University of Southern Maine

The Certificate of Graduate Study in Literacy Education is offered to accommodate teachers and special education teachers, educational technicians, and other holders of baccalaureate degrees who wish to begin acquiring a basic background in literacy without undertaking a full Master's degree program. The certificate program consists of 12 hours of graduate level courses in literacy education and is overseen by the graduate faculty, who serve as advisors.

Students who complete program requirements receive official recognition of their work on their transcript and a certificate from the Literacy Education program attesting to their completion of coursework in reading and writing instruction. Holders of the certificate have the competencies and proficiency levels needed to plan effective literacy instruction for their students. Credits earned from the certificate program may be transferable to a degree program.

Program Outcomes
This program provides an opportunity for educators to increase their understanding of the literacy learning process. The sequence of courses focuses on how students acquire literacy (reading and writing) and how they evolve as literacy users. Holders of the certificate will be able to plan effective literacy instruction for their students. Major outcomes of the program include:

• Understanding of student characteristics and instructional goals for the major stages of literacy development;
• Knowledge of instructional strategies and programs for readers of all ages;
• Ability to define, use, and teach all aspects of the writing process;
• Ability to conduct and interpret informal, on-going literacy assessment;
• Familiarity with a wide range of age-appropriate literature for children and adolescents;
• Ability to promote comprehension in the content areas; and
  Familiarity with electronic literacy and the Internet.

Program Requirements
To obtain the Certificateof Graduate Study in Literacy Education, students must:

• Complete a minimum of 12 semester hours of course work in literacy. Course work may be modified in consultation with an advisor. These courses may be applied to a Master's in Literacy Education or other graduate programs at USM, contingent upon approval of those programs.
• Maintain a minimum cumulative average of B in all courses taken, including courses successfully completed at other colleges or universities which apply to the certificate.
• Complete 75% of the certificate program at USM.

Required Courses

• EDU 626 The Writing Process
• EDU 511 Children's Literature or EDU 513 Adolescent Literature
• EDU 514 Improving Teaching in the Content Areas Through Literacy or EDU 521 Electronic Literacy in Education
• EDU 620 Reading Development and Instruction

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree
• Experience in a public or private school, at any level
• Completed application materials, including $15 application fee

For more information about the Certificate in Literacy, please contact:

Denise Enrico
Lecturer & Program Coordinator
(207) 780-55070

Or to print off a certificate application:
Application to Graduate Certificate Program