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Park.edu Home > Graduate School > Master of Education Degree Programs > MED in Literacy Education

Master of Education in Language and Literacy

Available only On Campus in the Kansas City Area


Purpose

The Master of Education in Language and Literacy degree is designed with three tracks, for three types of educators:

  • The Classroom Teacher track, for K-12 educators already holding certification and teaching in public and private schools. This track is designed to help "regular" classroom teachers enhance the literacy development of all learners in their classrooms, and to help them work effectively with learners who have literacy needs, within their classrooms. This track does not lead to additional certification.
  • The Special Reading Teacher/Literacy Coach track, for educators desiring to work as literacy coaches or special reading teachers, in various public and private settings. The degree program meets the international Reading Association's Standards for Reading Professionals (2003 revision) for Category II: The Classroom Teacher and Category III: The Reading Specialist/Literacy Coach. This track leads to Missouri Special Reading certification. This certification is not available as an initial certificate; candidates must already be certified in another area.
  • The English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Teacher track (available beginning Fall 2009) , for educators desiring ESOL linguistics and second language acquisition basics as well as ESOL methods, materials, and assessments for public and private schools. This degree program meets the International Reading Association's Standards for Reading Professional, National TESOL Standards as well as Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education ESOL Standards. This track leads to Missouri ESOL certification. Certification is not available as an initial certificate; candidates must already be certified in another area.

Courses will be offered in the eight-week format. Full-time enrollment is one course per eight-week term.

Admissions Requirements

  • A Bachelor's degree in education from an accredited institution, or hold a valid state teaching certificate (applicant must provide copy of certificate).
  • For admission to the Special Reading Teacher/Literacy Coach Track: two years teaching experience.
  • Minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) on a 4.00 scale and 2.5 grade point average in core.
  • Child abuse and neglect screening (contact Melanie Kinney in the School for Education at 816-584-6335)
  • Felony background check and FBI fingerprint check (Note: FBI checks must be current and valid for one year) - (contact Melanie Kinney in the School for Education at 816-584-6335)
    • (Note: If the above two requirements have been completed for current employment with a school district or with the military, a copy of same may be submitted.  These two items are not needed for non-certification students).
  • Be officially admitted to the School for Education.
  • Students with a cumulative GPA between 2.75 and 3.0 may be considered for admission, if they provide one of the following:
    • Four (4) years successful employment experience (letter of recommendation from supervisor based on good evaluations).
    • An acceptable GRE score for verbal and quantitative tests.
    • Meet or exceed the state field test mean score on the area test of the National Teacher's Exam.
    • Optional professional portfolio (to be evaluated by two full-time Teacher Education faculty members)

* An applicant who has been denied admission to a graduate education program may appeal the decision to the Committee for Selection, Admission, Retention, and Appeals (CSARA). The appeal shall be submitted in writing to the Chair of the CSARA using the appropriate appeal form. Documentation supporting the appeal must accompany the appeal form where applicable. Additional information related to the appeals process may be obtained from the School for Education office.

Curriculum

To view the required curriculum for each track, please use the links below.

 

Graduation Requirements

  • Successful completion of 36 credit hours, with no grade lower than a "C," in the required courses, with a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher.
  • Advanced Candidate must successfully pass the SFE Disposition Instrument for Advanced Candidates for admission into Literacy Practicum I and II.  For the Special Reading Teacher/Literacy Coach and English for Speakers of Other Language tracks, the candidate must submit an approved portfolio and teacher work sample that addresses satisfactorily the Missouri Standards for teacher certification. A student cannot complete the program or be recommended for certification without the portfolio and teacher work sample.
  • See Academic Policies - Graduation Requirements for more information.
  • An Application for Graduation is required before a completion statement is posted to the transcript. Application for Graduation is available online at www.park.edu/graduation. Students must submit the completed form with the appropriate fee.

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