Literacy Education, M.S.Ed.

M.S. Ed. student assists child during a writing assignment in the classroom.

Overview

Earn a master’s degree online in as little as one year at SUNY Oneonta! Our flexible, online M.S.Ed. in Literacy Education can be completed full or part time and leads to an All Grades certification. You’ll meet the educational requirements to receive professional teaching certification in New York State. If you already have a master’s in education, you may be able to get certified in Literacy Education by taking only a few graduate courses.

Register for an Information Session

Department

Elementary Education and Reading Department

Program Type

Graduate Program

Area of Study

Education

Delivery Mode

Online

What You’ll Learn

SUNY Oneonta has a strong track record of training teachers at both the undergraduate and graduate levels, and we were the first college in New York State to offer an online literacy education program.

Our innovative curriculum includes clinical experiences that will immerse you in inquiry pedagogy and prepare you to foster creativity, research skills, collaboration and other 21st century competencies in your future students. Many of our program graduates continue incorporating inquiry in their classrooms in creative ways and have become leaders of this type of teaching in their school districts. 

Literacy clinics are an important part of this program. In online literacy clinic courses, students tutor children in educational institutions and videotape some of the interactions.

Requirements

See the list of required courses for your program of study.

Plans of Study

These sample plans are not the definitive or only path toward degree completion. For individualized guidance, please consult your advisor.

Option 1: 3 semesters

Summer 1
  1. EDUC 5840
  2. EDUC 6310
  3. EDUC 5350
  4. EDUC 5450
Fall 1
  1. EDUC 6296
  2. EDUC 6360
  3. EDUC 6221
Spring 1
  1. EDUC 6410
  2. EDUC 6220
  3. EDUC 6340

Option 2: 5 semesters

Summer 1
  1. EDUC 5840
  2. EDUC 6310
Summer 2
  1. EDUC 6340
  2. EDUC 5450
Fall 1
  1. EDUC 6221
  2. EDUC 6296 
Fall 2
  1. EDUC 6410
  2. EDUC 5350
Spring 1
  1. EDUC 6360
  2. EDUC 6220 

Option 3: 6 semesters

Summer 1
  1. EDUC 5840
  2. EDUC 6310
Summer 2
  1. EDUC 6340
  2. EDUC 5450
Fall 1
  1. EDUC 6221
  2. EDUC 6296 
Fall 2
  1. EDUC 5350
Spring 1
  1. EDUC 6360
  2. EDUC 6220 
Spring 2
  1. EDUC 6410

Option 4: 7 semesters

Summer 1
  1. EDUC 5840
Summer 2
  1. EDUC 5450
  2. EDUC 6221
Summer 3
  1. EDUC 5350
Fall 1
  1. EDUC 6296
  2. EDUC 6310 
Fall 2
  1. EDUC 6410
Spring 1
  1. EDUC 6360
  2. EDUC 6220 
Spring 2
  1. EDUC 6340

Option 5: 8 semesters

Summer 1
  1. EDUC 5840
Summer 2
  1. EDUC 5450
Summer 3
  1. EDUC 6340
Fall 1
  1. EDUC 6296
  2. EDUC 6310 
Fall 2
  1. EDUC 5350
Fall 3
  1. EDUC 6221
Spring 1
  1. EDUC 6360
  2. EDUC 6220
Spring 2
  1. EDUC 6410

Option 1: 3 semesters

Fall 1
  1. EDUC 5840
  2. EDUC 6360
  3. EDUC 6310
Spring 1
  1. EDUC 6410
  2. EDUC 6296
  3. EDUC 6340
Summer 1
  1. EDUC 5350
  2. EDUC 5450
  3. EDUC 6221
  4. EDUC 6220


Option 2: 5 semesters

Fall 1
  1. EDUC 5840
  2. EDUC 6310
Fall 2
  1. EDUC 6360
  2. EDUC 5350
Spring 1
  1. EDUC 6220
  2. EDUC 6296 
Spring 2
  1. EDUC 6410
  2. EDUC 6340
Summer 1
  1. EDUC 6221
  2. EDUC 5450


Option 3: 6 semesters

Fall 1
  1. EDUC 5840
  2. EDUC 6310
Fall 2
  1. EDUC 6360
  2. EDUC 5350
Spring 1
  1. EDUC 6220
  2. EDUC 6296 
Spring 2
  1. EDUC 6410
Summer 1
  1. EDUC 6221
  2. EDUC 5450
Summer 2
  1. EDUC 6340

Option 4: 7 semesters

Fall 1
  1. EDUC 5840
  2. EDUC 6310
Fall 2
  1. EDUC 6360
  2. EDUC 5350
Fall 3
  1. EDUC 6410
Spring 1
  1. EDUC 6220
Spring 2
  1. EDUC 6296
Summer 1
  1. EDUC 6221
  2. EDUC 5450 
Summer 2
  1. EDUC 6340

Option 5: 8 semesters

Fall 1
  1. EDUC 5840
  2. EDUC 6310
Fall 2
  1. EDUC 6360
Fall 3
  1. EDUC 6410
Spring 1
  1. EDUC 6296
Spring 2
  1. EDUC 6220
Spring 3
  1. EDUC 6340
Summer 1
  1. EDUC 6221
  2. EDUC 5450
Summer 2
  1. EDUC 5350

Option 1: 3 semesters

Spring 1
  1. EDUC 5840
  2. EDUC 6360
  3. EDUC 6340
Summer 1
  1. EDUC 6221
  2. EDUC 6310
  3. EDUC 6220
  4. EDUC 5350
Fall 1
  1. EDUC 5450
  2. EDUC 6296
  3. EDUC 6410

