Study Plan:

All students must complete a plan of study prior to taking their first course or during their first semester of graduate study. This plan must be developed with advice from the Literacy Education Coordinator or the assigned advisor.

Admission to Candidacy:

All students must apply for admission to candidacy through their graduate advisor. A candidacy form will be completed and filed with the advisor and a form will be filed with the Graduate Office. Admission to candidacy occurs when the student has completed a minimum of 15 credits. Students must have completed the three professional education core courses (EDUC 603, 606, CUIN 654) as part of this admission process and 6 credits within the program concentration. A cumulative GPA of 3.0 is required as well as the approval of the advisor and two other faculty members who have taught the student. Transfer courses are not counted toward the 15-18 credits unless from 2016-2018 Graduate Catalog they are accepted as equivalent courses, and then the grades are not calculated in the GPA. The advisor and the program coordinator have the right to require that a student remediate deficiencies, even if that requires extra courses or to require that a student no longer be enrolled in the program based on the student’s aptitude and professional growth and potential. The student has the right to appeal to the Educational Professions Graduate Leadership Team and, if the student is no longer enrolled, he or she may reapply to the program after one year.

Praxis II Reading Specialist Assessment:

Graduates of the M.Ed. Literacy Education Program would be required to take the Praxis II Reading Specialist Assessment to graduate from the program. Candidates would be encouraged to take this assessment during their last semester. Official scores must be submitted to Frostburg State University before the graduation date. International students would be exempt from this graduation requirement.

Comprehensive Clinical Program ePortfolio:

The students are required to complete a Comprehensive Clinical Program ePortfolio.  The Comprehensive Clinical Program ePortfolio is to represent learning across the program, as demonstrated and applied within REED 695 Reading Clinic. This ePortfolio will be organized around the six standards for literacy professionals, as stated by the International Literacy Association. Each section must contain a rational statement and program materials as evidence that the current ILA standards for reading specialist/literacy coach and leader candidates have been met. Candidates will present their ePortfolio for evaluation by the graduate literacy education faculty and other members of the educational community.

Literacy Education Program Assessment:

During REED 610, candidates must complete a reading program assessment as a pre-test measure. After completing the coursework and before being allowed to enroll in the program capstone experience, candidates would be required to complete this assessment as a post-test measure. In this second instance, they must receive a passing score (85 percent). Candidates would be allowed to retake the assessment until a passing score is reached. In both situations, this assessment would be created and administered by the literacy faculty.

Master’s Research Paper or Project:

As part of the literacy education capstone experience, candidates will complete a school-wide research paper or project focused on a literacy topic. The paper or project will be presented at a local/national conference, or as part of a University research symposium or will be shared with the candidate’s school community.

Transfer Credit and Credit by Examination:

If you have successfully completed (grade of B or better) graduate courses at another accredited institution, you may apply for transfer credit for up to 9 credits in this program. If, upon faculty assessment, the courses are deemed essentially comparable to courses in this program, you will be awarded credit toward completion of your degree. All courses considered for transfer credit must meet the Graduate transfer credit policy requirements, including the six-year limit. Proficiency credit by examination is not an option in the Graduate Literacy Education Program.