Literacy, M.Ed.

The Clemson University Master of Education in Literacy is a 100% online graduate program to prepare literacy professionals who gain in-depth knowledge of literacy theories, strategies, and curriculum.  Our students take coursework in two strand options leading to add-on certifications in either literacy coaching or ESOL. The rigorous, practice-based curriculum prepares our students to advance their professional standing in just 24 months.  Our graduates utilize their knowledge to plan appropriate literacy practices for their classrooms, develop programs and curricula for their schools, and assume leadership positions at various levels in their districts. This program is open to educators who work in formal educational settings.

• Earn a degree from a top 20 public university while anywhere in the world.
• Experience educational excellence that Clemson University is known for at very competitive tuition rates.
• Earn a significant pay raise in most states.
• Increase your career options through two additional certifications in Literacy Teacher and Literacy Coach or 2 certifications in Literacy Teacher and ESOL.
• Join a community of practitioners from across the globe as you work to improve Literacy Education.
• Acquisition of in-depth knowledge about literacy teaching and instruction that will transform your literacy teaching and your students’ literacy learning.
• Learn how our Literacy M.Ed. students met their goals through Clemson

The Literacy Masters of Education program admits students for a summer entry. Only complete applications are considered for admissions. Application decisions will be made shortly following the posted deadline below.

Applicants must be a practicing teacher working with students.

Application Deadlines
All application materials must be submitted by the following deadlines:

• April 15th, traditional deadline

Application Requirements
To be considered for the program, applicants must:

• Have a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
• Have current teaching certificate
• Submit an online Graduate School application which requires:
  • Unofficial transcripts (official transcript(s) will be required if accepted into the Program)
  • A current resume
  • Three recommendation forms
    • Recommendation forms are emailed directly to recommenders via the online application process
  • A personal statement 
    • Statement should describe applicant’s goals and teaching philosophy 
  • Official TOEFL/IELTS scores for international students

Additional information concerning supporting materials

Literacy M.Ed. (30 credit hours minimum):

Literacy Coaching Strand - Successful completion of the M.Ed. in Literacy/Coaching will result in the Literacy Teacher and Literacy Coach certification.

The Coaching Strand requires applicants to be a practicing teacher working with students and applicants must have three years of teaching experience.

EDLT 8100 – Foundations of Reading and Writing
EDLT 8120 – Assessment in Reading and Writing
EDLT 8130 – Instructional Strategies
EDLT 8140 – Reading and Writing Instruction and Assessment for Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Students
EDLT 8160 – Instructional Practicum: Differentiated Instruction for Literacy Learners
EDLT 8170 – Content Area Reading and Writing
EDLT 8180 – Organization, Administration, and Supervision in Literacy
EDLT 8190 – Coaching for Literacy Education
EDLT 8200 – Action Research in Coaching: Literacy Coaches as Agents of Change
EDLT 8210 – Practicum in Literacy Coaching

Additional requirements for certifications may include requisite years of teaching experience, PRAXIS exam, and other requirements as indicated by the SC State Department of Education.

ESOL Strand

Successful completion of the M.Ed. in Literacy ESOL will result in the Literacy Teacher certification and ESOL add-on certification.

The ESOL Strand requires applicants to be a practicing teacher working with students.

EDLT 8100 – Foundations of Reading and Writing
EDLT 8120 – Assessment in Reading and Writing
EDLT 8130 – Instructional Strategies
EDLT 8140 – Reading and Writing Instruction and Assessment for Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Students
EDLT 8170 – Content Area Reading and Writing
EDLT 8180 – Organization, Administration, and Supervision in Literacy
EDLT 8220 – Principles and Strategies for Teaching English Speakers of Other Languages
EDLT 8230 – Introduction to Linguistics
EDLT 8240- Practicum in the Instruction of ESOL Elementary & Secondary Learners
EDF 8250 – Cultural Diversity in the Classroom

Additional requirements for certifications may include requisite years of teaching experience, PRAXIS exam, and other requirements as indicated by the SC State Department of Education.

Year One- Summer

Year One- Fall

Year One- Spring

Year Two- Summer

Year Two- Fall

With the support of CU Online, Clemson uses the most advanced online technology to provide a rich, supportive, seamless learning environment. Courses will be asynchronous thus allowing students to access courses when and where they need. 

While students have great flexibility in asynchronous learning, there are key deadlines in each course when learning modules must be completed. Students will be provided with timely support from instructors and technology personnel so that learning is maximized. 

