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Graduate programs in literacy and language offer paths to help others learn critical skills

Teacher assists student writing in the Literacy Lab
A graduate student works with a young learner on literacy skills during a Literacy Lab session.

The department of Literacy, Language and Culture (LLC) has flexible options for teachers and others who want to help students develop and improve critical language and literacy skills as well as advance with a graduate certificate or degree.  LLC graduate certificate and degree programs feature fully online course delivery options as well as opportunities for in-person instruction and collaboration.

The department is home to three master’s programs and four graduate certificate programs. Graduate certificates can be completed in as few as four classes. Check out the Literacy, Language and Culture graduate programs to find the one that could be right for you!

The Graduate Certificate in English Language Development Pre-K-12 is for anyone working with K-12 learners who are non-native speakers of English. Earning this certificate will prepare you to better support English language learners by providing you with new knowledge, skills and understandings of how youth of all ages develop English language ability. No special expertise or background is needed to pursue the certificate, just a passion to learn how to teach and support those learning English.

The Graduate Certificate in Literacy Partnership is for parents, librarians, special educators, para-educators, administrators, and anyone else in the community who supports reading and writing development. Our 4-course Graduate Certificate in Literacy Partnership is designed to introduce the tenants of literacy instruction, allowing those who earn this certificate to more effectively support children’s literacy development.

The Graduate Certificate in Literacy Instruction  program prepares you to assess and teach K-12 readers and writers both in and out of the classroom. The Graduate Certificate in Literacy Instruction aligns with the requirements to earn the Idaho Literacy Endorsement (K-12), which (upon passing the Praxis exam), qualifies completers to add a Literacy Endorsement to their existing Idaho teaching credentials.

The Graduate Certificate in Consulting Literacy Teacher  is for Idaho certified teachers wanting to pursue literacy leadership opportunities. Earning this certificate will prepare you to work closely with colleagues in your school and district to optimize all students’ literacy learning. The customized courses for this certificate are designed to help you become an advocate for students’ literacy development.

The Master of Arts in Education, Literacy degree prepares educators to be Literacy Leaders in their schools and communities. Not only will educators learn best practices for literacy instruction, but will also gain knowledge in the theoretical foundations of literacy that will prepare educators to make literacy decisions for the classroom and school.

The Master of Education, Bilingual Education prepares you to teach all subjects in both Spanish and English, while simultaneously helping children develop as bilingual speakers. The degree examines multiple points of view, theories and practical applications to help educators create learning environments designed to educate a widely diverse student population. The program features student-centered knowledge construction through applied learning projects and includes a capstone course. Applicants must be fluent speakers of both languages.

The Master of Education, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) prepares educators to teach students who are non-native English speakers in schools where English is the language of instruction. Graduates will be better prepared to support all learners in their classrooms, enabling their students to succeed in all academic content areas. Students in this program will learn to use TESOL frameworks to teach support their students’ simultaneous English language and content knowledge acquisition.

Contact information for each certificate or degree can be found at the bottom of each program page by clicking on the “Request More Information” link. Guidelines and forms for graduate students as well as information about costs and scholarships can also be found on each program page.