Mar 29, 2024  
2020-2021 SUNY Potsdam Academic Catalog 
    
2020-2021 SUNY Potsdam Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Literacy Educator (Kindergarten - Grade 12), M.S.Ed.


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New students may not elect this program at this time.

The Literacy Education Program offers two Master of Science in Education pathways that prepare candidates to serve in the field of literacy education: Literacy and Literacy Educator (K-12).  The following desribes the requirements for the Literacy Educator program.

Program Requirements

  1. Verification of a current teaching certificate is required within the first 18 credit hours completed. Students will not be able to register for any additional courses if they have not obtained Initial certification by the indicated time.
  2. Six (6) credit hours of undergraduate or graduate (from Initial certification programs) study in literacy education focusing on teaching methods are required within the first 15 credit hours completed. Students will not be able to register for any additional courses if they have not completed these prerequisites by that time.

Additional Degree Information

Candidates are advised that most, but not all, degree requirements may be completed in the Watertown area.

All degree candidates are required to complete a Culminating Experience in the School of Education and Professional Studies designed to synthesize the academic experience. For candidates in the Literacy Educator program, the Culminating Experience requirement is fulfilled by completing GRDG 681 , Literacy Educator Portfolio.

Candidate progress is carefully monitored throughout the program, based on demonstration of appropriate knowledge, skills, and dispositions. Candidates are provided with information on program expectations in the first semester. Candidates not making satisfactory progress will be counseled by their adviser and may be dropped from the program.

Literacy Educator Program

The Literacy Educator program addresses the interests of candidates who seek greater understanding about literacy and literacy education, but do not intend to pursue careers as literacy specialists.

Graduates of the Literacy Educator program will satisfy the academic requirements for Professional certification in their Initial New York certification area, but will not be eligible for additional Literacy certification.

Program Requirements

Submission of a copy of current teaching certificate is required prior to completion of 15 credits in the Literacy Program. Candidates for the Literacy Educator program must present an Initial certificate in one of the following areas:

  • Early Childhood Birth-2
  • Childhood 1-6
  • Generalist 5-9
  • English 5-9
  • Mathematics 5-9
  • Social Studies 5-9
  • English 7-12
  • Mathematics 7-12
  • Social Studies 7-12
  • Special Education Birth-2
  • Special Education 1-6
  • Special Education Generalist 5-9
  • Special Education English 5-9
  • Special Education Math 5-9
  • Special Education Social Studies 5-9
  • Special Education English 7-12
  • Special Education Math 7-12
  • Special Education Social Studies 7-12

Literacy Educator Course Requirements


A minimum of 33 credit hours with an overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher is required for the granting of the Master of Science in Education, Literacy Educator degree.

Plus One of the Following:


(chosen under advisement)

Controlled Options: 6 Credits


(chosen under advisement)

Content or Content-Linking Courses: 12 Credits


(chosen under advisement)

Content or content-linking courses are selected in consultation with the adviser and in relation to the candidate’s Initial certification area. Candidates holding early childhood or childhood certification should include study in a range of the core academic disciplines found in elementary school curriculum. Content courses are graduate courses offered by Arts and Sciences departments; content-linking courses are graduate courses developed jointly by faculty in the content areas and education faculty. Candidates must consult their advisers to identify appropriate and approved content-linking courses for their area of certification.

Total Credit Hours Required: 33


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