GRADUATE PROGRAMS
FACULTY
Helen
R. Abadiano, Ph.D. (Chair)
Barry
A. Davies, Ed.D. (Professor Emeritus)
Elene
S. Demos, Ph.D.
Julia Kara-Soteriou, Ph.D
Catherine
Kurkjian, Ed.D.
Cara
M. Mulcahy, Ph.D.
Jesse
P. Turner, Ph.D.
Lynda M.
Valerie, Ph.D.
Kenneth J. Weiss, Ed.D
DEPARTMENT SECRETARY
Stephanie Waldman
(860) 832-2175
For more information
e-mail: <Abadiano@ccsu.edu>
Department Overview
The Department of Reading and Language Arts is committed to promoting
and enhancing quality instruction in reading and language arts.
Preparing literacy leaders for service in our communities is the
overarching mission of the department and is consistent with and closely
aligned to the theme of preparing leaders for service in our communities
embraced by the School of Education and Professional Studies. The
underlying principles of our mission are derived from our professional
standards as defined by the International Reading Association and NCTE
and by state mandates. Accordingly, the department offers a Master of
Science degree program and a Sixth-Year Certificate in Reading and
Language Arts. The Master of Science degree offers strands in Classroom
Instruction in Reading and Language Arts, and Corrective and Remedial
Reading and Language Arts. The master’s program also offers a strand in
Reading-Mathematics. The strand in Corrective and Remedial Reading and
Language Arts leads to a reading specialist certification by the State
of Connecticut. The Sixth-Year Certificate program may include
courses leading to a reading consultant certification by the State of
Connecticut. An Advanced Official Certificate Program in Reading and
Language Arts is also available for candidates who have completed a Master
of Science degree in Reading and Language Arts. All programs require
practicum, clinical, or field-based experiences under close supervision
in order to provide candidates with opportunities to apply their skills.
The Department of Reading and Language Arts collaborates with the Doctor
of Education in Educational Leadership program in offering a specialty
area in literacy leading to consultant certification. It is also home to
the Central Connecticut Writing Project under the National Writing
Project.
CCSU has contractual
arrangements with institution of higher education in Jamaica. Under the
auspices of these agreements the Reading and Language Arts Department
offers its master's degree to Jamaican educators wishing to update their
educational credentials. Fifteen credits of the program are offered on
site in Jamaica; candidates accepted to the program must attend 12
credits on the CCSU campus to complete all requirements.
Admission
To apply to the Department of Reading and Language Arts Master of
Science degree or Sixth-Year Certificate program, a candidate must submit
an application for graduate admission, official copies of transcripts,
and application fee directly to the School of Graduate Studies. Other
admission requirements for the Master of Science degree program in
Reading and Language Arts are explained in the admissions packet
which can be downloaded from the department website at <www.reading.ccsu.edu/
Applications/Program_Application.html>.
Admission requirements
include (1) letters of recommendation, (2) application essay, (3)
department interview, (4) teaching certification and experience
qualifications, and (5) basic computer literacy. A Connecticut teaching
certification and a special education course are required for candidates
seeking endorsement as remedial reading and language arts teachers or
reading and language arts consultants.
Candidates seeking endorsement as a Reading and Language Arts Consultant
in the State of Connecticut must apply to the School of Graduate Studies
and the Department of Reading and Language Arts for admission to the
Advanced Official Certificate Program. In addition to the general
requirements for admission to the Reading and Language Arts program, the
candidate must have completed a Master of Science degree in Reading and
Language Arts.
Program Requirements
Electronic Program Portfolio: An Electronic Program Portfolio (EPP)
is required of all Master of Science degree and Sixth-Year Certificate
candidates graduating from the Department of Reading and Language Arts.
