2024-2025 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog
Master of Education in Literacy Studies - General Literacy Studies Degree Program
For additional information about opportunities your college offers, please refer to the College of Education and Community Innovation section in this catalog.
Website: gvsu.edu/education/grad
Mission
Teaching, leading, and learning in a democratic society.
Philosophy
Believing that schools function as social and political entities as well as for the growth of individuals, the College of Education and Community Innovation prepares teachers and leaders a) to enhance the academic and personal potential of their students, and b) to evaluate the social and ethical implications of educational policies and practices.
Values
The College of Education and Community Innovation values expertise to guide our practice, equity to guide our interactions, liberal education to guide our perspectives, and social responsibility to guide our commitment to democratic education. We value these ideals in our preparation of candidates, our development of faculty, and our relationships with the larger community we serve.
The M.Ed. in literacy studies provides literacy professionals with a wide range of knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to meet various literacy needs of students. The program is helpful for classroom teachers who want to expand their abilities to work with students in language arts programs as well as for other professionals who support students' literacy acquisition.
Minimum Number of Hours in Program
All degree-seeking students in the literacy studies master's degree program are required to take a minimum of 33 credit hours.
Program Location
The program is offered fully online with no on-campus requirements.
Requirements for General Literacy Studies Degree
The general literacy studies program is a 33 to 36-credit hour program.
Social Foundations of Education (3 credits):
Choose one:
- EDF 671 - Educational Policy and Practice (3 credits)
- EDF 672 - Social/Cultural Foundations of Education (3 credits)
Research and Evaluation (3 credits):
Capstone:
Choose one:
Concentration Courses (24 credits):
Choose eight:
- EDR 620 - ESL Methodologies, Materials Development, and Technology (3 credits)
- EDR 621 - Foundations of Literacy (3 credits)
- EDR 624 - Elementary Literacy: Learners, Text, and the Environment (3 credits) OR EDR 625 - Secondary Literacy: Learners, Text, and the Environment (3 credits)
- EDR 626 - Field-based Literacy Assessment for Learning (3 credits)
- EDR 628 - Literacy Instruction Across Disciplines (PK-6) (3 credits) OR EDR 630 - Literacy Instruction Across Disciplines (7-12) (3 credits)
- EDR 631 - Writing, Teaching, and Learning (3 credits)
- EDR 632 - Field-based Literacy and Language Interventions (3 credits)
- EDR 634 - English Learner Language Development (3 credits)
- EDR 635 - Teaching Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students (3 credits)
- EDR 636 - Bilingualism and Biliteracy Development (3 credits)
- EDR 637 - Assessment of English Learners (3 credits)
- EDR 685 - Literacy Instruction Practicum (3 credits)
Elective Course(s): Up to 6 credits - advisor approved EDI, EDS, EDT, EDF
Students should meet with their advisor at the beginning of their program to sign a planned program and map out coursework. Additionally, students should communicate with their advisor throughout the program to decide on a Capstone and discuss plans for completion. Subject to department approval, Capstone courses may be taken in variable amounts from one to three credits (EDR 693) or one to six credits (EDR 695) and require continuous enrollment each semester until completed.
Applications are required for fieldwork courses (EDR 626, EDR 632, and EDR 685) and Capstone courses (EDR 693 and EDR 695). Suggested application deadlines: February 15 for spring/summer, May 15 for fall, September 15 for winter semester.