Reading, Language, and Literacy, M.A.

Program of Study

The Master of Arts in Reading, Language, and Literacy consists of the Core Coursework and the Culminating project or thesis.  Students may add the Field Experience class (EDUC 614B ) to be eligible for the Reading and Literacy Added Authorization (RLAA), and they may add the EDUC 614B  and the Field Experience for the Reading and Literacy Leadership Specialist Credential (RLLSC) (EDUC 623 ) to be eligible for both the Reading and Literacy Added Authorization and the Reading and Literacy Leadership Specialist Credential.  However, these two courses are NOT required for the Master of Arts in Reading, Language, and Literacy.

Students completing the program qualify for the Reading and Literacy Added Authorization, Reading and Literacy Leadership Specialist Credential, as well as a Masters of Arts.  Graduates of the program are eligible for literacy leadership positions at school and district sites such as reading specialists, literacy coaches, teachers on special assignment and the like.  The program trains current teachers for all three levels of schooling:  elementary, middle, and high schools.

Program Student Learning Outcomes

Students graduating with a Master of Arts in Reading, Language, and Literacy will master the following outcomes:

1. Recognize major historical and contemporary theories and empirical research that describe the cognitive, linguistic, motivational, developmental and sociocultural foundations of reading and writing development, processes, and components.
2. Demonstrate the role of professional judgment in order to use foundational and historically shared knowledge to design or implement an integrated, comprehensive, and balanced literacy curriculum.
3. Create a literate environment that fosters reading and writing by integrating foundational knowledge, instructional practices, approaches and methods, authentic literature, curriculum materials, and the appropriate use of assessments.
4. Employ a wide range of texts (e.g., narrative, expository, and poetry) from traditional print, digital, and online resources for a wide range of teaching and learning purposes and students’ needs.
5. Utilize a variety of assessment information to plan and evaluate instruction.
6. Teach English literacy by harnessing students’ primary language knowledge base to enable them to develop competency in the English language arts and to develop understanding of content across the curriculum.
7. Integrate tools of technology in literacy settings to gather, synthesize, and critically evaluate information and to create and communicate knowledge.
8. Display positive dispositions related to their own reading and writing and the teaching of reading and writing, and pursue the development of individual professional knowledge and behaviors.
9. Design, facilitate, lead, and evaluate effective and differentiated literacy programs for students and professional development programs.
10. Investigate questions, examine assumptions and beliefs, collect and analyze data to improve teaching and students’ learning.
11. Recognize and influence local, state, or national policy decisions.
12. Create and implement strategies to advocate for equity, excellence and social justice for all students.

Admission Requirements

1. Bachelor’s degree
2. A minimum undergraduate grade point average of 2.5
3. Application for the Master of Arts in Reading, Language, and Literacy in the School of Education, and paid fee
4. Teaching credential or equivalent experience*
5. Statement of Purpose — a typed, double-spaced, one to two-page statement that describes you and why you wish to pursue a Master’s Degree in Education. Things you might include are your goals, ideals, experiences, special skills, and community service.
6. Two letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with your work in the field of education
7. Completion of the Graduate/Post-baccalaureate application to the University

 *Three years of full-time teaching experience are required prior to recommendation for the California Reading and Literacy Added Authorization and the California Reading and Literacy Leadership Specialist Credential.

For a California Advanced Credential (Reading and Literacy Specialist Credential) candidates must hold a basic California Clear Credential, fulfilled Basic Skills requirements, and have satisfied minimum years of regular teaching experience.

All materials will be evaluated to assess an applicant’s qualifications for admission; however, no one indicator shall determine acceptance of an applicant.

Completion Requirements

The following completion activities apply to all Master of Arts in Reading, Language, and Literacy students:

1. Successful completion of the core courses with a minimum 3.0 GPA
2. Advancement to candidacy
3. Completion of a culminating experience under the direction of a faculty committee
4. Continual enrollment in EDUC 698  until successful completion of the culminating experience
5. Acceptance of up to nine (9) units of graduate-level coursework from another Reading and Literacy Added Authorization approved program may be transferred into the CSUSM program with faculty approval.

Grading

All coursework will earn a letter grade except field studies which will earn credit/no credit. A grade-point average of 3.0 must be maintained and any grade of less than a B- will be subject to review.

