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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 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.

Choose the educational path that fits your long-term objectives with concentrations available for:

  • Early Childhood/Childhood (birth–grade 6)
  • Middle Childhood/Adolescent (grades 5–12)

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 our curriculum page to learn more.

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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

Graduates from the MSEd, LIT earn advanced credentials from a school of education that’s accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). The program helps to meet the requirements for an advanced or professional certificate in teaching Early Childhood/Childhood (birth–grade 6) or Middle Childhood/Adolescent (grades 5–12) literacy.

For additional details on certification, visit our FAQ page.

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.