2018-19 Graduate Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2018-19 Graduate Catalog [Archived Catalog]

Literacy Department


Nance Wilson, chair
Tadayuki Suzuki, graduate coordinator
Cornish Hall, Room 1303
607-753-2705
Fax: 607-758-5006
Email: department secretary
cortland.edu/literacy

School of Education

Faculty

Michele Irvin Gonzalez, Mary-Jo Morse, Charlotte Pass, Katarina Silvestri, Tadayuki Suzuki, Nance Wilson

Adjunct Faculty

For a listing of adjunct faculty see the Faculty and Administration section of this catalog.

Degree and Admission Requirements

Master of Science in Education: Literacy Education 
 I. Literacy Specialist, Birth-Grade 6
II. Literacy Specialist, Grades 5-12

Literacy Addition Track

This Literacy Addition Track is only for those candidates who have completed one of the programs in SUNY Cortland's literacy master's degree who desire to obtain the other program.

This 12-credit hour program enables SUNY Cortland literacy master's graduates of the grades 5-12 program to obtain certification in the birth-grade 6 program and enables graduates of the birth-grade 6 program to obtain certification in the grades 5-12 program. Upon completion of either of these programs, candidates must apply for the additional certification on their own through the New York State Education Department (NYSED). Candidates must apply and be admitted to the Literacy Addition Track (Birth-6 or Grades 5-12).

To apply for either Literacy Addition Track (Birth-Grade 6 or Grades 5-12), send a letter of application to the chair of the Literacy Department detailing the reasons why this additional track is being sought.

Literacy Addition Track Grades 5-12

Candidates who are SUNY Cortland literacy master's degree graduates in the Birth-Grade 6 program will take the following courses for the additional track in Grades 5-12 for a total of 12 credit hours:

 
 
 
  

Literacy Addition Track Birth-Grade 6

Candidates who are SUNY Cortland literacy master's degree graduates in the Grades 5-12 program will take the following courses for the additional track in Birth-Grades 6 for a total of 12 credit hours:

 
 
 
  

Programs

Graduate

Courses

  • LIT 511 - Teaching Literacy in the Primary Grades

    The purpose of this course is to emphasize reading, writing, listening and speaking at the primary school level. Students will learn to assess and instruct primary grade students through class and tutoring sessions. In addition, students will investigate philosophy of literacy, related research, students with special needs, multicultural issues, the use of technology in tutoring and integrating content areas. Prerequisite: Admission to the M.S.T. Program. Undergraduates restricted. (3 cr. hr.)
    Frequency code B = offered at least once per year
  • LIT 516 - Teaching Literacy in the Intermediate Grades

    The purpose of this course is to emphasize reading, writing, listening and speaking at the intermediate school level. Students will learn to assess and instruct an intermediate-grade student through class and tutoring sessions. In addition, students will examine their philosophy of reading, related research, special needs, multicultural issues, the use of technology in tutoring and integrating content areas. Prerequisite: EDU 514. (3 cr. hr.)
    Frequency code B = offered at least once per year
  • LIT 525 - Discrete Literacy Instruction and Assessment

    Candidates will explore instruction, assessments and research trends regarding discrete literacy skills. Discrete literacy skills occur at the word and sentence level of the literacy processes. Skills and strategies to assist struggling readers in acquiring discrete literacy skills. Ten hours of field experience are required to complete this class.  

      (3 cr. hr.)
    Frequency code B = offered at least once per year

  • LIT 527 - Comprehension Instruction and Assessment

    Candidates will explore instruction, assessments and research trends regarding comprehension. Comprehension is the intentional, active and interactive process that helps readers to understand what they are reading. Provide candidates with the skills and strategies for assisting students who struggle in literacy. Fifteen hours of field experience are required to complete this class. (3 cr. hr.)
    Frequency code B = offered at least once per year
  • LIT 528 - Literacy Foundations

    Explores key theoretical underpinnings to research and instruction in literacy. Investigates current theories of reading/literacy and their historical roots as well as current trends in practice. Exploration of important relationships, including the connections between educational theory and practice. Prerequisite: LIT 525 or LIT 527 or LIT 535. (3 cr. hr.)
    Frequency code B = offered at least once per year
  • LIT 530 - Reading Recovery 1

