This concentration of the MEd in Literacy Education is designed for educators interested in becoming Reading Specialists or assuming other leadership roles in literacy.
In addition to acquiring an in-depth understanding of literacy development, scientifically-based literacy research, and evidence-based instruction, assessment, and intervention in literacy, students will develop the knowledge and leadership skills needed to serve as a Reading Specialist. Courses combine current research and theory with practical, hands-on experience.
Applicants should have at least one year of teaching experience in PreK-12 classrooms or more informal settings. Completion of all requirements earns students a master's degree in Literacy Education and may lead to eligibility for the K-12 Reading Specialist endorsement in Virginia. Some elective coursework may be applied toward a secondary graduate certificate within the College of Education and Human Development and may lead to additional licensure endorsements.
View the video below to learn more from our graduates about their experience in the program!
A reading/literacy specialist is an educational professional focused on the literacy achievement of K–12 students. Reading/literacy specialists work with students who are experiencing difficulties with reading and writing at all levels. They also have the skills, knowledge, and dispositions to effectively collaborate with general education teachers to improve literacy instruction in the classroom.
This 30-credit degree program is offered on both a full or part-time basis and can be completed in as few as 4 semesters (including fall, spring, and summer). Students complete 21 credits of literacy course work within cohorts on the same curriculum schedule. This allows for professional learning communities within each cohort. Cohorts complete 5 to 6 credits of required literacy course work each semester.
To meet students' learning preferences and needs, the program is offered in two formats:
- ONLINE: Students seeking admission in any semester (fall, spring, or summer) have the option of completing the program in a fully online, primarily asynchronous format. Elective credits are also completed online.
- BLENDED: A blended format for the program is available to students seeking admission for the fall semester. Elective credits can be taken face-to-face on Mason’s Fairfax campus or online. When there is enough demand, blended cohort options may also be available to students seeking admission in the spring or summer.
- This format combines face-to-face class sessions with online class sessions (both synchronous and asynchronous). In the blended format, 3-credit hour courses meet face-to-face for approximately 60% of each semester and online for the other 40%, while 2-credit hour courses are completed fully online in an asynchronous format. In the fall and spring, 3-credit hour courses meet one time each week in the early evening, while summer classes meet 2 to 3 times per week. Literacy courses are offered at Mason’s Fairfax, Mason Square (Arlington), and Science and Technology (Manassas) campuses as well as other sites across Northern Virginia, allowing you to choose the cohort location that is most convenient for you.
Upon completion of this state-approved program, graduates can be eligible for the reading specialist endorsement in Virginia. Additional state licensure requirements include an initial teaching license, a satisfactory score on the reading assessment specified by the Virginia Board of Education (taken at the end of all course work), and the completion of at least three years of teaching under contract by the end of the degree program.
Educators seeking to add the Reading Specialist endorsement to their teaching license must meet the following requirements set forth by the state:
- Teaching Experience – Candidates must have a minimum of three (3) years of full-time, successful classroom teaching experience in which the teaching of reading was an important responsibility in a Virginia Department of Education (VDOE)-recognized accredited school. This experience must be completed while holding a valid provisional or initial teaching license. This requirement ensures that candidates have developed the necessary classroom expertise and professional competencies for advanced licensure as a Reading Specialist. (Students can be enrolled in our program while completing this 3-year requirement).
- License Status – The required teaching experience must be completed before the Reading Specialist endorsement can be added to a full, initial teaching license. Please note that the endorsement cannot be added to a provisional license.
- Verification of Experience – Teaching experience must be officially documented and verified using the "Report on Experience" form, which must be included in the add-on endorsement application.
Please note, this is not an initial licensure program. For more information on initial licensure options in the College, contact the Office of Teacher Preparation.
Graduates of this degree program work in a variety of settings. Some choose to remain in their classrooms and apply what they've learn to support their students’ literacy development there. Others move into literacy leadership positions, including:
- reading specialists
- literacy or instructional coaches
- reading interventionists
- reading teachers
- private literacy tutors
- providers of literacy-related professional development
George Mason University will verify completion of the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) state-approved preparation program at the graduate or undergraduate level. Such verification does not guarantee the issuance of a Virginia Collegiate Professional, Postgraduate Professional, or Pupil Personnel license from the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is solely the student's responsibility to comply with all requirements for licensure by the Commonwealth. Under Virginia law, a social security number is required for licensure.
This program has been identified by George Mason University as one that may lead to a career requiring professional licensure/certification. Federal regulations require George Mason to disclose information as to whether this program meets/does not meet the educational requirements for licensure/certification in your state, or whether such a determination has not been made. Please consult our Licensure Disclosure Tool for the disclosure statement specific to your desired state/program combination.
Required Courses (16 credits)
*EDRD 644 and EDRD 645 must be taken concurrently.
Sequence of literacy courses may vary depending on program format. Students must earn a B- or higher in all required courses.
Concentration in Literacy Leadership for Diverse Schools (14 credits)
Coursework
Electives
Select 9 credits from the following:*
*Check course descriptions for prerequisites. Students may choose an alternate elective with advisor approval.
**Students must complete all required courses for the degree and concentration before registering for this course. It may be applied to the Literacy Coaching concentration of the Literacy/Reading Instruction Graduate Certificate for students who add this as a secondary certificate.
Total Credits: 30
Many of the elective courses (or others taken with advisor approval) can be applied to secondary graduate certificates within the College of Education and Human Development including Assistive Technology; Education Assessment, Evaluation, and Data Literacy; Gifted Education; Add-On Endorsement in Special Education, General Curriculum; Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) for PK-12 Practitioners. Some of these certificates can lead to additional license endorsements. Interested students should speak with their advisor about these opportunities.
