Overview

The Reading and Literacy K-12 programme at Central Michigan University provides qualified teachers with the advanced pedagogical tools required to foster essential reading and critical thinking skills. This comprehensive Master of Arts degree prepares graduates to lead literacy initiatives across all primary and secondary education levels.

The curriculum is designed to be completed entirely online, offering maximum flexibility for working professionals. Students typically engage with one course per term, allowing them to earn their master’s degree in approximately two years. A significant highlight of the programme is the 16-week clinical practicum, which can be conducted within the student's own K-12 classroom.

As of late 2024, graduates of this programme achieved a 100% pass rate on the Reading Specialist Certification Test.

Why Reading and Literacy K-12 at Central Michigan University?

Central Michigan University offers a curriculum aligned with prestigious national standards, including those from the International Literacy Association and the National Council of Teachers of English. The programme is fully accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation, ensuring a high standard of professional training.

The university provides a unique certification-to-credit pathway, allowing educators to turn previous professional development and LETRS training into academic credits. This feature can potentially reduce the total required workload to 24 credit hours. Students benefit from an integrated approach that combines theoretical research with practical, evidence-based instructional strategies.

Tuition Fee Breakdown

International fee: USD 1029 per credit
National fee: USD 829 per credit
Local fee: USD 829 per credit

Visit the Fees and Funding section for a breakdown in your local currency.

Syllabus

The programme consists of 11 courses covering the breadth of modern literacy instruction. Modules may include:

Literacy Programs
Literacy Difficulties
Reading and Writing Instruction
Interdisciplinary and Integrated Literacy Units
Literacy Research
Technological and Viewing Skills
Clinical Practicum

Careers with Reading and Literacy K-12

Graduates are well-positioned for leadership roles within school districts, helping to shape literacy policies and interventions. The degree enhances credentials for those seeking to specialise in diagnostic and remedial reading roles. It also provides a strong foundation for those moving into administrative or consultancy positions in education.

Common career paths for graduates include:

Reading Specialist
Elementary School Teacher
Librarian
Postsecondary Teacher
Adult Basic Education Instructor
Literacy Coach

Accreditation

CMU is regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).

Programme Structure

Courses include:

Understanding Literacy Research Methods

Word Study and Vocabulary Development

Using Digital Resources to Teach Literacy

Reading and Writing Connections

Organization and Implementation of School Literacy Programs

Practicum in Literacy Assessment and Intervention

Advanced Language Arts Instruction

Foundations of Classroom Reading and Writing Instruction

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 20 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2026-08-26 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-05-15 00:00:00 , International
- Apply before 2026-07-31 00:00:00 , National

Language

English

Duolingo English Test

100

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Credits

33 SCH

33 - 36

Delivered

Online

Campus Location

Mount Pleasant, United States

Disciplines

Literature Literacy Education View 72 other Masters in Literature in United States

Join for free or log in to access our complete career info list.

Academic requirements

GPA

English requirements

Duolingo English Test

100

Take A Free Practice Test!

TOEFL^® IBT

Schedule TOEFL®

PTE Academic

Schedule a PTE test!

IELTS

6.5

Prepare for Your English Test

Cathoven AI IELTS Preparation

Learn your IELTS Score

AI-powered IELTS feedback. Clear, actionable, and tailored to boost your writing & speaking score. No credit card or upfront payment required.

Trusted by 300k learners
98 accuracy using real exam data
4.9/5 student rating

Other requirements

General requirements

A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution

Along with the application, you’ll need to submit a $50 application fee

Submit a copy of your passport

Submit proof of English proficiency or your intent to study English upon arrival – unless you are from an exempted country where English is the primary language of instruction.

You also may demonstrate English proficiency by completing the English studies program through CMU's English Language Institute.

Applicants must provide a third-party course-by-course credential evaluation and document verification

Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

20374 USD / year

≈ 20374 USD / year
Out-of-State

16414 USD / year

≈ 16414 USD / year
Domestic

Applies to you

In-State

16414 USD / year

≈ 16414 USD / year

Funding

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

Win a €10000 Scholarship! Deadline: 30 June 2020

Embark on your journey with the Studyportals Scholarship! We're giving away a total of 20,000 euros to help you achieve your dream of studying abroad.

In order for us to give you accurate scholarship information, we ask that you please confirm a few details and create an account with us.

Scholarships Information

Below you will find Master's scholarship opportunities for Reading and Literacy K-12.

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

On this page

About

Overview

Accreditation

Programme Structure

Key information

Duration

Start dates & application deadlines

Language

Prepare for Your English Test

Credits

Delivered

Campus Location

Disciplines

What students do after studying

Academic requirements

English requirements

Prepare for Your English Test

Other requirements

General requirements

Tuition Fees

International Applies to you

Domestic

Funding

Scholarships Information

Available Scholarships

Our partners