    Training literacy intervention specialists with additional skills in working with at-risk students using Reading Recovery© teaching procedures. This class is part of a two-semester sequence to prepare teachers to implement specialized reading methods with young children most at risk for reading difficulty in the classroom context. This is the first class in the sequence where teachers observe, record, analyze and modify the reading and writing behavior of children and develop understandings of reading acquisition. Prerequisite: Students must be nominated by a participating school district and accepted into the Reading Recovery program. S, U grades assigned. (3 cr. hr.)
    Frequency code F = offered in fall
  • LIT 531 - Reading Recovery 2

    Training literacy intervention specialists with additional skills in working with at-risk students using Reading Recovery© teaching procedures. This class is part of a two-semester sequence to prepare teachers to implement specialized reading methods with young children most at risk for reading difficulty in the classroom context. This is the second class in the sequence where teachers observe, record, analyze and modify the reading and writing behavior of children and develop understandings of reading acquisition. Prerequisite: Students must be nominated by a participating school district and accepted into the Reading Recovery program. S, U grades assigned. (3 cr. hr.)
    Frequency code S = offered in spring
  • LIT 535 - Writing Instruction and Assessment

    Candidates will explore instruction, assessments and research trends regarding writing. Provide strategies to assist teaching students who struggle in literacy to improve their writing skills. Fifteen hours of field experience are required to complete this class. (3 cr. hr.)
    Frequency code B = offered at least once per year
  • LIT 539 - Reading and Writing Across the Curriculum

    This course is intended to provide graduate students with a firm understanding of how reading and writing can be developed through content area subjects. (3 cr. hr.)
    Frequency code A = offered every semester
  • LIT 540 - Current Issues in Assessment and Instruction Birth to Grade 6

    This course will explore developmental reading concepts. Students will explore trends and research in the field of literacy. A field experience equal to one credit hour is required. (4 cr. hr.)
    Frequency code A = offered every semester
  • LIT 549 - Literacy in the Middle and Secondary School

    Problems, learning theories related to reading and adolescence, causes of reading disabilities, diagnostic procedures, organizing developmental reading program. (3 cr. hr.)
    Frequency code A = offered every semester; M = offered in summer
  • LIT 550 - Current Issues in Assessment and Instruction: Grades 5-12

    Understanding the role of comprehension for all middle and secondary students will be emphasized through research, strategies, metacognition and assessment. Topics include background, vocabulary, graphic organizers, purposes, questioning, study skills and writing. Evaluating, selecting and using textbooks will also be examined. A field experience equal to one credit hour is required. (4 cr. hr.)
    Frequency code B = offered at least once per year
  • LIT 560 - Children's and Young Adult Literature in the Curriculum

    Candidates will explore the depth and breadth of contemporary children's and young adult literature and how this literature can be used to support struggling readers. Considers the specific genre of children's and young adult literature from a variety of theoretical and cultural lenses. In addition to providing a focused opportunity to read and discuss children's and young adult literature, pedagogical and cultural issues that arise when this genre becomes part of the classroom curriculum will be considered. (3 cr. hr.)
    Frequency code B = offered at least once per year
  • LIT 570 - Young Adult Literature

    Investigations of literature written for young adults, grades 5-12 with emphasis placed on reader response theory. (3 cr. hr.)
    Frequency code B = offered at least once per year
  • LIT 590 - Teaching and Learning Literacy in the Digital Age

    Candidates will focus on research and theory related to New Literacy Studies and the foundations of digital literacy, while building on traditional literacies. Candidates will research digital literacies, will reflect on instructional practices and materials involving traditional and digital literacies, and learn how digital literacies can impact change in educational contexts. Candidates will learn and teach strategies to address multi-modal literacy needs and practices.  Prerequisite: LIT 528. (3 cr. hr.)
    Frequency code B = offered at least once per year
  • LIT 610 - Seminar in Literacy History, Instruction and Research

    The history of literacy, literacy instruction in the United States and literacy research. (3 cr. hr.)
    Frequency code A = offered every semester
  • LIT 630 - Literacy and Society

    Explores connections between literacy and practices of the larger society. Readings cover a wide range of theories and perspectives. Introduces important theories in the field of literacy focused on issues of diversity. Prerequisite: LIT 528. (3 cr. hr.)
    Frequency code B = offered at least once per year
  • LIT 669 - The Literacy Specialist and The Literacy Program

