MA in Language and Literacy
Total units required for MA: 30
Program Description
The Master of Arts in Language and Literacy is designed for the administrator, the classroom teacher, and the specialist teacher of language and literacy for all types of children, youth, and adults. The program includes required courses in the field of language and literacy. Students will do practical work with struggling readers, examine literacy in educational contexts, and read and do research in the field of literacy.
NOTE: At completion of all requirements plus EDLL 206B course, the student can be recommended to the Commission on Teacher Credentialing for the Reading and Literacy Leadership Specialist Credential.
Admission Requirements
Applicants who have deficiencies in admission requirements that can be removed by specified additional preparation may be admitted with conditionally classified graduate status. Any deficiencies will be noted on a written response to the student's admission application.
Admission Procedures
Prospective graduate students, including Sacramento State graduates, must file the following with the Office of Graduate Studies, Riverfront Center 215, (916) 278-6470:
- an online application for admission through Cal State Apply; and
- one set of official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended, other than Sacramento State.
For more admissions information and application deadlines, please visit the Office of Graduate Studies website.
The graduate degree program is subject to general University and Departmental requirements. These requirements are explained in the Graduate Degree Requirements section of the University Catalog.
Specific Additional Admission Requirements
Admission as a classified graduate student in Language and Literacy requires:
- a minimum 3.0 GPA in the last 60 units attempted; and
- an essay for acceptance into the Masters program is required.
- a valid California Teaching Credential is not required, but may be included in the application.
Applicants who have deficiencies in admission requirements that can be removed by specified additional preparation may be admitted with conditionally classified graduate status. Any deficiencies will be noted on a written response to the student's admission application.
Minimum Units and Grade Requirement for the Degree
Units required for the MA: 30
Minimum cumulative GPA: 3.0; no units with a grade lower than "C" may apply toward the degree.
General Advancement to Candidacy Procedures
Each student must file an application for Advancement to Candidacy indicating a proposed program of graduate study. This procedure should begin as soon as the classified graduate student has:
- removed any deficiencies in admission;
- completed at least 12 units of courses in the graduate program (see Degree Requirements) with a minimum 3.0 GPA; and
- taken a Graduate Writing Intensive (GWI) course in their discipline at California State University, Sacramento.
Advancement to Candidacy forms are available online through the Office of Graduate Studies website. The student fills out the form after planning a degree program in consultation with the appropriate M.A. Program Coordinator.
Approved Master's Thesis/Project Format: American Psychological Association (APA) - Latest edition. Before beginning a 500-level course to complete a Project, Action Research, or Thesis, students are required to have an approved Culminating Experience Proposal on file in the Department office. The reservation form for a Culminating Experience Chair for fall semester is due March 10; for spring the form is due October 15. Note: A completed Proposal requires the approval of the Culminating Experience Chair as well as Human Subjects approval. The proposal and accompanying Protection of Human Subject forms must be reviewed by the EDLL Graduate Coordinator and the Department or University Human Subjects Review Committee.
Enrollment in the 500 series Culminating Experience is for one semester. The expectation is that students will complete the thesis/project during the 500-level course. One semester of continuous enrollment is allowed if the Culminating Experience Chair deems a reasonable amount of progress has been made as per the timeline in the Proposal and assigns a grade of "RP" for the 500 series. If students fail to make adequate progress according to their Proposal timeline and there are no mitigating circumstances (e.g., illness), a grade of "no credit" is given, and the student must re-enroll in the appropriate 500 series Culminating Experience.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core Courses (27 Units) | ||
| EDLL 200 | Practicum in Decoding and Fluency: Assessment and Instruction | 3 |
| EDLL 201 | Practicum in Comprehension: Assessment and Instruction | 3 |
| EDLL 203 | Teaching and Assessing Writing in the Pre-K through 12 Classroom | 3 |
| EDLL 205 | Psychology and Sociology of Literacy Instruction | 3 |
| EDLL 202 | Language and Literacy Development in Multicultural Settings | 3 |
| EDLL 206 | Leadership In Literacy | 3 |
| EDLL 207 | Advanced Practicum in Reading Difficulties: Assessment and Intervention | 3 |
| EDLL 209 | Literature for the Diverse Pre- K through 12 Classroom: Issues, Models and Strategies | 3 |
| EDLL 250 | Education Research | 3 |
| Culminating Requirement (3 Units) | ||
| EDLL 503 | Culminating Experience: Language and Literacy 1 | 3 |
| Total Units | 30 | |
- 1
Credit is given upon completion of a thesis or project for the Master of Arts in Language and Literacy. Open only to the graduate student who has been advanced to candidacy for the master's degree and has secured the permission of their Culminating Experience Chair and the Language and Literacy Program Coordinator.