Master of Education, Language and Literacy, M.E. Locations  

Purpose

The Master of Education with emphasis in Language and Literacy is designed with two program areas of emphasis for two types of educators:

1. Special Reading Teacher – This Master of Education area of emphasis is for educators desiring to work as reading specialists in various public and private settings. The degree program meets the professional standards of the International Literacy Association (ILA) for Reading Professionals (2017, ILA 2018). Courses are offered in the 8-week format. Full-time enrollment is one course per 8-week term. This area of emphasis leads to Missouri Special Reading certification. This certification is not available as an initial certificate; candidates must already be certified in another area. Refer to Certification Requirements for additional information regarding certification.
2. English Language Learners Teacher – This Master of Education area of emphasis is for educators desiring ELL linguistics and second language acquisition basics, as well as ELL methods, materials and assessments for public and private schools. This area of emphasis meets the professional standards of the Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages International Association Standards for P-12 Teacher Education Programs (TESOL, 2010) as well as DESE ELL Standards. Courses are offered in the 8-week format. Full-time enrollment is one course per 8-week term. This area leads to Missouri ELL certification. Certification is not available as an initial certificate; candidates must already be certified in another area. Refer to Certification Requirements for additional information regarding certification.

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Admission Requirements

1. A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution and hold a valid state teaching certificate (applicant must provide copy of certificate)
2. School employment is not required for admission into the Language and Literacy programs. However, every course requires direct work with children; therefore, advanced candidates are responsible for finding students with whom to work if they do not have access to a classroom.
3. Advanced candidates seeking Special Reading Teacher or ELL certification must have two years’ teaching experience by the time they apply for certification.
4. Minimum 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale, and 2.5 GPA in core.
5. A felony background check and FBI fingerprint check and clearance received for admission.
6. Child abuse or neglect screening.
7. Advanced candidates with a GPA between 2.7 and 3.0 may be considered for admission, if they provide one of the following:
   1. Four years successful employment experience (letter of recommendation from a supervisor based on good evaluations).
   2. An acceptable GRE score for verbal and quantitative tests.

Note: If items 4 and 5 above have been completed for continuous current employment or for the U.S. military, a copy of the same may be submitted.

Program Requirements

The coursework for both 30-credit hour program areas of emphasis is offered in an 8-week format, either in a hybrid model (60% face-to-face and 40% online) or totally online. A professional portfolio, as well as projects embedded in course work, is required. Advanced candidates must successfully pass the School of Education Disposition Instrument for Advanced Candidates for admission into their respective program practicums (either ED641, ED651 or ED652).  Students intending to apply for certification through DESE may need to take 3-6 additional credit hours beyond the 30 hours required to earn the MED degree depending on whether they have previously earned credits for the course equivalents of ED520 and/or ED527 from another institution or as part of their baccalaureate degree. These courses are certification requirements and not required to earn the MED degree.

For all areas, in addition to completing the 30-credit hour curriculum with at least a 3.0 GPA, the advanced candidate must submit an approved portfolio that addresses satisfactorily the ILA Standards or the TESOL Standards (depending on degree area of emphasis). An advanced candidate cannot complete the program or be recommended for certification without successfully completing the portfolio. It is recommended that advanced candidates present their portfolios for evaluation by the fifth week of their final practicum course in the advanced candidate’s program. Furthermore, advanced candidates must pass any content assessment(s) designated by the Missouri State Board of Education for additional certification(s).  Advanced Candidates should consult with their Academic Advisor regarding current Missouri Content Assessment (MoCA) requirements and test availability.

Note: Candidates who disagree with a disposition evaluation may appeal the evaluation to the Committee for Selection, Admission, Retention and Appeals. The appeal shall be submitted in writing to the chair of the CSARA using the appropriate appeal form. Documentation supporting the appeal must accompany the appeal form where applicable.

Graduation Requirements

All advanced candidates must successfully:

• Complete the required credit hours with a 3.0 grade point average, with no more than two “C’s” and no grade lower than a “C”. See Academic Regulations and Policies .
• In addition to graduation requirements stated in the Academic Regulations and Policies , an approved portfolio is required, which addresses satisfactorily the ILA Standards (Special Reading) or the TESOL Standards (ELL). It is recommended that advanced candidates present their portfolios for evaluation by the fifth week of their final practicum course in the advanced candidate’s program. Advanced candidates must successfully pass the School of Education Disposition Instrument for Advanced Candidates for completion of the program. An advanced candidate cannot complete the program or be recommended for certification without an acceptable portfolio.
• An application for graduation is required before a completion statement is posted to the transcript. The application for graduation is available at MyPark under Student Academic Tools. Advanced candidates must return the completed form with the appropriate fee. 
• Upon meeeting all program graduation requirements, Advanced Candidates seeking endorsement from Park University for special reading certification must pass any content assessment(s) designated by the Missouri State Board of Education for additional certification(s).

Certification Requirements

Both program areas within the Master of Education with emphasis in Language and Literacy lead to certification through Missouri’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for Special Reading (K-12) or English Language Learners (K-12).  If interested, advanced candidates are responsible for applying online for certification through www.dese.mo.gov at the end of their program or at the point in which they meet all certification requirements (Contact your Academic Advisor for additional information). Endorsement from the designated certification official of an educator preparation program approved by DESE is required as part of the application process.  The certification official from Park University will endorse applications for certification for:

• Individuals who earn a MED with an emphasis in Language and Literacy (Special Reading or English Language Learners) from Park University as well as meet the state requirements for:
  • ED520 and/or ED527 (as needed for their program area) or the credit/course equivalent earned at Park University, transferred from another institution, or earned as part of a baccalaureate degree; and
  • Pass content assessment(s) designated by the Missouri State Board of Education for additional certification(s) for Special Reading or ELL.  Advanced Candidates should consult with their Academic Advisor regarding current Missouri Content Assessment (MoCA) requirements and testing availability for their program area(s).
• Non-degree seeking individuals should refer to the Endorsement Policy for Non-Degree Seeking Students in Graduate Programs Leading to Certification in Missouri.