
The Master of Arts (MA) in Literacy Specialist K-12 program is designed for certified teachers who want to deepen their expertise in reading and writing instruction. This program focuses on developing advanced strategies and techniques to improve literacy skills for learners of all ages, from young children to adults. Graduates will be equipped to assess literacy capabilities, design individualized reading plans, and implement effective remediation strategies. The program can also lead to literacy specialist certification through the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE).
This program prepares educators to become literacy specialists, enabling them to support students with diverse reading and writing needs across K-12 settings. Graduates can work as reading specialists, interventionists, or consultants in schools.
Students may opt to complete only the courses required for literacy specialist certification without pursuing the master's degree. Undergraduate reading courses do not count towards the MA but may count towards DESE certification. If the DESE-required classes and core MA courses total fewer than 33 hours, additional education electives must be taken to complete the MA degree.