News Release

College introduces master’s degree in literacy education

June 16, 2008

Penn State Harrisburg’s newest master’s degree program has been introduced in response to a voiced need from educational leaders in the region.

The Master of Education in Literacy Education “is aligned with the standards of the Pennsylvania Department of Education and has been developed to answer requests from superintendents and administrators for a graduate program focused on literacy education,” says coordinator Dr. Barbara Marinak.

“The objective of the program is to provide an enhanced, rigorous program of study for students pursuing a career in the field of literacy education from kindergarten through grade 12 by affording a more specialized, in-depth knowledge about the teaching of reading and writing,” she continues.

The 42-credit major includes 36 in literacy education and a six-credit capstone clinical practicum with the opportunity for students to also gain Reading Specialist Certification as part of their studies. “The program is in line with the requirements of No Child Left Behind as well as state certification regulations. In addition to maintaining our strong traditional core courses, the Literacy Education master’s will require new courses focused on teaching reading to English language learners and special education students. In addition, recognizing that literacy education includes expertise in the teaching of reading and writing, a new writing requirement has been added to the program,” Dr. Marinak adds.

In partnership with the Capital Area Writing Project, headquartered at the college, the writing requirement elective can also serve to certify the graduate student as a National Writing Project Fellow.

The Master of Education in Literacy Education is designed to meet the needs of: classroom teachers by expanding their knowledge and abilities in teaching reading and writing; teachers who choose to be a reading interventionist; or teachers who would serve in literacy coaching roles. The curriculum is not just focused on reading, but on diagnostic and prescriptive literacy instruction from kindergarten through grade 12.

Housed in Penn State Harrisburg’s School of Behavioral Sciences and Education, the program in Literacy Education becomes the 22nd master’s degree available at the college in addition to two associate, 32 baccalaureate, and two doctoral programs.