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Advanced Literacy Specialization
Peggy McNamara, Director: 212-875-4586
Master of Education: 30 to 33 credits
This 30- to 33-credit program leads to Literacy Certification (birth through grade 6) and to an advanced master's degree, the Master of Education (Ed. M.). The program sequence is especially designed for those who hold a master's degree in Education and who wish to become literacy specialists and to take on leadership positions in schools, clinics, private practice, or other professional settings.
The curriculum has been designed to develop your expertise in reading, writing, and language arts theory and practice. Course work and field experience provide students with a knowledge base for working with native English speakers, English language learners, and children with special needs from a broad range of cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. Particular emphasis is placed on helping you develop a wide repertoire of assessment, instructional and leadership strategies, together with an understanding of the academic, intellectual and emotional strengths and needs of children.
The program views reading, writing, and language development as integrated processes supported by developmentally sequenced instruction. Course work and field experiences are designed to help you to work both independently and collaboratively with other teachers and professionals to meet the needs of diverse learners.
Through the experiences in the program, you will be prepared for a wide range of educational roles, including but not limited to those of reading and writing specialist working with individual and small groups of children, literacy leader and curriculum specialist in a range of professional settings, or classroom teacher focusing on literacy development.
Certification in Education
Applicants must hold a master's degree in Education and an initial, provisional, or permanent certification. You will earn professional New York State certification in Literacy (birth through grade 6).
Supervised Fieldwork/Advisement
During one academic year, while you take courses, you will gain teaching experience and intensive advisory support through supervised fieldwork/advisement. The fieldwork of those preparing to work as reading teachers and clinicians will include experiences in a range of individual and small group instructional settings. If you are a classroom teacher, you may use your own classroom as your primary fieldwork site. However, this work must be supplemented with a supervised clinical teaching experience in which you learn to address the literacy needs of a broader range of children within the certification category.
Throughout your year of supervised fieldwork/advisement, your advisor will visit you in your setting each month. You will meet individually twice a month with your Bank Street advisor, and you will gather with a small, supportive peer group once a week throughout the fall and spring terms. The year of supervision and advisement is central to your professional growth and development as you become a successful educator.
Integrative Master's Project
Before graduating, you will complete an independent study (master's thesis), mentored directed essay, seminar-based master's project, or portfolio. Your choice will depend on your own goals and learning style. This project allows you to pursue an area of particular interest to you, or to weave together the threads and understandings of your Bank Street graduate experience.
Admissions Requirements
Applicants to the Advanced Literacy Specialization program must have a master's degree in Education and an initial or provisional certification in teaching.
Further information:
- Contact the Office of Graduate Admissions (212-875-4404) to ask questions or to schedule an informational interview.
- Download a printable flyer for this program, including course requirements.
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