Master's of Arts (MA) in Curriculum and Instruction with Literacy Endorsement
The University of Akron’s Master of Arts in Elementary Education is designed for elementary school teachers. Students complete foundational courses in education and in curriculum and instruction along with courses for an area of concentration in literacy education.
At any age, reading skills take a student far beyond the page. Literacy is a foundational skill required for successful academic achievement and forms a foundation that will last a lifetime. This program will help you develop supportive curriculum to meet reading milestones and bring systemic change to enhance reading instruction. Through research, you will learn to develop age-appropriate instructional options for emerging, struggling, and advanced readers. The focus for this program is to equip educational professionals working with students and teachers to follow science of reading and structured literacy guidelines to develop supportive curriculum. Professionals can utilize this program to support new legislation and bring systemic change to schools seeking to improve or enhance reading instruction.
Required Courses
The Lebron James Family Foundation School of Education offers a 33-hour Master’s Degree Program in Education with a Literacy option. Requirements are listed below. (Courses in red indicate courses that are required for the Literacy Endorsement program.)
Educational Foundations
· EDFN:624 (3) Seminar in Educational Psychology
· EDFN:640 (3) Using Research to Inform Practice (FALL)
Curricular and Instructional Studies
· EDCI:600 (3) Concepts of Curriculum and Instruction (SUMMER)
Or EDCI:601, 604, 605
· EDCI:625 (3) Contemporary Issues in Literacy Education and Phonics (SPR & SUM)
Area of Concentration/Literacy
· EDCI:626 (3) Assessment of Reading Difficulties (REQUIRED) (SPR & SUM)
· EDCI:628 (3) Literacy Assessment Practicum (REQUIRED) (SPR & SUM)
(9 credits from courses listed below)
· EDCI:522 (3) Content Area Literacy (SPR & SUM)
· EDCI:541 (3) Teaching Literacy to English Learners (FALL)
· EDCI:622 (3) Children’s Literature in the Curriculum (SPR & SUM)
· EDCI:627 (3) Special Topics in Curricular & Instructional Studies (SPR & SUM)
Master’s Project
· EDCI:690 (3) Ed Inquiry I (FALL ONLY)
· EDCI 691 (3) Ed Inquiry II (SPRING ONLY)
Master’s Courses Total - 33 credits
*If seeking a reading endorsement with a K-12 focus, a valid teaching license, completion of 18 credit hours in reading, and a passing score on OAE Test 038/039: Subtests 1 and 2 are required.
Application Deadline
Applications to the Master’s program in Elementary Education with Literacy Option must be completed and submitted at least six weeks (domestic) or six months (international) before the beginning of the term for which admission is sought in order to allow for adequate processing time. Students must have a 2.5 or higher undergraduate cumulative grade point average to be fully admitted.
To apply for this program, go to the graduate school website. Apply as a graduate student to the Master’s Degree in Elementary Education with Literacy Option.
Our classes are offered online. If the class is synchronous, it meets in the evenings during the academic year so you can work during the day.