Master of Arts in Literacy Specialist leading to Initial Certification
Students in the Literacy Specialist M.A. have many opportunities to delve deeply into their own literacy, participate in adult book clubs, in performance-based drama groups, in writing workshops, including one taught by an award-winning author of children’s literature. Students also have the opportunity to intern in select schools. Critical literacy is a big focus for the program and graduate students conduct their own critical literacy investigations.
Admission Information
Displaying requirements for the Spring 2027, Summer 2027, and Fall 2027 terms.
Program is not accepting applications for the 2027 cycle.
Master of Arts
- Points/Credits: 32
- Entry Terms: Spring, Summer, Fall
- Enrollment Formats: Full-Time Campus-Based, Part-Time Campus-Based
Certification
View Public Disclosure Notification
- NY State Initial: Literacy Specialist All Grades
Application Requirements
| Requirement | |
|---|---|
| , including Statement of Purpose and Resume | |
| Transcripts and/or Course-by-Course Evaluations for all Undergraduate/Graduate Coursework Completed | |
| Results from an accepted English Proficiency Exam (if applicable) | |
| $75 Application Fee | |
| Two (2) Letters of Recommendation | |
| Must hold or be eligible for Initial Certification, if certification is in-progress, must be obtained prior to enrollment |
For admission-related inquiries, please contact CTadmission@tc.columbia.edu.
Prospective Applicants
We are always pleased when our applicants demonstrate a commitment to teaching. Some will have spent summers as camp counselors, others bring a decade of experience as lead teacher鈥攆or us, it is important that our students are grounded in a commitment to working with learners.
We are also pleased when applicants show an inquiry stance, a readiness to question and to wonder and to learn. We hope students are ready to learn from children and from colleagues as well as from university faculty. Most of all, we are excited to read applicants to our program because we know that people bring diverse experiences, and that we鈥檒l have the opportunity to learn from them as well as they, learning from us. It鈥檚 a great thing to a cohort group take shape and to recognize the breadth of experiences and knowledge bases that people bring with them into the program.
Requirements from the TC Catalog (AY 2026-2027)
View catalog information for the Fall 2026, Spring 2027 and Summer 2027 terms.