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Be the Difference for Young Readers

Fredonia’s Literacy Education program prepares teachers to lead with purpose—and make a difference where it matters most. Designed for certified educators seeking professional certification in Literacy Education (Birth–Grade 12 or Grades 5–12), this advanced degree strengthens your career prospects while deepening your instructional power. At a time when schools are urgently seeking teachers who can raise reading outcomes and meet rising standards, literacy specialists are in high demand. Fredonia’s program gives you a competitive edge, empowering you with hands-on experience, deep pedagogical knowledge, and the flexibility of online and in-person learning. For students, it’s a bold step toward leadership in education. For parents, it’s a practical choice that opens the door to impactful and rewarding careers.

What You’ll Gain

  • Professional Certification - Earn advanced NYS certification in both your content area and literacy education—doubling your employability.
  • Instructional Leadership - Prepare for roles such as literacy specialist, reading coach, or curriculum coordinator with a strong foundation in literacy theory and practice.
  • Field-Based Experience - Engage in five structured, supervised field placements that connect coursework with real classroom practice.
  • Responsive Teaching Skills - Learn to plan, instruct, reflect, and respond effectively—skills that enhance student outcomes and set you apart as an educator.
  • Diverse Classroom Competency - Build inclusive, culturally responsive teaching strategies through coursework focused on diversity and equity.
  • Research-Based Practice - Ground your instruction in proven literacy frameworks and data-driven methods used in successful school systems.
  • Collaborative Learning - Join a cohort of motivated educators and work closely with faculty and local school partners across Western New York.
  • Flexible Online Option - Complete the Literacy Education (All Grades) program fully online, balancing your career with graduate study.
  • Career Mobility - Advance your opportunities in roles such as reading specialist, early childhood educator, special educator, or instructional coordinator.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

Career Opportunities for Literacy Education All Grades (Online)

  • Academic Intervention Services (AIS) Teacher
  • Elementary Classroom Teacher (with literacy specialty)
  • K-12 Literacy Program Developer
  • Literacy Specialist
  • Reading Specialist
  • English as a New Language (ENL/ELL) Teacher
  • Instructional Coach
  • Learning Support Coordinator
  • Middle or High School English/ELA Teacher
  • Special Education Teacher with literacy focus
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What does a sample degree look like?

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What does a Graduate Degree in Literacy Education: All Grades look like?

EDU 552 Introduction to Literacy Assessment

The course investigates the nature and process of literacy assessment, with an eye to the diagnosis of literacy difficulties. The course requires Candidates to develop competence in using a wide variety of literacy assessments and analyzing data in order to identify reading and writing problems.

EDU 579 Foundations of Literacy

The course encourages and prepares literacy educators to be sensitive to cultural and social needs of their diverse pupil population by studying relevant literature and case studies. In the course, literacy educators investigate the language-specific issues of sociology that permeate all social interactions in school and school-related environments whether spoken, non-verbal, or written.

EDU 628 Reading Specialist Practicum

The course is a field-based practicum taken at the same time as the Multicultural Children’s Literature and Technology course. It provides Candidates with a minimum of 25 hours of practicum as reading specialist, literacy coach and program leader with classroom teachers and parents.

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