Literacy, M.Ed.

The purpose of a Master of Education degree in literacy is to prepare literacy professionals who will have an in-depth knowledge of literacy theories, processes, strategies, curriculum and research; who can use that knowledge to plan appropriate literacy programs and curricula for a variety of contexts; and who can communicate information to a wide variety of audiences.

• All Read to Succeed coursework completed.
• M.Ed. degree in Literacy with two endorsements in Literacy Teacher and Literacy Coach (Coaching strand for Elementary and Secondary) or certifications in Literacy Teacher and ESOL (ESOL strand).
• Acquisition of in-depth knowledge about literacy teaching and instruction rather than a general program of education that will transform your literacy teaching and your students’ literacy learning.
• Your development as a literacy leader who can support colleagues in literacy teaching and learning, particularly in relation to learners who are at-risk.

Admission to the Program 
Applications for the Master of Education in Literacy must be complete by the listed deadline below to be considered.  Admission decisions will be made shortly following the posted deadlines below. 

Application Deadlines
All application materials must be submitted by the following deadlines:

• November 15, All strands early decision applicants
• April 30, All strands (EXCEPT Secondary) to enroll in Summer
• June 15, Secondary strand only to enroll in Fall

Application Requirements
To be considered for the program, applicants must:

• Have completed a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or a recognized international university with a baccalaureate degree equivalent to a US bachelor's.
• Current teaching certificate.
• Submit a Graduate School application which requires:
  • Unofficial transcripts (Official transcripts will be required if you are accepted into the program.)
  • Competitive, official GRE scores (not required if the applicant has a 3.0 or higher undergraduate GPA) 
  • A current resume
  • Two letters of recommendation 
  • A personal statement describing applicant’s goals and teaching philosophy 
  • Official TOEFL/IELTS scores for international students

Additional information concerning supporting materials can be found here.

The MED Literacy program requires 36 credit hours of coursework. Additional requirements for certifications may include requisite years of teaching experience, PRAXIS exam, and other requirements as indicated by the SC State Department of Education.

Literacy Coaching Strand
Successful completion of the M.Ed. in Literacy/Coaching will result in the Read to Succeed endorsement, Literacy Teacher and Literacy Coach certification.

EDLT 8100 – Foundations of Reading and Writing
EDLT 8110 – Children's Literature
EDLT 8120 – Assessment in Reading and Writing
EDLT 8130 – Instructional Strategies
EDLT 8140 – Reading and Writing Instruction and Assessment for Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Students
EDLT 8150 – Guided Reading and Guided Writing
EDLT 8160 – Instructional Practicum: Differentiated Instruction for Literacy Learners
EDLT 8170 – Content Area Reading and Writing
EDLT 8180 – Organization, Administration, and Supervision in Literacy
EDLT 8190 – Coaching for Literacy Education
EDLT 8200 – Action Research in Coaching: Literacy Coaches as Agents of Change
EDLT 8210 – Practicum in Literacy Coaching

More About Coaching Strand

Secondary Strand
Successful completion of the M.Ed. in Literacy/ Secondary will result in the Read to Succeed endorsement, Literacy Teacher certification and Literacy Coach certification.

EDLT 8100 – Foundations of Reading and Writing
EDLT 8110 – Children's Literature (emphasis on YA and adolescent literature)
EDLT 8120 – Assessment in Reading and Writing
EDLT 8130 – Instructional Strategies (emphasis on Disciplinary Literacy)
EDLT 8140 – Reading and Writing Instruction and Assessment for Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Students
EDLT 8150 – Guided Reading and Guided Writing (Secondary emphasis)
EDLT 8160 – Instructional Practicum: Differentiated Instruction for Literacy Learners
EDLT 8270 – Content Area Reading and Writing
EDLT 8180 – Organization, Administration, and Supervision in Literacy
EDLT 8190 – Coaching for Literacy Education
EDLT 8200 – Action Research in Coaching: Literacy Coaches as Agents of Change
EDLT 8210 – Practicum in Literacy Coaching

Students may choose to substitute the following 2 courses (for 8200 and 8210) and not complete the Literacy Coach certification requirements:

EDLT 8280 Critical Issues in Instructional Coaching and School Leadership
EDLT 8290 Reflective Coaching Practice

More About Secondary Strand

ESOL Strand
Successful completion of the M.Ed. in Literacy ESOL will result in the Read to Succeed endorsement, Literacy Teacher certification, and ESOL add-on certification.

