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Master of Education in Literacy Education, Concentration in K-12 Literacy Instruction (non-licensure)

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This concentration of the MEd in Literacy Education is designed for educators interested in making a profound difference in the literacy development of the K-12 students they teach.

Students will develop additional expertise in scientifically-based literacy research and evidence-based K-12 classroom literacy instruction and assessment along with an understanding of the literacy development and unique learning needs of K-12 students. 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. This concentration does not provide eligibility for the K-12 Reading Specialist endorsement in Virginia. However, some elective coursework may be applied toward a secondary graduate certificate within the College of Education and Human Development and may lead to other licensure endorsements. 

Program Format

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 16 credits of required 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.

Careers in Literacy

Graduates of this degree program work in a variety of settings. Most choose to remain in their classrooms and apply what they've learn to support their students’ literacy development there. Others move into resource positions including:

  • classroom teachers of literacy
  • reading interventionists
  • reading teachers
  • private literacy tutors