This program, which emphasizes early childhood education and literacy, is designed to assist undergraduate students in becoming highly competent and effective teachers of children in PreK through Grade 4. As undergraduates, students in this program meet the academic requirements for certification in Early Childhood Education and earn a bachelor of science in education degree. Students enrolled in this program have the opportunity to apply for Early Admission to the School of Graduate Studies and Research and begin taking graduate courses that apply toward the MEd—Literacy program.
Upon successful completion of the required graduate course work, candidates become certified as Reading Specialists in PreK through Grade 12 and earn a master of education degree with a major in Literacy. This program prepares students to become professional educators who are well-qualified to utilize appropriate techniques and strategies to expand children’s cognitive, language, social, emotional, and physical development. During the semester in which they surpass 60+ credits, students follow the School of Graduate Studies and Research Early Admission Policy and apply for early admittance to the MEd—Literacy/Reading Specialist program at IUP. A minimum 3.00 GPA is required to apply for early admittance to the graduate program. Once accepted for early admission to this program, students begin taking graduate courses in Literacy to work toward earning Reading Specialist Certification and a master of education degree with a major in Literacy.
Acceptance into the graduate program is contingent upon the student maintaining and graduating with a 3.0 minimum GPA. Students who are accepted for early admission into the MEd–Literacy program take the following courses as undergraduates, as long as they continue to have at least 60+ credits and a minimum 3.0 GPA:
LTCY 635 Differentiated Literacy Instruction to Meet the Needs of All Learners (in place of EDEX 323 ); LTCY 644 Writing Development and Instruction (in place of ECED 425 ); and LTCY 701 Assessment and Acceleration (in place of CDFR 310 ). A minimum 3.0 GPA is required to apply for teacher certification, to take major courses in the department, student teach, graduate with the BSEd degree, and be accepted into the MEd—Literacy program.
See requirements leading to teacher certification, titled “3-Step Process for Teacher Education,” in the College of Education and Communications section of this catalog.