Master of Arts in Literacy Specialist leading to Initial Certification
Students in the Literacy Specialist M.A. have many opportunities to delve deeply into their own literacy, participate in adult book clubs, in performance-based drama groups, in writing workshops, including one taught by an award-winning author of children’s literature. Students also have the opportunity to intern in select schools. Critical literacy is a big focus for the program and graduate students conduct their own critical literacy investigations.
Admission Information
Displaying requirements for the Spring 2025, Summer 2025, and Fall 2025 terms.
Master of Arts
- Points/Credits: 32
- Entry Terms: Spring, Summer, Fall
- Enrollment Formats: Full-Time Campus-Based, Part-Time Campus-Based
Certification
View Public Disclosure Notification
- NY State Initial: Literacy Specialist Birth-6
Application Deadlines
| Entry Term Available | Priority Deadlines | Final Deadlines | Extended Deadlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | November 15, 2024 | November 15, 2024 | N/A |
| Summer | January 15, 2025 | June 1, 2025 | N/A |
| Fall | January 15, 2025 | July 1, 2025 | N/A |
Select programs remain open beyond our standard application deadlines, such as those with an extended deadline or those that are rolling (open until June or July). If your program is rolling or has an extended deadline indicated above, applications are reviewed as they are received and on a space-available basis. We recommend you complete your application as soon as possible as these programs can close earlier if full capacity has been met.
Application Requirements
| Requirement | |
|---|---|
| Online Degree Application, including Statement of Purpose and Resume | |
| Transcripts and/or Course-by-Course Evaluations for all Undergraduate/Graduate Coursework Completed | |
| Results from an accepted English Proficiency Exam (if applicable) | |
| $75 Application Fee | |
| Two (2) Letters of Recommendation | |
| Must hold Initial Certification |
For admission-related inquiries, please contact CTadmission@tc.columbia.edu.
Prospective Applicants
We are always pleased when our applicants demonstrate a commitment to teaching. Some will have spent summers as camp counselors, others bring a decade of experience as lead teacher—for us, it is important that our students are grounded in a commitment to working with learners.
We are also pleased when applicants show an inquiry stance, a readiness to question and to wonder and to learn. We hope students are ready to learn from children and from colleagues as well as from university faculty. Most of all, we are excited to read applicants to our program because we know that people bring diverse experiences, and that we’ll have the opportunity to learn from them as well as they, learning from us. It’s a great thing to a cohort group take shape and to recognize the breadth of experiences and knowledge bases that people bring with them into the program.
Requirements from the TC Catalog (AY 2024-2025)
Displaying catalog information for the Fall 2024, Spring 2025 and Summer 2025 terms.
Students may enroll in this degree program full-time or part-time. The basic curriculum for M.A. degree students includes:
Core: Required of all students
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C&T 4138 Teaching literacy in the early years (2-3)
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C&T 4139 Constructing critical readers (2-3)
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C&T 4151 Teaching of writing (2-3), or C&T 5520 Advanced Teaching of Writing (2-3 points)
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C&T 4200 Fieldwork in curriculum and teaching (6) 3 credits fall; 3 credits spring
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HBSK 4072 Theory and techniques of reading assessment and intervention (3)
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C&T 4140 Literature for younger children (2-3) or
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C&T 4141 Literature for older children (2-3)
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C&T 5037 Literacy, culture, and the teaching of reading (2-3)
Master’s Action Research Project: Required of all students (1 point)
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C&T 4502 Master’s project (1)
Completion of Master’s Action Research Project
Out of Program electives: Required of all students (6 points). To satisfy the college breadth requirement, students must complete 3 points in addition to HBSK 4072 (3), which is part of the core. (A course for this purpose is defined as one in which a minimum of 2 points is earned outside the program).
Within-Department electives: Required of all students (4 points) Students must select at least two courses from the following list:
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Institutes on Teaching Reading, Teaching Writing, or Reading Writing Connections
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C&T 4140 Literature for younger children (2-3)
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C&T 4141 Literature for older children (2-3)
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C&T 4835: Improving Reading Instruction (1-2 points)
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C&T 4137 Literacy and learning in the content areas (2-3)
New York State Education Department (NYSED) mandates teacher certification requirements that are needed for program completion and graduation which are listed in the Office of Teacher Education section of the catalog.