• Skip to Content
  • AZ Index
  • Catalog Home
  • Institution Home
West Virginia University 2024-2025 Academic Catalog
WVU Home
Would you like to search this site specifically, or all WVU websites?
  • Catalog Home
  • WVU Morgantown
    • Undergraduate Catalog
    • Graduate/​Professional Catalog
  • WVU Potomac State College
    • Applied Sciences
    • Liberal Arts
    • STEM
    • Regents Bachelor of Arts
  • WVU Institute of Technology
    • School of Arts and Sciences
    • School of Business
    • School of Engineering-​Leonard C. Nelson
    • School of Nursing
  • Archived Catalogs
  • Catalog Home/
  • WVU Morgantown/
  • Graduate/Professional Catalog/
  • Applied Human Sciences/
  • School of Education/
  • Literacy Education
WVU Morgantown

Literacy Education, M.A.

  • Overview
  • Admissions Requirements
  • Masters
  • Learning Outcomes

Degree Offered

  • Master of Arts in Literacy Education 

Nature of the Program

The Master of Arts in Literacy Education graduate program earned National Recognition with Distinction from ILA. This program offers two graduate degree pathways.

Pathway 1 with Reading Specialist Certification

The Master of Arts in Literacy Education (LE) is a 30-credit hour online graduate degree with reading specialist licensure. 

  • This program prepares candidates with initial teaching certification for reading specialist certification.
  • Educational Testing Service (ETS) Praxis 5302, Reading Specialist, is required for state certification.
  • Candidates will be prepared to fulfill the roles of specialized literacy professionals as outlined by the International Literacy Association's (ILA) Standards for the Preparation of Literacy Professionals (2018). These roles include Reading Specialist, Literacy Coach, and Literacy Coordinator/Literacy Leader. 

Pathway 2 without Reading Specialist Certification

The Master of Arts in Literacy Education (LE) is a 30-credit hour online graduate degree. This program is open to those with an undergraduate degree seeking a Master of Arts in Literacy Education and do not have an initial teaching license. This pathway will not lead to initial teaching certification or reading specialist certification.

Admissions for 2025-2026

  • Bachelor’s degree with a minimum 2.75 GPA 
  • Valid state teaching license (Pathway 1 only)
  • Letter of recommendation 
  • WVU Graduate application for admission  https://admissions.wvu.edu/how-to-apply

Major Code: 5519

Major Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
A minimum GPA of 2.75 is required for graduation.
A minimum grade of C- is required in all coursework applied toward the major.
Required Courses
LE 620Specialized Literacy Professionals3
LE 621Knowledge of Literacy Instruction3
LE 622Disciplinary Literacy3
LE 623Early Literacy Instruction3
LE 624Foundations of Literacy3
LE 627Motivation and Engagement in Literacy Learning3
LE 640Literacy Intervention 13
LE 682Literacy Assessments3
LE 689Literacy Intervention 23
LE 726Literacy Leadership3
Total Hours30

Suggested Plan of Study

First SemesterHours
LE 6203
LE 6213
 6
Second SemesterHours
LE 6223
LE 6273
 6
Third SemesterHours
LE 6823
LE 6233
 6
Fourth SemesterHours
LE 6243
LE 6403
 6
Fifth SemesterHours
LE 6893
LE 7263
 6
Total credit hours: 30

Major Learning Outcomes

Literacy Education

The M.A. program in Literacy Education is aligned with the International Literacy Association’s Standards for the Preparation of Literacy Professionals (2018) and prepares candidates for roles including Reading Specialist, Literacy Coach, Literacy Coordinator/Literacy Leader. Accordingly, the specific outcomes of candidate participation and completion include:  

