Literacy Department
Nance Wilson, chair
Tadayuki Suzuki, graduate coordinator
Cornish Hall, Room 1303
607-753-2705
Fax: 607-758-5006

Overview

Literacy applies to every single subject area, and our department offers a robust graduate program that provides two certifications. Enhance your passion for helping people learn to read, whether in school settings, employment situations or through community agencies. Build on the solid foundation of your bachelor's degree in teacher education and work toward earning your professional New York state teaching certifications in Literacy Birth to grade 6 and grades 5 to 12.

Program Highlights

The SUNY Cortland Master's degree in literacy examines critical topics in language and literacy development, children's literature and the effects of literacy on society. You'll gain key skills in assessment and instruction of learners from birth to grade 12 and those experiencing literacy difficulties. You'll also explore important issues in literacy history and research and the relationship of the literacy specialist to the literacy program. In addition, you'll apply theory to practice in field experiences and a literacy practicum.

Culminating Experience

In addition to fulfilling the specific requirements for state certification in Literacy, including workshops, you will be required to complete a capstone assignment that will be integrated into your literacy practicum.

Career Potential

SUNY Cortland-trained literacy interventionists are sought by school districts throughout New York state. You can take your knowledge and skills to the classroom or become a reading coach or specialist in a school or district setting.

You'll change the lives of students who have struggled to learn to read, helping them discover and surmount the obstacles to literacy and improving their ability to succeed — as students, professionals and members of society.

Graduate Admission

Evaluation Policy

At the State University of New York College at Cortland we seek a diverse and academically strong student body. Our admission policy and practice will not discriminate on the basis of age, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, national origin or marital status.

Required Materials

1. Completed online Graduate School Application - Apply Now
2. Official transcripts from all institutions of higher learning attended to be forwarded directly to SUNY Cortland Graduate Admissions Office
   Note: candidates for admission must present evidence of bachelor's degree conferral prior to the start of their academic program.
3. Documentation of teaching certification or initial teaching certification from an accredited program
4. Two recommendation checklists (submitted online with the application)
5. A statement demonstrating commitment to and interest in literacy education as well as an ability to write clearly and well (submitted online with application)
6. New York State mandates that all SUNY teacher preparation programs adopt college entrance assessments for admissions consideration. Anyone submitting an application for admission is required to submit scores for ONE of the following: the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) with a minimum score of 280, Miller Analogies Test (MAT) with a minimum score of 400, edTPA with a passing score as set by New York State, or the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators, with a minimum score of 450.

Admissions Criteria

Preference will be given to candidates with an overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 and above on a 4.0 scale.

Entry into the Literacy Department graduate program is very competitive, with more eligible applicants than can be accommodated. The GPA criterion listed above is the minimal acceptable requirement but does not guarantee admission into this degree program. The Literacy Department will evaluate all applications and make final admission decisions on all candidates. The final notification regarding admission is transmitted to the applicant from the Graduate Admissions Office. You should matriculate, that is be accepted and enrolled in the program, before beginning course work.

Applicants must have at least one course in special education in order to complete certification.

Graduate students may transfer up to six credit hours of graduate work from another regionally accredited institution. This approval will be dependent on when the course was taken and the applicability toward the student's program.

Transfer credit completed prior to enrollment at SUNY Cortland, or after matriculation at SUNY Cortland, must be approved by your graduate coordinator or advisor and the associate dean. Once you are enrolled in a SUNY Cortland program, if you are interested in taking courses elsewhere and transferring those to your SUNY Cortland degree you are advised to seek permission prior to enrolling in such course work.

Only courses with grades of B, that is 3.0, or better will be transferable. Transfer credit may be applied to the fulfillment of course requirements, but is not computed in the grade point average.

Deadlines

Fall semester applications: July 1
Spring semester applications: Dec. 1
Summer semester applications: April 1

Applications submitted after the deadline may be considered on a space availability basis.
Please contact the Graduate Admission Office at 607-753-4800 to check availability.