Online Master of Education — Literacy

Gain the expertise and guidance to expand your knowledge of literacy instruction and pedagogy.

3/18/24 Next Application Due Date
4/1/24 Start Classes

Program Overview


Get to know the 100% online M.Ed. in Literacy

$14,700* Total Tuition
As few as 12 months Duration
49 Credit Hours

Develop the skills to boost student literacy in a supportive learning environment in the Master of Education – Literacy online program from Eastern Washington University. Literacy is a critical skill for academic success, and this program can provide you with the knowledge to support the diverse learning needs of a P-12 classroom. Based on current research and best practices, the curriculum is applicable for teachers in the field and for those who are interested in becoming reading specialists in schools.

This online M.Ed. in Literacy program emphasizes skills addressed in literacy competencies for the state of Washington while aiming to increase your effectiveness in the classroom and to develop your assessment skills. Certified Washington educators can earn a P-12 reading endorsement on their teaching certificate. If you're from outside the state, endorsement will depend on the authorization granted by your state.

Graduate ready to become a Reading Specialist, Title 1 Specialist, District Reading Curriculum Specialist, or classroom teacher with enhanced skills in literacy instruction. This path also affords you the opportunity to teach undergraduate courses in literacy for community colleges or as adjuncts at universities.

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The Eastern Washington University School of Business is accredited by AACSB International (AACSB).

In this online reading and literacy program, you will learn to:

  • demonstrate knowledge of the assessment/instruction cycle and use a variety of assessment tools and practices to plan and evaluate evidence-based literacy instruction;
  • foster literacy development by using instructional practices, materials and assessments to create a literate environment;
  • possess knowledge of the literacy processes and apply the results of evidence-based literacy research (qualitative and quantitative) to instructional practices;
  • know a wide range of instructional practices, approaches, methods, and curriculum materials to support literacy instruction;
  • demonstrate a deep understanding of the pedagogical knowledge and practice specific to the teaching of literacy.
  • demonstrate knowledge of the assessment/instruction cycle and use a variety of assessment tools and practices to plan and evaluate evidence-based literacy instruction;
  • foster literacy development by using instructional practices, materials and assessments to create a literate environment;
  • possess knowledge of the literacy processes and apply the results of evidence-based literacy research (qualitative and quantitative) to instructional practices;
  • know a wide range of instructional practices, approaches, methods, and curriculum materials to support literacy instruction;
  • demonstrate a deep understanding of the pedagogical knowledge and practice specific to the teaching of literacy.

Also available online:

EWU offers a variety of graduate education degree programs in a convenient online format. Check out all our online M.Ed. programs.

$14,700* Total Tuition
As few as 12 months Duration
49 Credit Hours
Professional Educator Standards Board logo

The School of Education programs are approved by the Washington State Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB).

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Need More Information?

Call 800-826-3411

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Tuition


Learn what makes our online M.Ed. is now more affordable than ever

Tuition for the M.Ed. – Literacy online degree program features the same affordable, pay-by-the-course rate for all students residing in and out of the state of Washington.

Tuition breakdown:

$300 Per Credit Hour
$14,700* Total Tuition

*Tuition and fees subject to change. Total program cost does not include foundation courses. If foundation courses are required, the cost will be added to the total program cost.

Tuition breakdown:

$300 Per Credit Hour
$14,700* Total Tuition

Calendar


View the schedule for this online graduate program

The M.Ed. – Literacy online program is designed to be flexible for working professionals, with six-week courses and seven start dates a year. View the full calendar for upcoming deadlines for turning in required documents, registering for classes and paying tuition to get started when it’s best for you.

Now enrolling:

3/18/24 Next Application Deadline
4/1/24 Start Classes
TermProgram Start DateApplication DeadlineRegistration DeadlineTuition Deadline
Winter II2/12/241/29/242/7/242/10/24
Spring I4/1/243/18/243/27/243/30/24
Spring II5/13/244/29/245/8/245/11/24
Summer I7/8/246/21/247/2/247/6/24
Fall I9/23/249/9/249/18/249/21/24
Fall II11/4/2410/21/2410/30/2411/2/24

Now enrolling:

3/18/24 Next Application Deadline
4/1/24 Start Classes

Have questions or need more information about our online programs?

Ready to take the rewarding path toward earning your degree online?

Admissions


These are the steps to being admitted to our online literacy master's program

The admission process is the first step toward earning your M.Ed. – Literacy online. A teaching certificate is required for admission to this program.

Admission Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree
  • Cumulative 3.0 GPA
  • Teacher certification

M.Ed. – Literacy Online Admission Requirements

  • Teaching certificate
  • Bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution
  • Overall cumulative GPA of 3.0 or cumulative GPA of 3.0 in the last 90 quarter or 60 semester-graded postsecondary credit hours**
  • Official transcript from the college/university where degree was earned

Have a question? Call us at 800-826-3411.

**We encourage you to apply if your GPA is lower than a 3.0 and you have at least 3 years of professional work experience. Applicants with GPAs below 3.0 are considered for admission on a case-by-case basis. Please contact an Enrollment Services representative at 800-826-3411 for more information.

This offering is available as an endorsement program for those teachers who hold or who have held an initial, residency, continuing or professional teaching certificate in the state of Washington. If you do not hold a teaching certificate in Washington or do not hold a teaching certificate at all, you are still encouraged to apply.

Please note however that this will not lead to a teaching certificate in Washington. Additionally, this program may satisfy the requirements for states other than Washington. Please check with your applicable licensing board to determine whether this program satisfies requirements for licensure in the state in which you reside. For current contact information for applicable licensing boards, please refer to our State Authorization page or contact Christi Wavada at [email protected].