EPP is also required for candidates in the Advanced Official
Certification Program. The candidate and the program advisor develop the e-portfolio during the
course work phase of the candidate’s program. The e-portfolio will be a
reflection of candidate competencies from areas recommended by the
Connecticut State Department of Education and the International Reading
Association. Evidence of membership to a state/regional, national and/or
international professional organization in Reading and Language Arts, as
well as attendance or participation in state/regional and/or
national/international conferences for each year a candidate is enrolled
in the program must be included in the e-portfolio.
Access to Central Pipeline:
All students are required to have access
to Central Pipeline. This may be obtained
online.
Program Evaluation:
Candidates in the Master of Science degree and Sixth74 SCHOOL OF
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL STUDIES Year Certificate program in Reading
and Language Arts must meet with their program advisors—for evaluation
of their academic performances, dispositions, and work experiences with
diverse groups— three times throughout their programs of study. A Master
of Science degree candidate must meet with his/her program advisor (1)
following completion of 15 graduate credits towards planned program of
study, (2) after 24 graduate credits toward planned program of study or
for approval for comprehensive exam or thesis writing, and (3) for final
evaluation during the graduation semester. A Sixth-Year degree candidate
must meet with his/her program advisor (1) following completion of 15
graduate credits toward planned program of study, (2) after 24 graduate
credits towards planned program of study or upon completion of RDG 696
Practicum for Reading and Language Arts Consultants, and (3) for final
evaluation during the graduation semester. Candidates in the Advanced
Official Certification Program must meet with program advisor for
evaluation of their academic performance, disposition, and work
experience with diverse groups, following an agreed evaluation schedule
as indicated in their planned program of study. All candidates are
expected to have their electronic program portfolios and Work Experience
with Diverse Groups charts accessible for evaluation. Failure to comply
with program evaluation schedule may result in a registration block the
following semester.
Planned Program of Graduate Study
Following
admission to the Master of Science degree and Sixth-Year Certificate
program in Reading and Language Arts, candidates must meet with their
assigned program advisors to complete planned programs of graduate
study. Only courses approved in the planned program of study will be
counted toward graduation.
Note: M.S. and
Sixth-Year Certificate candidates may transfer up to six credits of
courses, including on-line courses, from accredited institutions upon
recommendation of the program advisor and approval of the department
chair. No transfer credits will be allowed after a candidate’s planned
program of study has been approved.
MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE PROGRAMS
IN READING AND
LANGUAGE ARTS
Program
Rationale:
The Master of Science degree in Reading and Language Arts is
designed to prepare literacy professionals who are knowledgeable and
competent in providing quality support, to enhance students’
literacy learning, and who meet the standards for reading
professionals as defined by the International Reading Association
and by state mandates. The master’s program offers three strands.
Strand I: Classroom Instruction in
Reading and Language Arts (30 credits) is designed to prepare
teachers for teaching reading and language arts to diverse groups of
students in a classroom context. Strand II:
Reading- Mathematics (30 credits) is designed to prepare teachers to
teach both literacy and numeracy to diverse groups of students in a
classroom context. Strand III:
Corrective and Remedial Reading and Language Arts (30 credits) is
designed to prepare teachers to become reading specialists in
compliance with the state standards for advanced certification in
remedial reading and remedial language arts.
The candidate’s
planned program of graduate study totals a minimum of 30 credits and
must include the following: either Plan A: RDG 599 Thesis (6
credits) or RDG 599 (3 credits) and RDG 598 Seminar in Reading and
Language Arts Research (3 credits) or Plan B: RDG 598 Seminar in
Reading and Language Arts Research (3 credits) and Comprehensive
Exam, including a field of study (27 credits).
A planned program
of graduate study will be developed by the candidate and the program
advisor. Based on the program advisor’s evaluation of candidate’s
needs, background, and experiences in reading and language arts, a
candidate may need to complete additional coursework for his/her
planned program of graduate study and therefore may exceed the
minimum of 30 credits.
