ED 534 Instruction and Assessment of Writing for Special Needs Students (3)
+ED 535 Theories of Teaching, Learning and Reading for Students with Individual Needs (3)
+ED 574 Literature for Children (3)
  ED 578* Brain-Based Literacy Instruction (3)
  ED 579* Critical Thinking and Literacy (3)
  ED 581** Teaching Writing in the Elementary School (3)

* ED 505 may be substituted for this course.
** ED 500 may be substituted for this course .

B. Secondary Strand (15 credits)

The Secondary Strand for the Master of Arts in Literacy Instruction offers secondary classroom teachers courses that will provide them with an opportunity to concentrate on reading or writing at the 6-12 level. Selection of three (3) of the following courses that are preceded by a “+” along with four of the required core courses listed above constitutes the Reading Specialist Certification Track. The reading specialist certification requires that a teacher have at least two years of successful fulltime teaching experience.

  ED 529 Teaching Reading in the Content Areas (3)
  ED 573* Teaching Writing in the Content Areas (3)
+ED583 Literature for Adolescents (3)
+ED 526 The Reading Specialist as Teacher Consultant(3)
+ED 534 Instruction and Assessment of Writing for Special Needs Students (3)
+ED 535 Theories of Teaching, Learning and Reading for Students with Individual Needs (3)
  ED 578**Brain-Based Literacy Instruction (3)
  ED 579Critical Thinking and Literacy (3)

* ED 500 may be substituted for this course.
** ED 505 may be substituted for this course.

Transfer Credits

 No more than 9 Caldwell College graduate credits may be transferred into this graduate program. No more than 3 graduate credits will be considered for transfer from another college or university graduate program. All transfer credits are subject to approval by the M.A. in Literacy Instruction program coordinator.

Post Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program Courses for Transfer

 Certified teachers who have completed the Caldwell College Post Baccalaureate Teacher Certification Program may, with approval, substitute the following three (3) courses for those listed among the Master of Arts in Literacy Instruction required and/or concentration courses:

ED 500  Curriculum Theory and Development (3): Substitute for ED 573
ED 505  Student Development and Learning (3): Substitute for ED 578
ED 510  Reading and Communication (3): Substitute for ED 576