Literacy Education

The Master of Education, Educational Specialist, and Doctor of Philosophy programs in the Literacy, Language and Culture Program provide practicing teachers and advanced professionals in literacy and related areas with the opportunity to explore current issues of literacy research and instruction with nationally and internationally recognized faculty in an atmosphere that encourages discussions and inquiry. While Maine is a national leader in many measures of literacy achievement in schools, changing global needs require continual examination and implementation of best literacy practices. Coursework, with faculty who have extensive experience with schools and public school students, balances theoretical and practical issues to inform and change literacy practices.

Application for admission is conducted online through the Graduate School and requires three letters of recommendation, a statement of intent, Miller’s Analogy Test scores for Master’s students (waived for students whose undergraduate GPA was 3.0 or higher), transcripts from all previous institutions and the application fee.

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact a faculty member in the Literacy, Language and Culture Program prior to application to address any questions and for assistance in selecting the most appropriate program for the applicant’s goals. Master’s programs in literacy are sometimes offered to cohorts in various sites around the state.

Master’s Programs in Literacy

M.Ed. in Literacy Education (33 credits)

The M.Ed. in Literacy Education program is designed to further elementary and secondary teachers’ knowledge of literacy theories, practices, and research. Applicants should normally hold certification in either elementary or secondary education and have a minimum of two years of successful teaching experience. The M.Ed. in Literacy Education does not lead to Maine certification. The M.Ed. in Literacy Education program has a required core of 15 hours of coursework. To fulfill elective requirements, students consult with their advisor to identify appropriate courses.

Courses in the M.Ed. in Literacy Education program are divided into three phases: Phase 1 courses, Phase 2 courses, and Elective courses. Students must complete all Phase 1 courses before taking Phase 2 courses.

Please note that the M.Ed. program is currently being revised.

Required Core Courses

Phase 1 Courses (18 credits):

EHD 510 Introduction to Educational Research (3 credits)
ERL 517 Literature for Children or ERL 518 Literature for Young Adults (3 credits)
ERL 534 Literacy and Language Development (3 credits)
ERL 540 Writing in Schools & Colleges (3 credits)
EEL 561 Literacy Processing: Exploring How Students Learn to Read and Write Part I (3 credits)
EEL 562 Literacy Processing: Exploring How Students Learn to Read and Write Part II (3 credits)

Phase 2 Courses (9 credits)

ERL 552 Seminar in Teacher Research (3 credits)
ERL 553 Literacy Assessment (3 credits)
ERL 601 Seminar in Reading (3 credits)

Elective Courses (6 credits)

The elective courses may come from any college or university program with the approval of the student’s advisor.

Contact: Dr. Susan Bennett-Armistead (susan.bennett-armistead@maine.edu)

The M.Ed. program in Literacy Education also offers the Literacy Specialist concentration.

M.Ed. in Literacy Education (Literacy Specialist Concentration) (39 credits)

The M.Ed. in Literacy Education (Literacy Specialist Concentration) leads to Maine certification as a Literacy Specialist, K-12. Applicants must hold certification in either elementary or secondary education and have two years of successful teaching experience. The program is designed to reflect the International Reading Association’s 2010 Standards for Reading Specialist/Literacy Coach competencies in the areas of literacy acquisition, assessment, individual learner and program evaluation and development, and literacy leadership. The program is rigorous and tightly scheduled, with few choices. As such, applicants are encouraged to speak with an advisor early in the process to prepare a course plan.

Courses in the M.Ed. in Literacy Education (Literacy Specialist Concentration) program are divided into three phases: Phase 1 courses, Phase 2 courses, and an elective course. Students must complete all Phase 1 courses before taking Phase 2 courses. Literacy Specialist Program Requirements include:

Phase 1 Courses (18 credits)

Phase 2 Courses (18 credits)

ERL 537 Literacy Across the Curriculum (3 credits)
ERL 553 Literacy Assessment (3 credits)
ERL 569 Clinical Practices-Teaching Children (6 credits)
EEL 652 Intervention Designs for Struggling Learners Part I (3 credits)
EEL 653 Intervention Designs for Struggling Learners Part II (3 credits)

Elective Course (3 credits)

The elective course may come from any college or university program with the approval of the student’s advisor.

Contact: Contact: Dr. William Dee Nichols at william.nichols1@maine.edu

Individually Designed M.Ed. in Literacy
The individually designed degree is a 33 credit program that offers some flexibility to educators interested in graduate study of literacy in K-12 schools and other community settings. Although it does not lead to certification or licensure, students can build a program of study in consultation with a faculty advisor and the program coordinator that meets their unique needs and interests.

