The new master of education in literacy at Indiana State University is an innovative, state-of-the-art graduate program for elementary school teachers.  This program is designed for students interested in preparing for National Board Certification.  The program emphasizes the core propositions of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.  Students will develop an area of concentration in literacy education, focusing on diversity, action research, and technology while completing course requirements to professionalize an Indiana elementary license.

This literacy program was developed to keep pace with current models of literacy and recent research and to reflect the movement toward performance standards and assessment.  We believe that our program is based on current ideas about teaching, learning, and professionalism, such as:

• Teaching is an ongoing process of self-improvement.

• Teaching is collegial work.

• Teaching should focus on student learning.

Students graduating from this program have increased knowledge of theory and practice in literacy instruction at the elementary school level.  Specifically, students learn about current programs in literacy instruction, terminology of current cutting-edge literacy programs in English-speaking countries, formal and informal assessments and their use in classrooms, and hardware and software for developing state-of-the-art literacy instruction.

Admission requirements are standard for the institution.  The program is designed to meet the needs of in-service teachers who would like to complete a master’s degree in eighteen months.  It serves the needs of currently employed professionals and recent graduates who want to complete a master’s degree in a concentrated period of time.  Students who are enrolled in the degree program are eligible for scholarship assistance and graduate assistantships.

• Complete your master’s in eighteen months.

• The program is fun, innovative, and responsive to individual needs.

• Indiana academic standards are integrated with various reading approaches.

• Graduate courses from other universities may transfer.