University of Southern Maine

Applied Literacy is a program option, leading to a Master of Science in Education degree. This option is available to those who have completed ETEP and will be offered by the existing Literacy Education program faculty. The purpose of this concentration is to provide an opportunity for ETEP students to complete their master’s degree in a focused area (literacy). The concentration in Applied Literacy builds upon the curriculum and experiences of ETEP, gives novice teachers increased skill in literacy, and leads to further opportunities for specialist certification, ESL endorsement, and/or a Certificate of Advanced Study in Literacy.

After completing ETEP with initial teacher certification, a student can complete the 18 to 21 credits required for the Master’s degree in approximately 1 ½ years. (Students have five years from matriculation in ETEP to complete the Applied Literacy degree.) Certification as a Literacy Specialist and endorsement in English as a Second Language require 12 and 9 additional credits beyond the degree, respectively. A student can combine the requirements to receive both of these credentials within a 30-credit Certificate of Advanced Study (CAS) degree in Literacy or English as a Second Language.

To apply for this program, please submit an Application for Admission to Applied Literacy program, application fee, a brief (1 to 2 page) statement explaining your reason for choosing to enter the Applied Literacy program, and one letter of recommendation from a mentor teacher or administrator who has observed your work with students to the Office of Graduate Admissions. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

Questions can also be directed to the Applied Literacy advisor: Denise Enrico, denrico@usm.maine.edu
780-5070
221 Bailey Hall

Outline of the Applied Literacy Options for ETEP graduates

ETEP Internship Year

Elementary level ETEP students take 6 credits in Literacy Education, EDU 565 and EDU 566, as part of the ETEP curriculum. All secondary (7-12) level ETEP graduates complete 3 credits in literacy study through EDU 514. At the end of the ETEP year, students have accumulated a total of 33 graduate credits, 3 to 6 of them in Literacy, and have met the requirements for certification as classroom teachers.

Additional requirements to complete the master’s degree in Applied Literacy:

All ETEP graduates: (15 credits)

• EDU 600 Research Methods
• EDU 511 Children’s Literature or EDU 513 Adolescent Literature
• EDU 622 Organizing and Managing Literacy Instruction, PS-3 or
  EDU 521 Electronic Literacy in Education
• EDU 639 Practicum in Literacy Instruction (6 credits)

Additional requirement For K-8 graduates: (3 credits)

• EDU 514 Improving Teaching of Reading/Writing in Content Areas

Additional requirements for 7-12 graduates: (6 credits)

• EDU 565 Teaching Reading OR
  EDU 620 Reading Development and instruction
• EDU 566 Introduction to Writing Process OR
  EDU 626 The Writing Process

Total: 51 to 54 credits, Master of Science degree in Education, Applied Literacy Concentration (18 to 21 credits beyond ETEP)

Additional requirements to obtain Maine certification as Literacy Specialist (subject to change as needed to align with state certification standards)

• EDU 607 Teacher Research in Literacy
• EDU 621 Problems in Literacy: Assessment and Instruction
• EDU 562 Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in the Classroom
• EDU 634 Seminar in Literacy Research
• Comprehensive Examination
• Demonstration of leadership and ability to mentor other teachers in instructional settings.

Additional requirements for Maine endorsement in English as a Second Language (subject to change as needed to align with state certification standards)

• EDU 559 Aspects of Reading for Multilingual Learners
• EDU 561 Aspects of English
• EDU 563 ESL Testing and Assessment

Additional requirements for Certificate of Advanced Study in Literacy

All courses listed in 3 and 4 above, plus:

• EDU 660 CAS Seminar
• Capstone: EDU 665 Directed Study
• 3 credit elective

Students who choose to pursue this plan for continuing professional development could earn any or all of these credentials in the following timeline:

Year 1-2 (after ETEP): Master’s degree in Literacy Education, Applied Literacy concentration
Year 3: One professional certification (Literacy or ESL)
Year 4: Additional professional certification (Literacy or ESL)
Year 5: Certificate of Advanced Study, with both professional certifications

Application for Admission to the Applied Literacy Program (PDF)

For more information, contact:
Office of Graduate Admission
(207) 780-4386
(800) 800-4USM
TTY: (207) 780-5646

Program Co-Coordinators:

Henry Amoroso
Literacy Education Program
(207) 780-5400

Denise Enrico
Literacy Program
(207) 780-5400