Information
Master of Arts in Reading
The Master of Arts in Reading at the University of South Florida is a distinctive online program designed to prepare expert teachers, effective leaders, and outstanding developers of literacy curricula and reading programs for K-12 students.
Features of the Program
EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE OF LITERACY RESEARCH
The online MA in Reading (K-12) program includes three blocks of sequenced courses that focus on developing teachers’ global understanding of literacy as a tool for communication along with their detailed knowledge of cutting-edge research related to:
- K-12 student and teacher literacies,
- classroom connections and interventions in literacy,
- school, district, and state literacies.
PROMOTING EXCELLENCE IN K-12 TEACHING
The program features apprenticeship learning and collaborative structures to support teachers as they expand their instructional repertoires to include research-based methodologies for K-12 students’ literacy learning. Students connect theory, research, and practice to refine their current methods and learn new strategies for K-12 students in a global and technologically-mediated society.
DEVELOPING COACHING SKILLS
The online MA in Reading (K-12) program focuses on the professional development of coaching skills. Each course in the program includes specific content, demonstrations, assignments, and activities that are relevant to literacy coaches. The course objectives and instructional strategies support the development of leadership excellence in reading coaching and writing coaching for public, private, and online school systems.
ADVANCING MEDIA LITERACY COMPETENCIES
The online MA in Reading (K-12) program develops expertise in literacy leadership with an emphasis on digital-age conceptions of literacy teaching and learning.
In a spiraled approach, media literacy competencies are embedded in each of the courses. For students, these competencies will be developed and applied through the use of tools such as video production and analysis programs, synchronous and asynchronous facilitation, the use of social networking as a learning tool, and educational gaming.
ADDING CERTIFICATION IN READING (K-12)
The online MA in Reading (K-12) program includes State of Florida certification in Reading Education.
OFFERING A COMPLETELY ONLINE INSTRUCTIONAL EXPERIENCE
The College of Education at the University of South Florida offers faculty and students the opportunity to experience online teaching and learning through the most advanced applications available. The Reading Faculty in the Department of Childhood Education and Literacy Studies are experienced in online instructional practices and they are also consistently engaged in the latest training and online innovations to make learning meaningful and to advance students’ knowledge of literacy within the digital age.
In this section:
Alan Trujillo
After my first year of teaching I realized that reading is important, not only to the educational success of students, but also in their everyday lives. With a large ELL population in my school, many of my students serve as liaisons for their parents and families for communicating in English. With these increased responsibilities for my students, I found it ever more important to equip myself with research-based instructional strategies in order to provide them with the reading skills they need. So I took the challenge and enrolled in the prestigious Master of Arts in Reading Program at USF.