MAE in Literacy Education

The Literacy Program is a 36 hour program that promotes lifelong learning through reading and writing for pleasure and function for every man, woman, and child. Graduates from this program are prepared to work in a changing, multicultural world in leadership roles in educational programs and institutions, and private and corporate sectors. The Literacy faculty believe learning is an active process in which students construct, test, and act upon their own understandings. The Literacy Program is committed to providing lifelong learning for both faculty and students by promoting courses of study that involve students and faculty in academic peer relationships that stress shared responsibility for learning and for the discovery of new knowledge. The Literacy faculty is committed to research, scholarship, and creative work that results in superior teaching and service to the community and to the professions.

Admission Requirements

Applicants for the MAE in Literacy Education must meet the following admission requirements:

• A bachelor's degree from a college or university of recognized standing (Applicants from non-accredited institutions see below).
• An adequate preparation in the field of specialization.
• GRE scores
• 3.5 minimum GRE Analytical Writing score
• Minimum GAP score of 2300 (see below for details)
• Application and Fee: Students seeking a graduate degree must obtain (online or through the Graduate Studies office) an Application for Admission (Form A) from the Office of Graduate Studies. The completed form along with a one time application fee of $40.00 (non-refundable) must be returned to the Graduate Studies Office.
• Transcript Record: Graduates of accredited institutions other than Western Kentucky University must submit an official transcript showing the completed degree to the Office of Graduate Studies. Applicants who have not completed the undergraduate degree are required to submit one official transcript at the time of application and one official transcript showing the degree is completed.
• Teacher Certification: All students applying to the MAE in Literacy must hold teacher certification or have a statement of eligibility.

Standardized Examination Scores

All degree-seeking students must submit appropriate standardized test scores regardless of their undergraduate grade point average .Standardized test scores must be received by the Office of Graduate Studies prior to admission. The admission decision will be based upon both the transcript grade point average and the test score. Registration materials for the GRE are available by logging on to http://www.gre.org.

GAP Score

Admission decisions are based upon both the undergraduate grade point average and the GRE General Test score. The GAP score is the product of the GRE score x the overall undergraduate grade point average. For example, a GRE score of 1200 and a grade average of 2.75/4.0 would produce a GAP score of 3300.Since GAP is a product of both GRE and grade point average, both the GRE and transcript record are essential for making an admission decision. GAP score requirements for general admission to Graduate Studies (individual degree programs may be higher) are as follows:

GAP Requirement Based on Test Date:

• 3500 on or before 9/30/2002
• 2300 on or after 10/1/2002

Program Requirements

The MAE in Literacy Education is a 36 hour program, with a thesis and non-thesis option available. The program is offered online.

Professional Education Component (21 hours required)

Course Number	Course Title	Semester Offered
LTCY 518	Literacy Education and Technology	Winter Term Only
LTCY 519	Foundations of Reading Instruction	Every Semester
LTCY 520	Clinical Diagnosis of Reading Variability	Fall Only
LTCY 521	Reading Intervention	Spring Only
LTCY 524	Content Area Literacy	Fall Only
LTCY 527	Literacy Learning & Cultural Differences	Summer Only
LTCY 528	Literacy Research Methods & Evaluation	Spring Only

Specialization Component (6 hours required)

Course Number	Course Title	Semester Offered
LTCY 523	Diagnostic Reading Procedures(required)	Spring Only
LTCY 624	Seminar in Literacy Issues and Trends (KRP)	Summer and through- out the school year (face-to-face)
LTCY 695	Internship in Literacy Supervision	As needed

Restricted Electives (3 hours required)

Course Number	Course Title	Semester Offered
PSY 510	Advanced Education Psychology	Fall/Spring/Summer
PSY 511	Psychology of Learning	Schedule not set
PSY 519	Psychological Perspectives on Classroom Behavior	Schedule not set
PSY 540	Behavioral Problems of Childhood and Adolescence	Schedule not set
ELED 503	Organization of Elementary School Curriculum	Fall/Spring/Summer
MGE 571	Middle School Curriculum	Schedule not set
EXED 516	The Child with Exceptionalities	Spring Only
SEC 580	Curriculum	Fall/Spring/Summer
ENG 596	Writing Project (3 of 6 hours)	Summer and throughout the school year (face-to-face)
LME 518	Advanced Children's Literature	Fall/Spring/Summer
LME 527	Literature for Young Adults	Fall/Spring/Summer
EXED 523	Curriculum/Methods in Early Child- hood Special Education	Schedule not set
IECE 591	Seminar in Interdisciplinary Early Childhood Education	Schedule

Research Tool (3 hours required)

Course Number	Course Title	Semester Offered
EDFN 500	Research Methods	Fall/Spring/Summer

Thesis Option (6 hours/Thesis Option Only)

Course Number	Course Title	Semester Offered
LTCY 599	Thesis	As Needed

Non-Thesis Option (6 hours/Non-Thesis Option)

Course Number	Course Title	Semester Offered
LTCY 522	Investigations in Reading	Fall Only
LTCY 624 (non-thesis option)	Seminar in Literacy Issues	Spring Only

Download this schedule of course offerings.

NOTE: Students in the MAE in Literacy Education Program select either a Thesis or Non-Thesis (Comprehensive Literacy Project) as a capstone experience in their program of study. The Thesis presentation and defense and the Comprehensive Literacy Project (CLP) presentation and subsequent oral discussion/questioning serve to replace traditional Comprehensive Exams (Comps).

Sample Course Schedule

Click here to see a sample student schedule for online students.

Department Contact Information

Program Advisor: Dr. Cassie Zippay
Email: cassie.zippay@wku.edu
Phone: (270) 745-2679