Fall Semester
(classes starting in August) |
Spring Semester
(classes starting in January) |
Summer Semester
(classes starting in May, June, or July) |
Priority*: April 1
Space Available: August 18 |
Priority*: November 1
Space Available: January 10 |
Priority*: February 1
Space Available: May 15 |
For more information and to apply, visit the admissions website.
* Priority deadline ensures consideration for the intended semester as well as financial aid options for students. Programs will continue to review applications until at capacity. Some programs do not review applications past the priority deadline.
All application materials must be submitted through George Mason’s online graduate application. In addition to meeting general university admissions requirements, applicants will need to provide the requirements below.
To be considered for graduate studies, the following items are evaluated during the admission review process:
- Graduate application and fee
- 750- to 1,000-word written statement of your goals and interest in the program
- Current resume
- Two letters of recommendation: Applicants should follow the instructions included in the online application to submit the recommendation forms directly to their recommenders. Mason does not accept paper recommendations. Recommendations should be professional or academic in nature.
- Transcripts from all previous institutions attended in the United States. Please refer to the Office of Graduate Admissions information page for specific requirements regarding uploading unofficial transcripts.
- Applicants with transcripts from institutions outside of the United States could have additional requirements. Please refer to the How To Apply page for specific requirements about submitting international transcripts, evaluations, and English language proficiency.
- An earned baccalaureate and/or graduate degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education, or international equivalent, verified from official transcripts. Expectation of an earned baccalaureate and/or graduate degree prior to the first day of classes for the term for which the student is applying will also meet this requirement. See the admissions policy here for information.
- A minimum 3.00 GPA on a 4.00 scale in baccalaureate study. The GPA requirement may be higher for some graduate programs. The university, at its discretion, may, in evaluating the meeting of this requirement, additionally consider the difficulty of the baccalaureate degree, relevant work experience, any/or other evidence of ability to succeed in graduate study.
- International students should reference Admission of International Students for additional requirements.
- One year teaching experience
| TUITION CLASSIFICATION |
COST PER CREDIT |
| Virginia Resident |
$752.50
(includes MSF*) |
| Non-Virginia Resident |
$952.50
(includes MSF*; discounted from $1,641.50) |
| VA Resident and PK-12 VA Educator enrolled in a CEHD graduate program** |
$640.00
(includes MSF*) |
| CEHD Course Fee |
$25 - $84 |
| Total Cost for Virginia Residents per Credit |
$777.50 - $836.50 |
| Total Cost for Non-Virginia Residents per Credit |
$977.50 - $1036.50 |
| Total cost for VA Resident and PK-12 VA Educator enrolled in a CEHD graduate program** |
$665.00 - $724.00 |
Graduate New Student Fee
(non-refundable, one-time fee) |
$60 |
Please Note: Refer to the Students Accounts Office website for more information on tuition and fees. Internship courses will incur a higher course fee to fund on-site assistance involving intensive clinical training/supervision.
*Mandatory Student Fee (MSF): $163.50
**VA state residents who are eligible must apply for the 15% PreK-16 VA Educators Discount in order to take advantage of the lower tuition. Eligible students receive 15% off the total tuition and mandatory student fee.
For information on loans and scholarships, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid. For information regarding grants, tuition waivers, and other merit aid, please inquire with your graduate department. Also, many school districts offer tuition reimbursement options. Speak to your employer for more information.
Academic Advisor
Dr. Jennifer Hathaway, Academic Program Coordinator
Email: jhathaw2@gmu.edu
Phone: (703) 993-5789
Each student is responsible for knowing Mason’s rules, regulations, requirements, administrative policies, and academic policies. The University Catalog, your program advisors, and the staff in the Student and Academic Affairs Office are key resources to assist you as you work toward completion of your degree requirements.
Upon completion of this state-approved program, graduates can be eligible for the reading specialist endorsement in Virginia. Additional state licensure requirements include an initial teaching license, a satisfactory score on the reading assessment specified by the Virginia Board of Education (taken at the end of all course work), and the completion of at least three years of teaching under contract by the end of the degree program.
Educators seeking to add the Reading Specialist endorsement to their teaching license must meet the following requirements set forth by the state:
- Teaching Experience – Candidates must have a minimum of three (3) years of full-time, successful classroom teaching experience in which the teaching of reading was an important responsibility in a Virginia Department of Education (VDOE)-recognized accredited school. This experience must be completed while holding a valid provisional or initial teaching license. This requirement ensures that candidates have developed the necessary classroom expertise and professional competencies for advanced licensure as a Reading Specialist. (Students can be enrolled in our program while completing this 3-year requirement).
- License Status – The required teaching experience must be completed before the Reading Specialist endorsement can be added to a full, initial teaching license. Please note that the endorsement cannot be added to a provisional license.
- Verification of Experience – Teaching experience must be officially documented and verified using the "Report on Experience" form, which must be included in the add-on endorsement application.
Please note, this is not an initial licensure program. For more information on initial licensure options in the College, contact the Office of Teacher Preparation.
Literacy Program
Thompson Hall, Suite 1500
4400 University Drive, MS 4B3
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
Phone: 703-993-7611
Fax: 703-993-5300
Email: literacy@gmu.edu
Jennifer Hathaway
Academic Program Coordinator
Allison Parsons
Jennifer Drake Patrick