Purpose

The Master of Education with emphasis in Language and Literacy is designed with two 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 International Literacy Association’s Standards for Reading Professionals (2010 revision). 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.
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 National TESOL Standards 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.

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.

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.

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.

Program Requirements

The coursework for this 30-credit hour area 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 Literacy Practicum I.

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 International Literacy Association Standards or the TESOL Standards (depending on the program) for teacher certification. An advanced candidate cannot complete the program or be recommended for certification without the portfolio. The portfolio must be presented by the fifth week of the last term of the student’s program.

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 Policies  under the Academic Standards section of this catalog for more information.
• In addition to graduation requirements stated in the Academic Policies section, an approved portfolio is required, which addresses satisfactorily the ILA Standards (Special Reading) or the TESOL Standards (ELL) for certification. The portfolio must be presented by the fifth week of the last term 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 www.park.edu/graduation. Advanced candidates must return the completed form with the appropriate fee. See the Graduation Requirements  section in this catalog.