At a Glance
- 100% online coursework
- Mentorship with expert faculty
- AAQEP accreditation
- Practicum featuring clinical experiences
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Program Summary
About 35 million American adults have limited reading skills, according to findings from the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies. That often means these individuals struggle to find good jobs or comprehend vital information about their health and finances. As a literacy specialist, you can empower young people to overcome obstacles and build the foundation for academic and professional achievements. In the online Master of Science in Education, Literacy Specialist (MSEd, LIT) from Pace University, certified teachers explore strategies to create inclusive environments where diverse groups of children and adolescents grow into more confident and capable readers. If you already hold a master’s degree in education, our Advanced Certificate in Literacy Specialist (ADV CERT LIT) program may be ideal for you.
Ranked as one of the Best Online Education programs in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, the MSEd, LIT (Birth–12) prepares educators to take on complex instructional challenges and become eligible for an advanced or professional certificate in teaching literacy to children or adolescents. With coursework covering literacy development, assessment models, digital literacy and more, this program offers the knowledge and flexible classroom practices to help students from a wide range of backgrounds, including individuals with language or learning disabilities, English language learners, and high achievers.
17%
of Best Online Master’s in Education Programs according to U.S. News & World Report
In our specialized curriculum, you’ll investigate key concepts in child development, theories of language acquisition, and storytelling. The program emphasizes the importance of multimodal literacy for the digital natives in today’s classes. Teachers discover how they can incorporate electronic platforms to encourage their students to engage with texts and share their own stories. Experiential components, including fieldwork and a capstone project, give you opportunities to apply cutting-edge approaches in the real world and receive valuable feedback.
Visit the curriculum page to learn more about our MSEd in Literacy.
NOTE: Fifth-year/combined degree students receive this MSEd in Literacy degree, so no separate application will be required. However, the scope and sequence for fifth-year students is listed separately.
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To learn more about the Master of Science in Education, Literacy Specialist, fill out the fields in this form to download a free brochure. If you have any questions at any time, please contact an enrollment specialist at (914) 758-1080.
Literacy education is an important and rewarding field that empowers children and teachers. Literacy is central to the ways we express ourselves, which can leave lasting impressions and lead to forward movement in careers.
Francine Falk-Ross, Program Coordinator
Build Your Career in Literacy Education
The literacy specialist master’s degree makes certified teachers more reflective practitioners, ready to adjust to learners’ changing needs at each stage of development. This program can help education professionals excel in a variety of positions and contexts, such as:
- Reading teacher in all classrooms, including special education settings in a public or private school
- Reading specialist in a library, resource center, tutoring center, or other educational institution
- Reading coach who collaborates with teachers to supplement their literacy instruction
- Private instructor for students with reading disabilities
- Consultant on literacy issues for publication companies
- School administrator
There is an anticipated
10% growth
in teaching careers according to the Department of Labor
Graduates of the MSEd, LIT program earn advanced credentials from a school of education that’s accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Education Preparation (AAQEP). The program helps to meet the requirements for an advanced or professional certificate in teaching Birth–Grade 12 literacy.
For additional details on certification, visit our FAQ page.
Recent grads or those who will be continuing grad students in Fall 2024 and Spring 2025:
We will automatically credit the practicum requirement as Verified Met on the Literacy All-Grades application if the candidate has been previously issued an Initial or Professional Literacy B-6 or 5-12 certificate. The certificate does not need to be valid (it can be expired).
Research-Driven Insights from Pace Faculty
Courses in the online master’s program are taught by accomplished reading teachers and researchers. Drawing from years of experience working with diverse student populations, the expert faculty in Pace’s School of Education discuss how to create inclusive learning environments. Our professors have created a curriculum that explores innovative pedagogical research and offers powerful methods to address new literacies by incorporating digital resources into lessons.
In the MSEd, LIT program, you can benefit from individualized mentorship while fitting courses into your busy schedule. Faculty members engage with graduate students in one-on-one conferences and offer guidance through the practicum and capstone project.
Visit the faculty page for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
The online MSEd, LIT program can be completed in as little as four semesters. Students may choose to attend full time, enrolling in up to three courses per fall and spring semester and two courses per summer semester, or earn their degree on a part-time schedule. There is no requirement to complete the program within a specific timeframe.
The practicum consists of 100 clock hours working with children in literacy assessment and instruction. As part of this experience, master’s students must also complete several seminar assignments and a capstone binder or portfolio project. The seminar assignments include:
- A presentation of a student case study
- A presentation that introduces and models a literacy education strategy
- A reflective self-study paper
- Participation in the development of a proposal or presentation for a conference of the New York State Reading Association or the International Reading Association
The capstone will present evidence of learning by documenting and reflecting on three instruction and assessment cycles. The portfolio or binder should demonstrate growing competency in planning instruction and learning activities, carrying out those plans, assessing student work, and utilizing assessments to reflect upon and improve teaching practices.
The director of school partnerships will assist you in arranging an acceptable school placement that includes clinical supervisors and mentor teachers. If you work at a school that meets all the requirements, you can complete the practicum in your own classroom.
There are three opportunities to start the MSEd, LIT program each year, in the fall, spring, and summer. Contact an enrollment specialist at literacyonline@pace.edu for more information about the academic calendar and application deadlines.
Students may transfer a maximum of six credit hours toward earning a master’s of education with a literacy specialization. Following acceptance into the program, students can meet with an academic program advisor to discuss transfer credit
No, GRE scores are not required for admission to the online MSEd, LIT program. For more information on application requirements, see the admissions page.
For more information, visit the Pace Online MSED, Literacy Specialist FAQ page.