    Requires candidates to synthesize information about literacy instruction and assessment to understand the properties of coherent literacy programs in K-12 schools. Candidates reflect on different approaches to reading within an understanding of policy and programmatic perspectives. Emphasis is given to the concept of reading specialists and literacy coaches as initiators, implementers and leaders of literacy programs. Fifteen hours of field experience are required to complete this class. Prerequisites: LIT 525, 527, 528 and 535 (3 cr. hr.)
    Frequency code B = offered at least once per year
  • LIT 682 - Assessment and Instruction of Learners Experiencing Literacy Difficulties

    Examines the theory and research surrounding issues involved in literacy acquisition and development difficulties with B-12 learners. Candidates learn to use a variety of assessment tools to understand why B-12 learners are experiencing difficulty in literacy acquisition and development, analyze assessment data to plan a program for assisting b-12 learners in their literacy development,and utilize appropriate curriculum materials and instructional techniques. Co-requisites: Either LIT 683 (B-6); or LIT 684 (5-12). (3 cr. hr.)
    Frequency code A = offered every semester
  • LIT 683 - Field Experience: Birth-6

    A field experience of 15 hours that requires the candidate to assess and instruct a learner experiencing literacy acquisition and/or developmental difficulties (B-6). Corequisite: LIT 682. (1 cr. hr.)
    Frequency code A = offered every semester
    Additional frequency code descriptions can be found in the Terminology Guide.
  • LIT 684 - Field Experience: Grades 5-12

    A field experience of 15 hours that requires the candidate to assess and instruct a learner experiencing literacy acquisition and/or developmental difficulties (grades 5-12). Co-requisite: LIT 682. (1 cr. hr.)
    Frequency code A = offered every semester
    Additional frequency code descriptions can be found in the Terminology Guide
  • LIT 690 - Assessment for the Specialized Literacy Professional

    Explore assessment and instructional methods, materials and research surrounding the literacy difficulties experienced by students from birth to grade 6 and grades 5 to 12. Complete an in-depth analysis of the literacy achievement of students in both the B-6 and 5-12 grade levels. Analysis will be used to plan and implement intervention with the students, individual, in small groups, at the classroom level, grade level and school wide.  Data will be used to understand the assessment-intervention cycle. Prerequisites: LIT 525, LIT 527, LIT 528, LIT 535, LIT 560, LIT 590, LIT 630 and LIT 669. Corequisite: LIT 693. (3 cr. hr.)
    Frequency code B = offered at least once per year, Frequency code M = offered in summer
  • LIT 693 - Applied Assessment and Instruction: Literacy Capstone and Practicum

     

    College-supervised practicum in the assessment and instruction of students experiencing literacy problems at both the B-6 and 5-12 levels with a minimum of 60 field experience hours required. A minimum of 30 clock hours is required at both levels with no fewer than 25 hours completed at any level. Attendance at seminar is also required.

    Candidates will complete an in-depth analysis of the literacy achievement of students, B-6 and 5-12. Candidates will use this analysis to plan and implement intervention with a small group of students at both levels. Candidates will use data to understand the assessment-intervention cycle at the school level. Candidates will complete program capstone project that will require them to integrate knowledge from all courses required in the Literacy Education M.S.Ed. program. Prerequisite: LIT 690. (6 cr. hr.)
    Frequency code B = offered at least once per year

  • LIT 697 - Extension of Graduate Culminating Activity

    This course is designed to serve as a continuation/extension of the culminating activity (i.e. thesis, comprehensive exam, and project) in the master's program. The student will continue to work toward meeting the necessary criteria for completing the culminating activity under the direction of department faculty and/or graduate advisor. S, U grades assigned. Permission of department. Repeatable. (1 cr. hr.)
    Frequency code A = offered every semester
  • LIT 698 - The Master's Project in Literacy Education

    The master's project is the culminating experience in the Literacy Education program and results in a Literacy Professional Portfolio. Through the portfolio preparation and presentation, candidates demonstrate comprehensive understandings of knowledge and practices in the teaching of literacy as well as an ability to apply these understandings in a variety of instructional settings. Candidates also must provide evidence that they have met all-college criteria for the master's degree and the New York State Education Department criteria for certification sought. The grade of E (failure) automatically is assigned for an incomplete at the end of one year. Initial certification must be issued before students can register for LIT 698. Prerequisites: All literacy courses; completion of 30-hour master's program. Initial certification must be issued before students can register for LIT 698. S, U grades are assigned. (3 cr. hr.)
    Frequency code A = offered every semester


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