Canvas, a very user friendly learning management system, is used for all courses to guide the learning experiences. An orientation module will be provided before the start of the program to allow students to become comfortable with expectations and the technologies before classes formally start.

Tuition and Fees
Explore information on tuition and fees using the Student Financial Services’ tuition and fee calculator (Be sure to choose the ‘Go to Online’ tab at the top of the page).

S.C. Teacher Incentive
The Literacy M.Ed. offers a South Carolina Teacher Incentive reducing tuition by 10% for all SC K-12 teachers/leaders.

Federal TEACH grant
Students may qualify for the TEACH grant (High need areas of ESOL and Reading Specialist).

Financial Aid
For information regarding financial aid, please contact the Office of Student Financial Aid.

Literacy Teacher
The Literacy Teacher Certificate allows K-12 teachers to complete required coursework for the Literacy Teacher endorsement. In completing the four required courses, graduates establish a strong basis in the basic foundations literacy and are prepared to support the reading development of their K-12 classroom students. Those completing the certificate may submit their transcripts to the SC Department of Education.

Literacy Coach
The Literacy Coach Certificate provides coursework on the principles of coaching teachers and their students in literacy, opportunities to conduct school-based research in literacy coaching, and active engagement in school-based coaching experiences. Teachers strengthen their knowledge and skills as a literacy coach. Teachers may submit their transcripts to the SC Department of Education following successful completion of the course of study.

Literacy Specialist
The Literacy Specialist Certificate program provides content in advanced principles in literacy—theory, assessment, curriculum development and research. Literacy Specialist will have developed the essential leadership skills and knowledge to address literacy needs, not just in English language art courses, but across content areas of instruction. Student may submit their transcripts to the SC Department of Education following successful completion of the course of study. The Certificate is a fully asynchronous online graduate certificate.

English as a Second Language (ESOL) Certificate
The ESOL Certificate courses are designed to help teachers meet the needs of students for whom English is not their dominant language. The goal is to prepare teachers to support student success in school and in society through the development of cultural awareness and English language proficiency in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Those completing the certificate may submit their transcripts to the SC Department of Education.

What is the PRAXIS examination pass rate for the Clemson University, College of Education M.Ed. Literacy program (Teaching Reading K-12: 5206; English to Speakers of Other Languages Test- Code 5362)?
The Clemson College of Education’s M.Ed. in Literacy requires all students to take the Literacy PRAXIS exam Teaching Reading K-12: 5206 during their final year of the program.  100% of our literacy students passed this exam with scores exceeding the minimum passing score by 11-37 points. Students in the M.Ed. Literacy ESOL Strand also take the ESOL PRAXIS English to Speakers of Other Languages Test- Code 5362 for certification. 100% of our students in the ESOL strand passed this exam with scores exceeding the minimum passing score by 22 to 39 points.

Can I work full- or part-time while completing the program?
Yes. We encourage individuals to work in an education setting while completing the program to gain experience implementing strategies and interventions discussed in the courses.

Does this program include required practicum experiences?
Yes. All practicum experiences are completed in your current school district. You will not have to take time away from your teaching position. You will have course assignments that will require you to have access to students and recording technology (such as. Smart phone).

Do I need to be online for class at a certain time?
No. All coursework is asynchronous. You will have established deadlines within each course but will not have required live sessions. However, faculty will be available to assist and support students.

Does program completion lead to any additional certifications?
Yes. The M.Ed. Literacy program includes all requirements for the Literacy Teacher Certificate. In addition, students also complete all requirements for either the Literacy Coach Certificate or the ESOL Certification depending on their chosen program of study. Upon the Literacy Coach program completion, students can add the Literacy Specialist Certificate by completing 2 additional courses.

Is the M.Ed. Literacy program accredited?
Yes. Our M.Ed. Literacy program is accredited by the International Literacy Association (ILA). We received the highest rating on our program review. Achieving ILA accreditation demonstrates that our program adheres to a rigorous set of standards for preparing literacy professionals.

Review our College of Education Graduate Calendar to view upcoming events and information sessions.

Statement on Artificial Intelligence

Students are not permitted to use any generative AI writing tools (e.g., ChatGPT) without the express written consent of an instructor. This includes coursework as well as work on comprehensive exams, the dissertation proposal, and the dissertation. Doing so will be a violation of the university’s Academic Integrity policy

For more information regarding the program or questions associated with applying to the program, please contact Madison Hudson at mhedden@clemson.edu.