Document Submission Information

For Spring 2024 Applications: Please do not send transcripts directly to EWU, as this may delay processing your application. If you are ordering electronic transcripts, please select the CAS application as the recipient.

If you are ordering a mailed paper transcript, please have all transcripts sent to:

GradCAS Transcript Processing Center
PO Box 9217
Watertown, MA 02471

Note: You will need to use the Transcript ID form (found in your GradCAS application portal) as part of your submission so that your transcript can be matched to your application.

For Summer 2024 Applications and all future terms:

Order your official, electronic transcripts from the degree-granting institution where you earned your highest degree (bachelor’s or master’s) and have them sent to Eastern Washington University.

  • Most EWU graduate programs only require one transcript. Please submit a transcript from your degree-granting institution. This transcript should include the final two years of your degree completion. If it does not, please submit transcripts to cover your final two years of earned credits.
  • Please note that transcripts ordered by main may take 4-6 weeks to arrive.

If you are ordering a mailed paper transcript, please have it sent to:

Eastern Washington University
Showalter Hall 206
Cheney, WA 99004

Courses


Discover what you’ll learn in the online M.Ed. – Literacy course

In order to earn the M.Ed. – Literacy online, you must complete 14 courses (49 credit hours), comprised of 16 credit hours of core courses and 33 credit hours of specialization courses (including an internship).

You must take the following courses.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
Issues such as federal aid, teachers' tenure, teachers' salaries, the political control of education, indoctrination versus education, religious and public education, school-district reorganization, the community-centered school and academic freedom.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
Four philosophies in education will be studied. The implications of each for school organization and classroom instruction will be examined. Participants will be invited to analyze their beliefs and how these beliefs form into a coherent philosophy of education.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
Required of all graduate students pursuing the master of education degree program unless an alternative research course is scheduled. It provides the background of research methods and techniques necessary for meeting the requirements of Education 600 or 601. The methods, tools, and strategies used in educational research, both quantitative and qualitative, will be explored. Continued level teacher certification research requirements may be met through this course.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
This course focuses on reforming and transforming the processes, perceptions and practices of learning and teaching by emphasizing diversity, social justice and equity. First, psychological principles underlying current educational culture will be analyzed. Second, reforming relationships, interactions and contexts for learning will be addressed through reflective practices, and third, rethinking and transforming connections, will be viewed through the lens of learners of diverse backgrounds.
You must take the following courses.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
Advanced study of literature based teaching. Explores ways of building a literate classroom by connecting children and books with special ways on supporting students in becoming fluent readers. Understand how to select and adapt instructional content, including technology-based materials. Demonstrate knowledge of the range of genre, text types, and text language in classic and contemporary children’s and young adult literature.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
A course designed to provide classroom teachers an opportunity to revisit current reading pedagogical knowledge, including knowledge of essential components of reading (phonics, word recognition, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension), phonological awareness, print concepts, and academic language. Students will explore meaningful ways in which reading instruction may be infused and integrated within content areas of the curriculum, including Common Core State Standards. Teacher assessment and student self-assessment as means to inform teaching and learning will be an additional focus of the course.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
This course centers on theoretical and evidence-based research into reading and literacy instruction. The course is based on the inquiry cycle, which will provide the organizational structure for class participation. An emphasis on topics related to current research in the field of literacy, including collegial practices. Class sessions will include small group brainstorming and discussion, reading, explorations, browsing, workshop experiences, presentations, and teaching demonstrations.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
Advanced course with emphasis on models for reading, writing and language arts integration. Students will demonstrate knowledge of the interrelationships of reading, writing, listening and speaking. Students demonstrate knowledge of how to integrate a variety of classroom-based materials, using a wide-range of curriculum materials and instructional strategies. Know how to plan systematic instruction using Common Core State Standards and current literacy research to guide instruction. Cover total program: management, methods, materials and techniques.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
An advanced course for students wanting to study current literature on literacy as practiced in a variety of social contexts, as evaluated through a number of critical perspectives. Developing practitioners reflect and discuss the importance of respecting socio-economic, cultural, linguistic and ethnic diversity in the teaching process. Demonstrate knowledge that students’ interests, literacy skills and funds of knowledge are always considered and integrated within literacy practices. Instructional implications will be highlighted so students will develop reflective and sound classroom practice.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 4
This course is designed to examine the causes and correlates of individual differences in reading ability. Knowledge of foundations of phonology, morphology, semantics, syntax, pragmatics and orthography. Integration and analysis of multiple assessment tools and knowledge of the assessment/instruction cycle (data analysis, universal screening, diagnostic, progress monitoring, formative, summative), and how to use a variety of assessment tools and practices to plan and evaluate evidence-based literacy instruction. Specialized, intensive approaches for the improvement of the literacy skills will be examined. Reflection will include the influence and impact on literacy for English Language Learners, special needs students, and struggling readers.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Practical, on-the-job experience for specialized school personnel planned cooperatively by a school district and the university. Students are selected for this experience by the university and the district in which the student is working.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
Continuation of Literacy Internship I. Practical, on-the-job experience for specialized school personnel planned cooperatively by a school district and the university. Students are selected for this experience by the university and the district in which the student is working.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 2
This course provides MEd candidates the opportunity to assemble a portfolio of work from graduate education courses that includes a reflective component. Candidates will provide evidence aligned with corresponding professional competencies. The course provides candidates the opportunity to prepare for the written comprehensive examination, which serves as the capstone experience in lieu of a thesis or research report.
Duration: 6 Weeks weeks
Credit Hours: 3
The purpose of the comprehensive exam is to assess the knowledge and skills attained during the course of graduate study in the Master of Education program. The comprehensive exam requires students to integrate the principals, concepts, and research methodologies when employing academic language and using a formal writing style.

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