  
Option 2: 5 semesters

Spring 1
  1. EDUC 5840
  2. EDUC 6296
Spring 2
  1. EDUC 6220
  2. EDUC 6410
Summer 1
  1. EDUC 6221
  2. EDUC 5450
Summer 2
  1. EDUC 5350
  2. EDUC 6340
Fall 1
  1. EDUC 6310
  2. EDUC 6360


Option 3: 6 semesters

Spring 1
  1. EDUC 5840
  2. EDUC 6296
Spring 2
  1. EDUC 6220
  2. EDUC 6410
Summer 1
  1. EDUC 5350
  2. EDUC 5450
Summer 2
  1. EDUC 6340
Fall 1
  1. EDUC 6310
  2. EDUC 6360
Fall 2
  1. EDUC 6221

Option 4: 7 semesters

Spring 1
  1. EDUC 5840
Spring 2
  1. EDUC 6220
Spring 3
  1. EDUC 6360
Summer 1
  1. EDUC 6221
  2. EDUC 6310 
Summer 2
  1. EDUC 6340
  2. EDUC 5350
Fall 1
  1. EDUC 6296
  2. EDUC 5450
Fall 2
  1. EDUC 6410

Option 5: 8 semesters

Spring 1
  1. EDUC 5840
Spring 2
  1. EDUC 6410
  2. EDUC 6220
Spring 3
  1. EDUC 6360
Summer 1
  1. EDUC 5450
  2. EDUC 6310
Summer 2
  1. EDUC 5350
Summer 3
  1. EDUC 6340
Fall 1
  1. EDUC 6296
Fall 2
  1. EDUC 6221

Cost and Aid

SUNY Oneonta delivers high-quality graduate programs at a competitive cost. View program costs and learn about financial aid, scholarships and teaching assistantship opportunities.

Admissions Criteria

  1. An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 overall and 3.0 in the major field during the last two years of undergraduate work.
  2. At least 3 credits of developmental psychology, child or adolescent development.
  3. At least 3 credits in reading or the teaching of reading.
     

How to Apply

  1. Submit your 2026 graduate application and the $50 non-refundable application fee.
  2. Submit a copy of New York State initial teaching certification in a functionally relevant area. The Emergency COVID certificate can be submitted in lieu of initial certification. If initial certification was obtained prior to January 2014, proof of completion of DASA training must be submitted with application. Teaching certificates from other states are considered.
  3. Submit an official transcript of an earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. 
    Submit an essay outlining your specific academic areas of interest and your career goals. What do you anticipate doing in the next ten-year period?

Alumni Stories

Frequently Asked Questions

If you were accepted with conditions, the department will allow you to take courses in your first semester. Then, a hold will be placed on your account preventing you from being registered for any future courses. After you submit your outstanding application materials to the Graduate Admissions Office, the hold will be lifted and you can continue to follow your plan of study. Materials can be submitted through the applicant status page.

The program leads to initial literacy certification. Besides completing the coursework for the program, students must also pass the NYS CST in Literacy. 

The program may also lead to a professional certificate. Contact your local BOCES/State Education/DOE certification officer with your transcripts and questions. The department cannot advise on certification requirements. 

It has been our experience that if you have a Master's in Education all you need for literacy certification is to take a few additional courses and pass the NYS Literacy CST. 

Contact your local BOCES/State Education/DOE certification officer with your transcripts and questions. The department cannot advise on certification requirements.

Typically, students take EDUC 5450/5460 Content Literacy, and our two practicum courses (EDUC 6360 and 6410/6450), in the order listed. Additional questions about the practicums can be emailed to Dr. Barbara Vokatis, the Clinic Coordinator.  

Registration depends on availability. Sometimes, these courses will fill up. After talking with a certification officer for confirmation, go online to SUNY Oneonta’s Extended and Community Learning Center and complete the online non-matriculated student application. Department permission will also be required. 

After submitting the required paperwork and obtaining permission from the department, students will be added to a waitlist. If there is space after all degree seeking students have registered, students will be enrolled with permission for the approved course(s).

Course offerings and certification tips can be found online. 

Non-matriculated students are not permitted to matriculate into our Literacy B-6 or 5-12 programs.

Additional questions about taking non-matriculated courses can be emailed to Dr. Barbara Vokatis.

SUNY Oneonta created the first online literacy program in the state. We continue to implement innovative practices to bring quality education to you in an online, asynchronous format. 

Collaboration

The literacy program uses Brightspace for the day-to-day coursework. This allows students to asynchronously complete required coursework in a way that promotes quality peer and instructor interaction. In addition to the asynchronous work, students have the option of collaborating with instructors in the following ways:

  • Email
  • Telephone conferences
  • Chatrooms
  • Video conference calls

Technology Requirements 

  • PC-based Computer or Intel-Based Apple Computer (required)
  • Screen/Video Capture Software/Tool (required)
  • Scanner (recommended)
  • Printer (recommended)

Attend an Information Session

Designed for Literacy Education inquiries and applicants, information sessions cover the program and application process, and are conducted by a faculty member and moderated by a member from our Graduate Admissions team.

Contact

Admission and Application

Website
Graduate Admissions
Email
gradstudies@oneonta.edu
Address

Welcome Center
108 Ravine Parkway
Oneonta, NY 13820
United States

Phone
(607) 436-2523 | Toll Free @ 800-SUNY-123
M, T, Th, F: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. | W: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Program Specific Questions

Program Coordinator
Barbara Vokatis
Email
Barbara.Vokatis@oneonta.edu

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