Master’s Student Graduate Writing Assessment Requirement - Graduate Level (GWARGL)

Students need to fulfill the Master’s Student Graduate Writing Assessment Requirement - Graduate Level before advancing to candidacy.  Please refer to the Graduate Writing Assessment Requirement  for more information regarding this requirement.

Program Overview

All students in the Master of Arts in Reading, Language, and Literacy, will complete the Core Coursework (each course is 3 semester units) for a total of 24 units.

If students wish to earn the advanced credentials while completing the M.A., they can add two additional courses to earn the RLAA and RLLSC credentials issued by the state of California.(Please note that two additional courses are required by CCTC for the added authorization and specialist credential, but are not required to complete the M.A.)

Core Coursework (24 units)

• EDUC 606 - Foundations of Literacy and Literacy Instruction Units: 3
• EDUC 610 - Creating Conditions for Engagement and Independence in Literacy Classrooms Units: 3
• EDUC 613 - Multilingual Learners, Literacy and Language Units: 3
• EDUC 614A - Reading and Writing Assessment Units: 3
• EDUC 616 - Learning Through Text Units: 3
• EDUC 618 - Teaching Literacy for the 21st Century Units: 3
• EDUC 619 - Teacher Inquiry to Improve Student Learning Units: 3
• EDUC 627 - Designing, Developing and Evaluating Effective Literacy Programs Units: 3

The Culminating Experience (6 units)

All students in the Master of Arts in Reading, Language, and Literacy must complete two additional courses:

• EDUC 622 - Research Methods in Education Units: 3
• EDUC 698 - Master’s Culminating Experience Seminar Units: 3

• The culminating experience may be a thesis or a project.

Total Units for the M.A. (30 units)

Master of Arts in Reading, Language, and Literacy + Reading and Literacy Added Authorization (RLAA)*

• EDUC 606 - Foundations of Literacy and Literacy Instruction Units: 3
• EDUC 610 - Creating Conditions for Engagement and Independence in Literacy Classrooms Units: 3
• EDUC 613 - Multilingual Learners, Literacy and Language Units: 3
• EDUC 614A - Reading and Writing Assessment Units: 3
• EDUC 614B - Reading Certificate Field Experience Units: 3 **
• EDUC 616 - Learning Through Text Units: 3
• EDUC 618 - Teaching Literacy for the 21st Century Units: 3
• EDUC 619 - Teacher Inquiry to Improve Student Learning Units: 3
• EDUC 627 - Designing, Developing and Evaluating Effective Literacy Programs Units: 3
• EDUC 698 - Master’s Culminating Experience Seminar Units: 3

Notes:

*Three years of full-time teaching experience are required prior to recommendation for the California Reading and Literacy Added Authorization and the California Reading and Literacy Leadership Specialist Credential.

**Not a requirement for the M.A. in Reading, Language, and Literacy program. This experience is a requirement only for those individuals who wish to be recommended for the California Reading and Literacy Added Authorization and the California Reading and Literacy Leadership Specialist credentials.

Total (33 units)

Master of Arts in Reading, Language, and Literacy + Reading and Literacy Leadership Specialist Credential*

• EDUC 606 - Foundations of Literacy and Literacy Instruction Units: 3
• EDUC 610 - Creating Conditions for Engagement and Independence in Literacy Classrooms Units: 3
• EDUC 613 - Multilingual Learners, Literacy and Language Units: 3
• EDUC 614A - Reading and Writing Assessment Units: 3
• EDUC 614B - Reading Certificate Field Experience Units: 3 **
• EDUC 616 - Learning Through Text Units: 3
• EDUC 618 - Teaching Literacy for the 21st Century Units: 3
• EDUC 619 - Teacher Inquiry to Improve Student Learning Units: 3
• EDUC 622 - Research Methods in Education Units: 3
• EDUC 623 - Integrating Curriculum Through Fieldwork/Clinical Experiences Units: 6 **
• EDUC 627 - Designing, Developing and Evaluating Effective Literacy Programs Units: 3
• EDUC 698 - Master’s Culminating Experience Seminar Units: 3

Notes:

*Three years of full-time teaching experience are required prior to recommendation for the California Reading and Literacy Added Authorization and the California Reading and Literacy Leadership Specialist Credential.

**Not a requirement for the M.A. in Reading, Language, and Literacy program. This experience is a requirement only for those individuals who wish to be recommended for the California Reading and Literacy Added Authorization and the California Reading and Literacy Leadership Specialist credentials.

Total (36 units)