Program
Learning Outcomes:
The Master of Science degree program in Reading and Language Arts is
based on the IRA/NCTE standards for reading professionals. In order
to prepare knowledgeable and competent reading and language arts
classroom teachers and/or reading specialists, students in the
program are expected to: • meet the IRA standards for reading
professionals;
|
•
|
provide
leadership, through modeling and mentoring colleagues and other
support staff, and acquire a wide range of instructional practices,
approaches, methods, and curriculum materials to facilitate their
reading and writing instruction; |
|
•
|
be knowledgeable
in various assessments appropriate for a wide range of diversity in
the classroom, including technologically based assessments, and are
able to select, administer, and interpret assessments to enhance
student learning and to communicate results to educational
stakeholders; |
|
•
|
create a literate
environment to facilitate successful reading and writing for all
children; and |
|
•
|
continue to be
lifelong learners and scholars, through reading, research, and
professional development, and leaders in advocating to advance the
professional research base to expand knowledge-based practices.
|
Course and
Capstone Requirements:
Strand in
Classroom Instruction in Reading and Language Arts
(non-certification track)
The Strand in
Classroom Instruction in Reading and Language Arts totals 30
credits. The candidate’s planned program of graduate study requires
the following reading and language arts courses:
RDG 503
Developmental Reading in PK–12
RDG 585 Reading
in Content Area
RDG 589 Creative
Language Arts
and includes
courses from the following:
RDG 502 Current
Trends in Developmental Reading PK–12
RDG 569
Folktelling Art and Technique
RDG 578 Teaching
Writing in the Elementary Schools
RDG 579
Technology in Reading & Language Arts Instruction
RDG 582
Introduction to Critical Literacy
RDG 586 Literacy
Instruction for Diverse Populations I
RDG 587
Bibliotherapy
RDG 588 Teaching
Children’s Literature
Strand in
Reading-Mathematics (non-certification track)
The strand in
Reading-Mathematics totals 30 credits. The candidate’s planned
program of graduate study requires the following reading and
language arts courses:
RDG 503
Developmental Reading in PK–12
RDG 585 Reading
in Content Area
RDG 589 Creative
Language Arts
and includes
courses from the following:
RDG 502 Current
Trends in Developmental Reading PK–12
RDG 578 Teaching
Writing in the Elementary Schools
RDG 579
Technology in Reading and Language Arts Instruction
RDG 582
Introduction to Critical Literacy
RDG 586 Literacy
Instruction for Diverse Population I
RDG 588 Teaching
Children’s Literature
The remaining
12–15 credits are mathematics courses recommended by the department
of mathematical sciences.
Strand in
Corrective and Remedial Reading and Language Arts
(certification track)
The Strand in
Corrective and Remedial Reading and Language Arts totals 30 credits
and requires the clinical sequence—RDG 594, 595, and 596—and the
following courses:
RDG 503
Developmental Reading in PK–12
RDG 585 Reading
in Content Area
RDG 589 Creative
Language Arts The rest of a candidate’s planned program of graduate
study may include courses from the following:
RDG 502 Current
Trends in Developmental Reading PK–12
RDG 569
Folktelling Art and Technique
RDG 578 Teaching
Writing in the Elementary Schools
RDG 579
Technology in Reading and Language Arts Instruction
RDG 582
Introduction to Critical Literacy
RDG 586 Literacy
Instruction for Diverse Population I
RDG 587
Bibliotherapy
RDG 588 Teaching
Children’s Literature
SIXTH-YEAR CERTIFICATE
IN
READING AND LANGUAGE ARTS
Program Rationale:
The Sixth-Year Certificate in Reading and Language Arts program leads to
the award of the professional certificate. This program may include
course work required for endorsement as a Reading and Language Arts
Consultant in the State of Connecticut. The certification-track program
is designed to provide opportunities for the candidate to examine
reading and language arts from a perspective beyond classroom teaching.
The candidate’s planned program of graduate study is developed by the
candidate and the program advisor. Course requirements will be based on
the candidate’s needs in terms of fulfilling professional and personal
goals. Related areas of study may be developed in disciplines such as
Elementary Education, Educational Leadership, Educational Technology,
Mathematics, and Special Education. A minimum of 15 credits of 600-level
courses is required in both the certification track and the
non-certification track programs for the certificate.
