COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Arts in Elementary Education with a Literacy option requires students to complete a total of 33 credit hours, combining foundational coursework, concentration-specific classes, and a culminating master’s project. The program begins with educational foundations, including courses such as Seminar in Educational Psychology and Using Research to Inform Practice, which provide students with essential knowledge of learning theories, child development, and research-based instructional strategies. In the curricular and instructional studies component, students take courses such as Concepts of Curriculum & Instruction and Contemporary Issues in Literacy Instruction and Phonics to develop a strong understanding of effective curriculum design and literacy teaching practices. The literacy concentration further deepens students’ expertise through specialized courses, including Assessment of Reading Difficulties and Literacy Assessment Practicum, allowing students to evaluate and support diverse learners’ reading and writing development. Additionally, students select nine credits from courses such as Content Area Literacy, Teaching Reading to Culturally Diverse Learners, Children’s Literature in the Curriculum, or Special Topics in Curricular and Instructional Studies, providing flexibility to tailor the program to individual professional goals. The program culminates with the Master’s Project sequence, Educational Inquiry I and II, in which students apply research and theory to practical classroom challenges. Graduates are prepared to implement evidence-based literacy instruction and support all students’ reading and writing success.