Literacy Education, Certificate of Advanced Study

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The Post-Master’s Certificate of Advanced Study in Literacy Education is designed to meet the needs of PreK-12 classroom teachers, administrators, and other educators who want to pursue advanced graduate study in literacy education and related areas. The CAS requires thirty credit hours of graduate coursework, including a capstone experience. Students may design a program to suit their needs for advanced study. The program will vary, depending on the focus of the CAS degree and the student’s goals. Students will have considerable choice in designing coursework and projects, and will work closely with a faculty advisor. Maine certification as a literacy specialist may be earned through the CAS with a careful program of study planning. Please consult your advisor upon admission for details.

Program Requirements

Total Credits: 30

Electives (27 credits): With advisor consultation, students may select graduate courses in education or other disciplines that relate to their focus in literacy and contribute to their overall plan of study.

Required (3 credits):

CAS in Literacy students must complete the majority of their coursework at USM, and the majority of the courses must be related to literacy

For specific requirements please see the Literacy Education website at http://usm.maine.edu/literacy-education

EDU 661 - Literacy, Language, and Culture Capstone

Grade Requirements

Graduate students must receive a grade of “B-” or higher in all courses to be successful in Literacy Education and TESOL programs.
If the above grade requirements are not met, students may be required to repeat the course.
Additionally, students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.00

Transfer Credit Policies

Previously completed graduate courses may be approved for transfer into a graduate program within the Literacy, Language, and Culture programs if credits for the courses were earned no more than five years prior to matriculation, with grades of B or better.

For previous work completed through the University of Maine System, up to twelve credits may be accepted if the courses meet the requirements above and are equivalent to core courses or elective courses in the relevant USM program of study. Up to six graduate credits completed at institutions outside of the University of Maine System may be accepted if the courses meet the requirements above and are equivalent to core courses or elective courses in the relevant USM program of study. A syllabus for each course submitted for transfer credit from outside the University of Maine System must be provided upon application.

Transfer of more than twelve University of Maine System credits or six non-University of Maine System credits may be approved by the department chair and faculty. These credits may include a certificate of graduate study program courses and professional development in-service graduate courses. Requests for the transfer of credits taken more than five years prior to matriculation may also be evaluated and approved by the department chair and faculty.