  • demonstrate knowledge of major theoretical, conceptual, historical, and evidence-based foundations of literacy and language, the ways in which they interrelate, and the role of the reading/literacy specialist in schools.
  • use foundational knowledge to design literacy curricula to meet needs of learners, especially those who experience difficulty with literacy; design, implement, and evaluate small-group and individual evidence-based literacy instruction for learners; collaborate with teachers to implement effective literacy practices.
  • understand, select, and use valid, reliable, fair, and appropriate assessment tools to screen, diagnose, and measure student literacy achievement; inform instruction and evaluate interventions; assist teachers in their understanding and use of assessment results; advocate for appropriate literacy practices to relevant stakeholders.
  • demonstrate knowledge of research, relevant theories, pedagogies, and essential concepts of diversity and equity; demonstrate an understanding of themselves and others as cultural beings; create classrooms and schools that are inclusive and affirming; advocate for equity at school, district, and community levels.
  • demonstrate the ability to meet the developmental needs of all learners and collaborate with school personnel to use a variety of print and digital materials to engage and motivate all learners; integrate digital technologies in appropriate, safe, and effective ways; foster a positive climate that supports a literacy-rich learning environment.
  • demonstrate the ability to be reflective literacy professionals, who apply their knowledge of adult learning to work collaboratively with colleagues; demonstrate their leadership and facilitation skills; advocate on behalf of teachers, students, families, and communities.
  • complete supervised, integrated, extended practica/clinical experiences that include intervention work with students and working with their peers and experienced colleagues; practica include ongoing experiences in school-based setting(s); supervision includes observation and ongoing feedback by qualified supervisors.

International Literacy Association (2018). Standards for the Preparation of Literacy Professionals 2017. Newark, DE: Author.

  • School of Counseling and Well-​being
  • School of Education
    • Educational Theory and Practice
    • Elementary Math Specialist
    • Literacy Education
    • Special Education
  • School of Sport Sciences

WVU Morgantown

Graduate/Professional Catalog Information

  • Academic and Professional Standards
  • Admissions
  • Advising, Enrollment and Evaluation
  • Calendar
  • Courses
  • Degree Regulations
  • FERPA
  • Financial Aid
  • Graduate Certificates
  • Programs, Courses and Credits
  • Tuition, Fees and Residency
  • Veterans

Office of the University Registrar
P.O. Box 6878
Morgantown, WV 26506
Email: registrar@mail.wvu.edu
Phone: 304-293-5355

  • Accreditations
  • Web Standards
  • Questions or Comments?

© 2024-2025 West Virginia University. WVU is an EEO/Affirmative Action employer — Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran.

  • A-Z Site Index
  • Campus Map
  • WVU Careers
  • Directory
  • Give
  • Handshake Login
  • WVU Alert
  • WVU Today
  • WVU Portal
  • WVU on Facebook
  • WVU on Twitter
  • WVU on YouTube

The information on this page is subject to change without notice. Disclaimer

Print Options

  • Send Page to Printer

    Print this page.

  • Download Page (PDF)

    The PDF will include all information unique to this page.

  • Download Complete 2024-25 PDF Catalogs

    • WVU Morgantown - Graduate/Professional
    • WVU Morgantown - Undergraduate
    • WVU Keyser - Potomac State College
    • WVU Beckley - WVU Tech
    • WVU Morgantown - Law

    Download 2024-25 PDF Courses Catalogs

    • WVU Morgantown - Graduate/Professional Courses
    • WVU Morgantown - Undergraduate Courses
    • WVU Keyser - Potomac State College Courses
    • WVU Beckley - WVU Tech Courses

Print Options

  • Send Page to Printer

    Print this page.

  • Download PDF of this page

    The PDF will include all information unique to this page.

  • Download Complete 2020-21 PDF Catalogs

    • WVU Morgantown - Graduate/Professional
    • WVU Morgantown - Undergraduate
    • WVU Keyser - Potomac State College
    • WVU Beckley - WVU Tech
    • WVU Morgantown - Law

    Download 2020-21 PDF Courses Catalogs

    • WVU Morgantown - Graduate/Professional Courses
    • WVU Morgantown - Undergraduate Courses
    • WVU Keyser - Potomac State College Courses
    • WVU Beckley - WVU Tech Courses