Master of Education in Literacy Studies

A 100% ONLINE PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR THE BUSY TEACHER’S LIFESTYLE.  

You’re passionate about your students and you know that literacy skills build the foundation of a child’s ability to learn. That’s why earning your master of education is about more than stepping forward in your career. It’s about developing the skills and knowledge to improve your students’ futures.

The Master of Education in Literacy Studies program at Coker College is an online program, allowing teachers to remain in the classroom while completing their coursework online. It aligns with goals and initiatives set forth by the state of South Carolina and prepares you for the future of education.

Graduates will qualify for the South Carolina Department of Education’s Literacy Teacher add-on certification. As a Certified Literacy Teacher, you can maximize your impact in the classroom and qualify for advanced positions.  

CAREER PATHS

Graduates of the program may pursue the following career paths:

Key Classes for your success

Literacy Instruction and Assessment for Diverse Students & Struggling Readers

Explores the challenges facing students at all grade levels who struggle to achieve expected progress in reading and writing development. Emphasis will be placed on the nature of difficulties, language acquisition theory, appropriate assessments, and culturally responsive instructional strategies.

Reading and Writing in the Content Areas

Provides in-depth analysis and application of instructional strategies to build students’ reading and writing competencies in content area settings. Instructional strategic approaches focus on helping students meet the demands of reading and producing complex texts, developing vocabulary, and learning with both print and digital texts.

Creative Pedagogy in the Literacy Classroom

Provides opportunities to explore the purposes and strategies for using diverse children’s literature across the curriculum to meet the learning needs of all children. Topics discussed will include read alouds, thematic teaching, storytelling, and writing. Emphasis will also be placed on ways to stimulate creativity and critical thinking.

WHY COKER UNIVERSITY?

LEARN MORE

Want to learn more about the Master of Education in Literacy Studies program? Download our Program Preview for a full list of course descriptions, or contact admissions today at 1-800-950-1908. 

Excellence in Teaching Scholarship

Because all great teachers are worthy of our investment, we are offering a scholarship for any Teacher of the Year (past or present) who wants to further his or her education. In addition, two outstanding teachers will receive a full scholarship for their Master of Education at Coker College.

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  1. Cost & Aid

    Estimated Total Tuition Cost (15 months)

    Total Credit Hours 33 Hours
    Tuition Per Credit Hour $542
    TOTAL $17,866*

    Additional Expenses (per year)

    Coker Advantage (Tech) Fee $176 ($22 per term)

    *Estimated total costs are based upon current year figures and do not include the cost of course materials or possible increases for courses offered in a new fiscal year.

  1. Learning Outcomes

    To gain admission to the Master of Education in Literacy Studies program, an applicant must hold a bachelor’s degree with from a college or university accredited by an agency recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation with an overall GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Students with a lower undergraduate grade point average may be reviewed for admission by program faculty. Successful candidates will have obtained their Initial Educator Licensure and have at least one year of teaching experience (PK-12). 

    Additionally, students will be required to submit a portfolio of materials including the following:

    • Official transcripts from all undergraduate and/or graduate institutions attended
    • A one page personal statement (400-500 words) describing the applicant’s teaching philosophy
    • Copy of initial teaching certification
    • Professional resume (demonstrating completion of at least one year teaching in a PK-12 classroom)
    • Two professional letters of recommendation (one letter of recommendation must be from the applicant’s principal/assistant principal) 

    Admission documents may be submitted electronically and should be sent to masters@coker.edu. If you have questions, please feel free to call 843.857.4139. 

  1. Course Sequence

    Students in the Master of Education in Literacy Studies program take one course per six-week term, for a total of 11 terms (33 credit hours). 

    This program has one entry point per year, each June. Graduate students will take one course at a time in a cohort model. For more information, please email masters@coker.edu.

    Below is a sample course sequence. (Actual course sequence may vary.)

    START DATE END DATE CLASS ID CLASS NAME
        EDLS 500 Foundations of Reading
        EDLS 540 Literacy Strategies for Developmentally Responsive Instruction
        EDLS 550 Literacy Instruction and Assessment for Diverse Learners and Struggling Readers
        EDLS 515 Classroom Inquiry
        EDLS 520 Literacy Assessment
        EDLS 552 Practicum: Literacy Instruction and Assessment for Diverse Learners and Struggling Readers
        EDLS 690 Literacy Action Research and Seminar
        EDLS 525 & EDLS 530 Developing Literacy through Text Selection: Traditional Print and Digital Literacies; Reading and Writing in the Content Areas
        EDLS 510 Development and Learning
        EDLS 570 Creative Pedagogy in the Literacy Classroom
        EDLS 580 Literacy Teachers as Instructional Leaders

Meet Your Mentors

Susan Henderson

Susan Henderson

Provost and Dean of the Faculty

“Coker has been an important part of my life since childhood and a source of wonderful memories over several decades. Completing my teaching credential in…

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Karen Carpenter

Karen Carpenter

Associate Professor of Education; Dean of the Wiggins School of Education; Director of the Teacher Education Program; Coordinator of the Literacy Studies Graduate Program; Coordinator of the Curriculum and Instructional Technology Graduate Program;

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Ryan Higgins

Ryan Higgins

Associate Professor of Education

  “Having just graduated with my Ph.D., I drove 11 hours with my husband to complete an onsite interview. As soon as I met the Wiggins School of…

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Senokossoff

Gwyn Senokossoff

Assistant Professor of Education; Coordinator of the Elementary Education Program

“I came to Coker University in 2015 after spending 30 years teaching at both the elementary and college levels. I grew up in Charleston, South Carolina, and…

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Casey Gilewski

Assistant Professor of Education

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