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Students take a minimum of 33 graduate credits (9 required core courses and one elective course) and pass a comprehensive exam to earn an M.Ed. degree in Educational Psychology with an Emphasis in Literacy Education. Students are welcome to take more elective courses as part of their program or after completing the M.Ed.
Course Requirements
Core Requirements
Core Courses (30 credits required)
Understanding Educational Research in Literacy
Comprehension Theory & Instruction
Assessment & Intervention of Reading Difficulties
Foundations of Literacy
Content Area Literacy
Literacy Acquisition Theory & Instruction
Children’s and Young Adult Literature in the Schools
Writing Theory & Instruction
Vocabulary Theory & Instruction
Literacy Education Comprehensive Review and Exam Preparation
One Elective Course
Suggested Electives through the EDPS Department (3 credits required)
Students must take a minimum of 3 elective credits for graduation. Students will work with the program director to select an elective that fits their interests, schedule, and future goals. Elective choices must be approved by the program director. Please note that some elective classes may not be offered at the core course special tuition rate.
Special Topics Summer Seminars
International Children’s and Adolescent Literature: Region-Specific Focus
Language and Literacy Development of Young Children
Introduction to Measurement
Introduction to Educational Statistics
EDPS 6853
Tier II Reading Intervention Next Steps Small Group
EDPS 6636
Intervention for Students with Severe Reading Difficulties: Wilson Level I Practicum
Introduction to Research Design
Leadership for School Improvement
Evidence-Based Decision Making
Course Sequencing
Students complete the program in two years by taking two courses each semester, including summer. The program uses rolling admissions, and students are welcome to start in any semester. Core courses are taught online in the evening hours around 4:35- 7:05 pm MST in all three semesters (Fall, Spring, and Summer); summer courses may be offered in daytime hours during the Summer semester. This is a rolling admissions program, and courses are taught via distance education delivery (live, same-time delivery using web video technology, such as Zoom). Thus, the program welcomes students from the local area as well as those from outside the Salt Lake area and out of state. Because students are admitted on a rolling basis, you may begin your program in any semester.
Example Course Schedule
Fall 2025
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDPS 6712 | Reading Research | 3 |
| EDPS 6714 | Comprehension Theory and Instruction | 3 |
Spring 2026
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDPS 6631 | Assessment & Intervention | 3 |
| EDPS 6728 | Reading and Literacy Comprehensive Review Exam Preparation | 3 |
| EDPS 6950 | Special Topics Seminar | 3 |
Summer 2026
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDPS 6711 | Foundations of Literacy (First Session) | 3 |
| EDPS 6126 | Content Area Literacy (Second Session) | 3 |
Fall 2026
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDPS 6713 | Literacy Acquisition Theory and Instruction | 3 |
| EDPS 6124 | Children’s and Young Adult Literature in the Schools | 3 |
Spring 2027
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDPS 6130 | Writing Theory and Instruction | 3 |
| EDPS 6728 | Reading and Literacy Comprehensive Review Exam Preparation | 3 |
Summer 2027
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDPS 6840 | Vocabulary Theory and Instruction | 3 |
| EDPS 6718 | Literacy Development in Young Children | 3 |
Fall 2027
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDPS 6714 | Comprehension Theory and Instruction | 3 |
| EDPS 6712 | Reading Research | 3 |
Spring 2028
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDPS 6631 | Assessment and Intervention | 3 |
| EDPS 6728 | Reading and Literacy Comprehensive Review Exam Preparation | 3 |
| EDPS 6950 | Special Topics Seminar | 3 |
Summer 2028
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDPS 6711 | Foundations of Literacy (First Session) | 3 |
| EDPS 6126 | Content Area Literacy (Second Session) | 3 |
Fall 2028
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDPS 6713 | Literacy Acquisition Theory and Instruction | 3 |
| EDPS 6124 | Children’s and Young Adult Literature in the Schools | 3 |
Spring 2029
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDPS 6130 | Writing Theory and Instruction | 3 |
| EDPS 6728 | Reading and Literacy Comprehensive Review Exam Preparation | 3 |
Summer 2029
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDPS 6840 | Vocabulary Theory and Instruction | 3 |
| EDPS 6718 | Literacy Development in Young Children | 3 |
Fall 2029
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDPS 6714 | Comprehension Theory and Instruction | 3 |
| EDPS 6712 | Reading Research | 3 |
Spring 2030
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDPS 6631 | Assessment and Intervention | 3 |
| EDPS 6728 | Reading and Literacy Comprehensive Review Exam Preparation | 3 |
