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**Review** Graduate Catalog 2025-2026

Literacy M.A.

 

Program Overview

College of Education and Behavioral Sciences

General Master's Degree Admission Requirements

View delivery options, start terms and admission requirements

Director: Jingzi (Ginny) Huang, Ph.D.

Location: McKee 216

Telephone: 970-351-2908

Website: www.unco.edu/cebs/teacher-education/

The Literacy M.A. graduate program prepare students to be inquiring practitioners who seek knowledge and experiences about literacy processes and practices.

These evolving scholars are guided and encouraged to pursue knowledge, commit to inquiry, engage in problem solving related to literacy processes and practices, and participate as leaders in literacy related activities. The inquiring practitioners learn to use literacy knowledge, practices, and processes to serve the changing technological, diversity, and literacy education needs of dynamic local and global environments.

There are several steps to the evaluation of the Literacy Program as well as to the evaluation of the students enrolled in the Literacy M.A. degree program. The evaluation process is ongoing. For admission into the Graduate School and admission into the Literacy M.A. degree program a student must complete and submit specific documents (Graduate School application, Literacy program application, three letters of reference and a resume) that Literacy program faculty members review and evaluate. As a student takes courses, they complete a university generated course evaluation form and may be asked to complete an instructor developed evaluation form. When a student reaches the mid-point of taking the eleven reading courses (after five courses), the student and the student’s advisor meet to complete a progress interview. The purpose of the interview is for the student to reflect upon their performance to date, as well as to make known their evaluation of the strengths and needs of the Literacy program. At the conclusion of all the Literacy M.A. degree coursework, a student completes a synthesis notebook and oral defense or completes a thesis. Following the successful completion of the synthesis notebook and oral defense or thesis defense, the student completes an exit survey evaluating all of the elements of the Literacy program that the student has participated in and completed. Two years after graduating from the Literacy program with a Master of Arts degree the student will be asked to complete another survey and to reflect on their overall program experience. 

Program Requirements:

Applicants must have one year of full-time teaching experience, an overall 3.0 GPA on the last 60 semester hours; must complete the Literacy program Application and have three letters of recommendation sent to the Coordinator of the Literacy Program in McKee Hall. Upon receiving formal notification of admission a student must meet with their assigned advisor to plan a program of study.

Degree Requirements — 30 Credits

Required Major Credits — 30 credits

ELIT 610Literacy Teaching

3

ELIT 615Family & Community Literacy

3

ELIT 621New Literacies

3

ELIT 623Classroom Literacy Research Design

3

ELIT 630Children's Literature

3

ELIT 631Content Literacy

3

ELIT 632Teaching Writing

3

ELIT 671Practical Literacy Assessment

3

ELIT 672Literacy Leadership

3

ELIT 693Capstone Literacy Seminar Implementing Research

3

Research

The following courses may be substituted for required courses as offered and with advisor consent:

ELIT 670Directing a School-Wide Literacy Program

3

ELIT 692Supervised Practicum in Literacy Coaching

4

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