Ed.S. in Literacy

Ed.S. in Literacy

The Education Specialist Program in Literacy Education (30 credits)

The College of Education and Human Development’s Education Specialist programs provide students with a cohesive program of professional development beyond the master’s level. The program of study is individually planned by the student and their advisor. A minimum of 30 semester hours of work beyond the masters level is required to earn the Ed.S. Candidates must complete a minimum of 12 semester hours in professional education coursework at the 500- and/or 600-level at the University of Maine. A master’s degree in Literacy Education or a closely related field is required for admission to the program.

Ph.D. Program in Literacy Education

The Ph.D. program in Literacy Education is designed for individuals exhibiting leadership in literacy, such as curriculum development, teacher research, publishing, professional presentations, and theoretical research. It prepares candidates for academic positions in universities, positions in administration and supervision of literacy programs at the local, state and federal levels, textbook and other kinds of publishing endeavors, and employment in various departments of government. Each candidate’s program is individually developed based on the student’s background, goals and objectives, and the requirements of the degree. A primary function of the Ph.D. program is to develop competency in diverse educational research strategies as a significant means of advancing knowledge. Applicants must interview with the faculty in the Literacy, Language, and Culture Program, and must provide evidence of successful teaching experience, a record of professional leadership and responsibilities, and samples of professional writing. Application information is available from the Graduate School. For additional information about the program, please contact Dr. William Dee Nichols william.nichols1@maine.edu

Program of Study for the Ph.D. in Literacy Education

The Ph.D. program consists of five components: required coursework, coursework in research methodologies, foundational coursework, elective coursework, practica experiences, and the dissertation. Specifically:

1. Literacy Coursework (minimum 15 credit hours). At least four seminars must be completed at C.A.S./doctoral level. It is normally assumed the student is a recent graduate of a literacy master’s degree program. For students with different backgrounds, a core of at least 15 credits of prerequisite literacy master’s degree coursework may be required.

2. Research Methods (minimum 15 credit hours). Students are required to complete a minimum of 15 hours selected from courses in consultation with their doctoral program committee. Courses might include EHD 571 (Qualitative Research: Theory, Design, and Practice), EHD 572 (Advanced Qualitative Research), EHD 573 (Statistical Methods in Education I), and EHD 574 (Statistical Methods in Education II).

3. Foundations coursework (minimum 12 credit hours) Students are required to take four courses in foundations of education, from EHD 621 (Educational Psychology), EHD 660 (History of American Education), EHD 661 (The Sociology of Education), EHD 663 (Comparative and International Education), EHD 664 (Philosophy of Education).

4. Elective Coursework (minimum 12 credit hours typically outside of the Literacy, Language, and Culture Program area).

5. Practica Coursework. Students must complete either EHD 657 (Educational Practicum) or EHD 690 (Topics in Education: Methods of College Teaching).

6. Dissertation Research (minimum 6 credits of EHD 699 (Graduate Thesis/Research).

Maine Literacy Partnerships in Comprehensive Literacy (MPCL)

Maine Partnerships in Comprehensive Literacy (MPCL) at the University of Maine (UMaine) is a PreK to grade 12 Tier I continuous school improvement model. The model is dedicated to increasing the academic achievement of all students through on-going professional development for educators. Literacy achievement is the tool used for measuring school improvement in four related areas: student learning, teacher perceptions, school climate, and school processes. MPCL affiliated schools establish a partnership with the University Training Center (UTC) at UMaine to creating a system for successful literacy education. This commitment includes the:

Training and support of a literacy coach within the school.
Collection of data to monitor the progress of every student.
Provision of safety nets for at-risk students.
Development of a school leadership team.
Establishment of a long-term professional development plan that includes every teacher.

Interested MPCL coach applicants must have a Master’s degree and secure the approval of the building principal and district superintendent. MPCL coach coursework requires a yearlong, 9 credit course of study provided by the MPCL Trainer, including EEL 580/581 Theoretical Perspectives within MPCL Coaching I and II, and EEL 582/583 Clinical Practices in MPCL Coaching I and II. A subsequent coaching class, EEL 585 Reflective Practice in MPCL Coaching is offered on a regular basis.

The MPCL coach provides on-going professional development for teachers at the school site, while the school team oversees and monitors the learning of all students. University of Maine graduate courses are taught at the school level by the MPCL coach. These courses include EEL 543/544 Literacy Teaching and Learning I and II; EEL 552 An Exploration of Writers Workshop in PreK-12 Classrooms; EEL 554 An Exploration of Readers Workshop in PreK-12 Classrooms; EEL 556 An Exploration of Language Workshop in PreK-12 Classrooms.

The school and coach maintain a partnership with the MPCL Trainer for on-going professional development and implementation support. For further information, go to
https://umaine.edu/maineliteracy.