| EDPS 6950 | Special Topics Seminar | 3 |
Summer 2030
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDPS 6711 | Foundations of Literacy (First Session) | 3 |
| EDPS 6126 | Content Area Literacy (Second Session) | 3 |
Fall 2030
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDPS 6713 | Literacy Acquisition Theory and Instruction | 3 |
| EDPS 6124 | Children’s and Young Adult Literature in the Schools | 3 |
Spring 2031
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDPS 6130 | Writing Theory and Instruction | 3 |
| EDPS 6728 | Reading and Literacy Comprehensive Review Exam Preparation | 3 |
Summer 2031
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDPS 6840 | Vocabulary Theory and Instruction | 3 |
| EDPS 6718 | Literacy Development in Young Children | 3 |
Fall 2031
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDPS 6714 | Comprehension Theory and Instruction | 3 |
| EDPS 6712 | Reading Research | 3 |
Spring 2032
| Course Number | Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| EDPS 6631 | Assessment and Intervention | 3 |
| EDPS 6728 | Reading and Literacy Comprehensive Review Exam Preparation | 3 |
| EDPS 6950 | Special Topics Seminar | 3 |
Comprehensive Exam
Students take a comprehensive examination at the end of the Literacy Education master’s study. The purpose of the exam is to demonstrate written mastery of major topics, theories, and applications in relation to literacy learning and teaching. The comprehensive exam committee uses a format of take-home question responses and will be administered by the Literacy Education comprehensive exam committee. Students need to register for ED PS 6728 Literacy Education Comprehensive Review and Exam during the semester of their exam.
Endorsements
Educator Endorsements in Literacy Education
The Utah State Board of Education is currently offering 2 literacy-related endorsements, which became effective on July 1, 2021.
The Literacy Education Program remains committed to helping teachers who wish to achieve these educator endorsements:
- We are the first university program in the state to receive approval for coursework that meets the competencies for each of the 10 requirement areas for the new Secondary Literacy Interventionist Endorsement. Students entering the program starting Fall 2021 and after, and who meet the state’s prerequisite requirements, can fulfill the endorsement’s requirement areas through their M.Ed. coursework.
Endorsement Information (For students with Utah teaching licenses)
Our master’s core courses are approved as meeting USBE secondary literacy interventionist requirements of the new competency-based endorsement. Students are encouraged to apply to USBE upon finishing their degree.
USBE Secondary Literacy Interventionist Endorsement
The required core courses are designed to fulfill the USBE Secondary Literacy Interventionist endorsement requirements. Secondary Literacy Interventionist Endorsement is specifically for teaching the secondary reading courses offered in junior high and high school. Our core master’s coursework has been officially approved for the secondary literacy interventionist, meeting for all 10 required areas (September, 2021). Thus, after completion of master’s coursework, students are encouraged to apply for the secondary endorsement. (Please note that this endorsement does require some prerequisites, and application to USBE for this endorsement is the responsibility of the student.)
Courses for 10 Required Areas for Secondary Literacy Interventionist Endorsement:
| Requirement Area Met | Course Number | Course Name |
|---|---|---|
| (Area 1) Foundations of Adolescent Literacy Acquisition and Development | ED PS 6711 | Foundations of Literacy |
| (Area 2) Using Assessments to Inform Adolescent Literacy Instruction | ED PS 6631 | Assessment & Intervention for Reading Difficulties |
| (Area 3) Planning and Delivering Differentiated Literacy Instruction | ED PS 6126 | Content Area Literacy Instruction |
|
(Area 4) Foundational Skills: Phonological Awareness (Area 5) Foundational Skills: Basic & Advanced Phonics (Area 6) Text Fluency |
ED PS 6713 | Literacy Acquisition Theory & Instruction |
| (Area 7) Vocabulary | ED PS 6840 | Vocabulary Theory & Instruction |
| (Area 8) Comprehension | ED PS 6714 | Comprehension Theory & Instruction |
| (Area 9) Writing | ED PS 6130 | Writing Theory & Instruction |
| (Area 10) Adolescent Motivation and Engagement |
ED PS 6124 |
Children's & Adolescent Literature in the Schools |
USBE Professional K-12 Literacy Specialist Endorsement
Completing the Master of Education degree in Literacy Education fulfills the first requirement area (“Foundational Knowledge”) of the endorsement requirements for the USBE Professional K-12 Literacy Specialist. This endorsement is for existing literacy coaches or directors who already have 50 hours of experience delivering professional learning in the K-12 setting to adult educators, and at least 1-year of Full-Time Employment in the Utah public education system (K-12). Some elective courses offered may meet other requirement areas of this endorsement’s requirements. This information will be noted for students when it occurs.