Literacy and Elementary Education

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Chair: Jennifer Berne

Graduate Faculty

Sonya L. Armstrong, associate professor, Ed.D., University of Cincinnati
Jennifer Berne, associate professor, Ph.D., Michigan State University
Chris L. Carger, professor, Ph.D., University of Illinois, Chicago
James A. Cohen, assistant professor, Ph.D., Arizona State University
Mayra C. Daniel, associate professor, Ed.D., Illinois State University
Laurie Elish-Piper, Distinguished Teaching Professor, Presidential Engagement Professor, Ph.D., University of Akron
Mary Beth Henning, associate professor, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
Sheryl L. Honig, assistant professor, Ph.D., University of Illinois, Chicago
Paul Kelter, Board of Trustees Professor, Ph.D., University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Melanie D. Koss, assistant professor, Ph.D., University of Illinois, Chicago
Susan L’Allier, associate professor, Ed.D., Harvard University
Dong-shin Shin, Ed.D., University of Massachusetts, Amherst, assistant professor
Eui-kyung Shin, associate professor, Ph.D., University of South Carolina
John Evar Strid, assistant professor, Ph.D., Northwestern University
Donna E. Werderich, associate professor, Ed.D., Northern Illinois University
Corrine M. Wickens, assistant professor,  Ph.D., Texas A&M University
C. Sheldon Woods, associate professor, Ph.D. Kansas State University

The Department of Literacy and Elementary Education offers the M.A.T. specialization in elementary education, M.S.Ed. degrees in elementary education and in literacy education and the Ed.D. degree in curriculum and instruction with two specializations: literacy education, and science, social studies and environmental education integration. A list of requirements for each program is available in the department office. Several courses of study leading to licensure, endorsement, and teacher approval are also offered. The department offers course work in reading, the language arts, children’s literature, bilingual education, English as a second language, social studies, science education, elementary educator licensure, and multicultural education.

Master of Arts in Teaching

Master of Science in Education
Elementary education
Literacy education

Doctor of Education Curriculum and instruction

Internships

The Department of Literacy and Elementary Education offers graduate internships in literacy fields including reading, language arts, children’s literature, bilingual education, English as a second language, and adult literacy. For further information and internship possibilities, see course descriptions and consult with an adviser.

Endorsement at the Graduate Level

The K-12 reading specialist program is designed for teachers who wish to gain additional competencies which will enable them to work effectively with learners, teachers, and K-12 school-community personnel in improving reading instruction in the schools. As teachers progress through the program, they have the opportunity to meet the requirements for reading teacher (24 semester hours in reading) and/or reading specialist (32 semester hours in reading).

Course work in Bilingual/English as a Second Language meets all Illinois State Board of Education standards and leads to state endorsement to work with English language learners as an English as a second language teacher and/or as a bilingual teacher

This endorsement consists of 18 semester hours and must be attached to elementary or secondary licensure. Students may use these hours toward a Master’s Degree in Literacy Education (33 semester hours) with an emphasis on Bilingual/ESL.

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