A: Both degree-seeking and nondegree-seeking students can apply to our graduate programs online.

You can complete the courses in any order. However, if you are completing the Elementary/Secondary Reading or Reading Specialist degree, we recommend starting with EDR 621: Foundations in Literacy. This is a prerequisite for EDR 626: Literacy Assessment. The practicum courses, such as EDR 685, EDR 687, and EDR 689, should only be taken after ALL or MOST OF the emphasis courses have been completed. The final capstone courses, EDR 693 and EDR 695, require that you have completed 27 credit hours, with EDF 660 being 3 of those 27 credits. If you have questions or concerns about the prerequisites, please see your advisor.

A: After acceptance, you will receive an email from the program director, welcoming you and connecting you with your assigned advisor, who will then assist you with program planning.

The main difference between the Elementary and Secondary Programs and the K-12 Reading Specialist Program is in the field experiences or practicum courses.

The General Literacy Studies program is designed as a 33 to 36-credit hour program, depending on if students choose a Thesis or Project for their capstone course at the end of the program. The General Literacy Studies program equips educational professionals with a wide range of knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to meet students' literacy needs.

The Elementary Reading and Secondary Reading Endorsement Programs are designed for teachers interested in facilitating student learning through effective literacy practices. These master’s programs are both 33 credit hours. The practicum experience (EDR 685) focuses on the implementation of program learning with students in the elementary and secondary classroom. These programs lead to either an Elementary Reading endorsement or Secondary Reading endorsement. Note: Candidates can choose to pursue the Elementary Reading endorsement or the Secondary Reading endorsement only, completing 21 credit hours in the reading emphasis area. 

The K-12 Reading Specialist program is designed for teachers interested in becoming a reading specialist or literacy interventionist, literacy coaching, and/or administration/supervision of district-wide reading/language arts programs. This master’s program is 36 credit hours and includes three practicums. The first practicum experience (EDR 685) develops the instructional knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary for a reading specialist or literacy/instructional coach. The second practicum (EDR 687) develops in candidates the reading specialist and literacy coaching techniques important to the work in PK-12 schools. The third practicum experience (EDR 689) addresses PK-12 literacy program administration, professional development practices, and reading specialist responsibilities. This program leads to a K-12 Reading Specialist endorsement. 

Yes, an academic advisor will contact you via e-mail to welcome you to the program, answer any questions you might have, and schedule an initial advising session. Advising sessions are available in-person, via telephone, or online.

You are always welcome to visit our offices at Pew Campus in Grand Rapids, MI, but are not required to do so. Alternative means of scheduling advising sessions include telephone or synchronous online sessions. You can also contact your academic advisor by e-mail when you have questions about the program, courses, etc.

Yes, all Literacy Studies courses are fully online. We use both synchronous (real-time) and asynchronous methods of instruction. During the school year, synchronous meetings are in the evenings, while summer offers more flexibility for synchronous sessions. Synchronous sessions will meet on the evening indicated with the course information on Banner.

Fieldwork is embedded in a number of our courses (EDR 626, EDR 632, EDR 685, EDR 687, EDR 689), thus we must ensure you have a current background check on file through an employer verification form. To register for these courses, you must apply by submitting an online Application for Practicum or Internship.

GVSU's criteria for transferring courses into graduate programs requires the course must be:

• (a) graduate-level
• (b) from an accredited institution of higher learning
• (c) grade B or higher
• and (d) fit into your program.
• If you have a course you want us to consider for transfer credit, please speak to your advisor and provide your advisor with a syllabus from the course.
• Remember, only 9 credit hours can be transferred into a graduate program.

Graduate candidates can apply professional learning acquired through LETRS training for up to 6 credit hours by presenting achieved certificates that demonstrate mastery and application of LETRS course content. To be accepted as credits for professional learning (EDR 697: Professional Learning), the dates for the non-credit coursework, professional development programs, and professional work experiences must abide by the eight-year time limit for degree completion. 

LETRS training can count for the following course equivalencies:

• Elementary Reading and Secondary Reading Programs: elective and/or EDR 626
• K-12 Reading Specialist: EDR 626 and/or EDR 628

You must decide for yourself whether completing an online graduate program is your best option. Some questions to consider are:

• Am I confident and competent with technology?
• Have I been successful when taking online courses in the past?
• Am I a self-directed learner?
• Do I need face-to-face contact to feel connected to other students and the instructor? (Remember, you will have synchronous online class sessions with the instructor and other students in the course.)

You must submit an online Application for Practicum or Internship the term before you plan to complete your practicum.

* Application deadlines: February 15 for Spring/Summer semester, May 15 for Fall semester, and September 15 for Winter semester.

• EDR 626 is offered as a 12-week course in the Spring/Summer semester and a 15-week course in the Winter semester. 
• EDR 632 and EDR 685 are most often offered both in the Fall semester and the Winter semester.
• EDR 687 is offered during the Fall semester.
• EDR 689 is offered during the Winter semester.

Yes, EDR 626: Literacy Assessment & Instruction, fulfills the state-required reading diagnostic course for professional certification. This course is a program requirement, taught during both the Spring/Summer and Winter semesters. This course requires you to submit an online application the term before you plan to enroll because this course has a field component, requiring us to insure background checks are current. The field component for this course includes one-on-one work with a student of your choosing, conducting assessments and instructional interventions. We ask that you submit your applications by May 15 for the Fall semester, September 15 for the Winter semester, and February 15 for Spring/Summer semester.

GVSU offers two (2) options for completing your M.Ed. capstone experience: a development project (EDR 693) or a research/thesis (EDR 695).

• EDR 693 Project - A project involves curriculum or program development and applies theory to practice. For a project, candidates articulate a problem related to literacy, ground the problem in the literature, explore solutions to the problem in a literature review, create a plan for implementation of the solution, and then create and describe the evaluation of the solution that can be used in a professional capacity.
• EDR 695 Thesis - A thesis is a traditional research capstone where a candidate generates a research question, gathers data, analyses that data, and presents the results along with interpretations and recommendations.

You may choose either option, but there are different requirements depending on your choice. Information on the Education programs website provides help when choosing a thesis or project. If you choose to complete a project (EDR 693), you must submit an online application the term before you plan to complete your project. Please note there are application deadlines: February 15 for Spring/Summer semester, May 15 for Fall semester, and September 15 for Winter semester.

If you choose to complete a thesis (EDR 695), you must declare your choice between 30-60% of completion of your course work (after completing 12-18 credits), identify a thesis advisor, form a thesis committee, and register for EDR 695.  If you select a thesis, but are unable to finish it in one term, you will be required to enroll in a one-credit hour course, EDR 696, in subsequent terms.  Other university requirements for completion of a thesis (EDR 695) are managed by the Graduate School. If you are considering a thesis (EDR 695), we encourage you to talk with your advisor as soon as possible.