EDLT 8100 – Foundations of Reading and Writing
EDLT 8110 – Children's Literature EDLT 8120 Assessment in Reading and Writing
EDLT 8130 – Instructional Strategies
EDLT 8140 – Reading and Writing Instruction and Assessment for Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Students
EDLT 8150 – Guided Reading and Guided Writing
EDLT 8240 – Practicum in the Instruction of ESOL
EDLT 8170 – Content Area Reading and Writing
EDLT 8180 – Organization, Administration, and Supervision in Literacy
EDLT 8230 – Introduction to Linguistics
EDF 8250 – Cultural Diversity in the Classroom
EDLT 8220 – Principles and Strategies for Teaching English Speakers of Other Languages

More About ESOL Strand

Learn more about our literacy programs, interact with others considering the program, and have your questions answered.

2021 Virtual Information Session Dates

Virtual information sessions - literacy graduate program 

• • February 4, 2021 - 4:30-5:30 p.m. EST - Register here.
  • March 2, 2021 - 6-7 p.m. EST - Register here.

Virtual information session - literacy add-on certifications (offered in literacy teacher, literacy coach, literacy specialist, ESOL):

• • February 16, 2021 - 4:30-5:30 p.m. EST - Register here.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Tuition and Fees
Explore information on tuition and fees using the Student Financial Services’ tuition and fee calculator. (Be sure to choose the ‘online’ tab at the top of the page.)

S.C. Teacher Incentive
The Literacy M.Ed. offers a South Carolina Teacher Incentive reducing tuition by 10% for all in-state SC K-12 teachers/leaders.

Financial Aid
For information regarding Financial Aid, please contact the office of Student Financial Aid.

Literacy Teacher
The Literacy Teacher Certificate allows K-12 teachers to complete required coursework for the Literacy Teacher endorsement. In completing the four required courses, graduates establish a strong basis in the basic foundations literacy and are prepared to support the reading development of their K-12 classroom students. Those completing the certificate may submit their transcripts to the SC Department of Education.

Literacy Coach
The Literacy Coach Certificate provides coursework on the principles of coaching teachers and their students in literacy, opportunities to conduct school-based research in literacy coaching, and active engagement in school-based coaching experiences. Teachers strengthen their knowledge and skills as a literacy coach. The program of study allows K-12 teachers to complete required coursework for the Read to Succeed (R2S) Literacy Coach advanced endorsement by the SC Department of Education. Teachers may submit their transcripts to the SC Department of Education following successful completion of the course of study.

Literacy Specialist
The Literacy Specialist Certificate program provides content in advanced principles in literacy—theory, assessment, curriculum development and research. Completion of the certificate allows K-12 teachers to meet the requirements for the Read to Succeed (R2S) Literacy Specialist advanced endorsement by the SC Department of Education. Literacy Specialist will have developed the essential leadership skills and knowledge to address literacy needs, not just in English language art courses, but across content areas of instruction. Student may submit their transcripts to the SC Department of Education following successful completion of the course of study. The Certificate is a fully asynchronous online graduate certificate.

See Our ESOL Add-On Brochure

Clemson University College of Education offers the 5 courses required for the add-on certificate in Teaching English as a Second Language. Starting this summer, all courses are offered online. You must apply to CU as either a MED-LITR-E degree seeking student or a certificate seeking student before you can register for classes.

The application information for certification only is located at clemson.edu/graduate/admissions/apply. Choose “Certificate” as type of program.

* The in-state tuition discount does not apply to students in the ESOL Certification program.

Completing Your ESOL Certificate
In addition to completing the required coursework, to be certified, teachers must also pass the PRAXIS exam and apply to the SC Department of Education. Please refer to the South Carolina Teacher Certification Manual for the most current certification requirements: ed.sc.gov/policy/federal-education-programs/esea-title-iii/esol-add-on-certification-requirements/

For general information regarding the program, please contact Rebecca Kaminski at krebecc@clemson.edu.

For questions associated with applying to this program, please contact Alison Search at alisonp@clemson.edu or (864) 250-8880.