Help More Students Get Reading and Go Further

Reading opens every door in education, and in life. As a literacy specialist, you’ll help students develop the skills that shape their future as they move through education and into adulthood.

The Pace University online Master of Science in Education, Literacy Specialist (MSEd, LIT) prepares teachers to become experts in literacy instruction from birth through grade 12. You’ll deepen your understanding of reading development, assessment, and intervention, and complete a hands-on practicum that gives you classroom practice in supporting literacy development.

Designed for working, certified educators, the program combines flexible online coursework with faculty mentorship and a pathway to New York State Literacy Specialist certification.

Already Have A Master’s Degree?

We offer an online Advanced Certificate in Literacy to master’s degree holders who want to deepen their literacy expertise.

View Certificate Program

Pace Online MSEd, LIT Program Outcomes:

  • Literacy instruction skills to support every reader from birth through grade 12
  • Research-based assessment expertise to diagnose reading and writing development
  • Differentiated instruction strategies to meet diverse learners where they are
  • Digital literacy and multimodal tools to bring contemporary approaches into your classroom
  • Coaching and collaboration skills to strengthen literacy instruction
  • Educational foundation for New York State advanced or professional certification in teaching literacy
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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.

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Why the Online MSED, Literacy Specialist From Pace?

#63

Best Education Master’s Degree Schools

College Factual

One-on-One

Faculty Mentorship Through Your Practicum And Capstone Project

Top 10%

Of US Colleges That Provide The Best Return On Tuition Investment

Payscale

Focus on the Students You Serve

The Pace online MSEd, Literacy Specialist gives you a rigorous foundation in reading pedagogy overall, then you can specialize for the grade level you teach.

  • Early Childhood/Childhood (Birth–Grade 6): For educators working with young learners, this path focuses on foundational reading acquisition, early intervention strategies, and building lifelong literacy habits.
  • Middle Childhood/Adolescent (Grades 5–12): For teachers in upper grades, this path develops expertise in content-area literacy, adolescent reading challenges, and the digital media literacy that today’s students need to navigate a complex world.

Explore the Curriculum

Literacy is the skill that unlocks every other skill. The educators who teach it well don’t just change what students can read, they change what students can become.

Francine Falk-Ross, Program Coordinator

54% of U.S. adults read below a sixth-grade level, and 20% read below a fifth-grade level.

National Center for Education Statistics

about whether our program is right for you.

What Can You Do With a Literacy Specialist Master’s?

MSEd, Literacy Specialist graduates step into roles that make them indispensable to their schools, and competitive for leadership positions beyond the classroom. Below are examples of the careers this degree supports:

Role
Median Advertised Salary

School Administrator
$94,000

Instructional Designer
$82,200

Reading Teacher
$70,900

Literacy Specialist
$68,900

Source: Lightcast

Admissions Summary

We offer three start dates per year. No application fee is required to apply. Applicants must hold a provisional, initial, or permanent teaching certification from New York State or a comparable certification from another state, and have classroom teaching experience at the elementary, middle, or secondary level.

1

Complete The Online Application

It only takes a few minutes to get started. Begin your application now.

2

Submit Documents

  • Official transcripts from all college-level coursework
  • Resume or CV
  • Personal statement
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • International applicants: English proficiency scores (TOEFL, IELTS, Pearson PTE, or Duolingo)

3

Prepare to achieve your professional goals

See Full Admissions Requirements

Start Your Application

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.

Contact Us

Email
dysononline@pace.edu

Phone Number
(914) 758-1080

Ready To Learn More?

Download our program brochure, and explore our curriculum, admissions, and FAQ pages.

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