Program Learning
Outcomes:
The Sixth-Year
Certificate in Reading and Language Arts program expands on CCSU’s
master of science degree program in reading and language arts and is
based on the IRA/NCTE standards for reading professionals. In order to
prepare knowledgeable and competent literacy professionals and/or
literacy coaches, students in the program are expected to:
|
• |
meet the IRA
standards for reading professionals and/or the Connecticut state
standards for advanced certifications in reading and language arts;
|
|
• |
provide leadership
through modeling and mentoring to ensure that classroom teachers and
other support staff acquire a wide range of instructional practices,
approaches, methods, and curriculum materials to facilitate their
reading and writing instruction; |
|
• |
be knowledgeable of
various assessments appropriate for a wide range of diversity in the
classroom, including technologically based assessments, and able to
mentor and support classroom teachers and other professionals in the
selection, administration, and interpretation of assessments to enhance
student learning and to communicate results to education stakeholders;
|
|
• |
support and mentor
classroom teachers and other professionals in creating a literate
environment to facilitate successful reading and writing for all
children; and |
|
• |
continue to be
lifelong learners and scholars, through reading, research, and
professional development, and leaders in planning and implementing
professional development programs for teachers and other professionals,
as well as in advocating to advance the professional research base to
expand knowledge-based practices. |
Course and
Capstone Requirements:
Reading/Language
Arts Consultant (certification track)
The candidate’s
planned program of study totals a minimum of 30 credits and must include
the following:
RDG 588 Teaching
Children’s Literature
RDG 692 Specialized
Diagnosis and Remedial Techniques
RDG 694 Organization,
Administration, and Supervision of Reading & Language Arts Programs
RDG 696 Practicum for
Reading and Language Arts Consultants
RDG 697 Practicum for
Reading and Language Arts Consultants II
RDG 698 Research
Seminar
Required
prerequisites:
RDG 503 Developmental
Reading in PK–12
RDG 585 Reading in
Content Area RDG 589 Creative Language Arts
RDG 594 Diagnosis of
Reading and Language Arts Difficulties
RDG 595 Remedial and
Corrective Techniques in Reading & Language Arts
RDG 596 Clinical
Practices in Reading & Language Arts
A candidate may need
to complete additional coursework for his/her planned program of study
and therefore may exceed the minimum of 30 credits.
Sixth-Year
Certification in Reading and Language Arts
(non-certification track)
Research (3 credits):
RDG 698 Research
Seminar
Related Area of Study
(6 credits)
Area of
Specialization (15–18 credits)
Electives (3–6
credits)
Required
prerequisites:
RDG 503 Developmental
Reading in PK–12
RDG 585 Reading in
Content Area
RDG 589 Creative
Language Arts
ADVANCED OFFICIAL CERTIFICATE
PROGRAM
IN READING AND
LANGUAGE ARTS
This is a non-degree
program providing coursework to lead to endorsement as a Reading and
Language Arts Consultant in the State of Connecticut. Candidates are
expected to have a Master of Science degree in Reading and Language Arts
and to take courses required by the State of Connecticut for Reading and
Language Arts Consultant Certification, including prerequisite courses
when necessary. The required courses are as follows, for a total of 15
to 27 credits of course work:
RDG 588 Teaching
Children’s Literature
RDG 692 Specialized
Diagnosis & Remedial Techniques
RDG 694 Organization,
Administration, and Supervision of Reading and Language Arts Programs
RDG 696 Practicum for
Reading and Language Arts Consultants
RDG 697 Practicum for
Reading and Language Arts Consultants II
Required
prerequisites:
RDG 594 Diagnosis of
Reading & Language Arts Difficulties
RDG 595 Remedial &
Corrective Techniques in Reading & Language Arts
RDG 596 Clinical
Practices in Reading & Language Arts
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