Childhood / Literacy Education

Become an elementary teacher and literacy specialist

General Education teachers teach subjects like reading, writing, science, mathematics, and social studies. They also work with other professionals, like special educators, to provide appropriate, targeted instruction within the regular classroom.

Literacy Specialists have advanced understanding of how to teach reading and writing. They provide targeted instruction for students who struggle in these areas and support for general education teachers.

Program Distinctions

This combined Childhood Education/Literacy master’s degree program stands out due to its focus on best practices and digital literacy. You’ll learn how to teach in a face-to-face format as well as remotely, getting experience teaching general education students and diverse, at-risk urban learners alike. When you graduate, you’ll be eligible to become New York State-certified in Childhood Education (Grades 1-6) and Literacy Specialist (Birth-Grade 6) upon successfully completing the Content Specialty tests and edTPA.

Faculty in our teaching degree programs are teachers and administrators in a variety of schools, ensuring the program is enriched with real-word problems and solutions.
You’ll complete two seven-week student teaching experiences, one in grades 1-3 and another in grades 4-6. You’ll be placed in urban, suburban, and rural school districts. Within the literacy clinical experience, you’ll teach at-risk learners in closely supervised practica, where you implement targeted instruction of at least 50 hours across the academic year.
This teaching program, part of the Esteves School of Education, is accredited by the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP).
If you have initial certification in Childhood Education and wish to add certification as a literacy specialist, please see Sage’s Master of Education in Literacy program or dual master’s degree in Literacy and Special Education.

Course Requirements

Our Childhood Education and Literacy master’s degree is 43 credits and can be completed in two-and-a-half-years by taking nine credits a semester, summer, fall, and spring semesters.

You’ll learn strategies to teach all core subject areas (grades 1-6) and literacy content, from teaching emergent readers and writers to providing content-area instruction for general education students. You’ll also work in assessment teams to diagnose and develop an instructional plan for a student reading and/or writing significantly below grade level.

You’ll develop, implement and evaluate units of study and lesson plans that are aligned to appropriate standards;
learn to use assessment to inform instructional decisions;
and learn best practices for technology to aid you in the classroom.

View Program catalog

Easily Apply

Rolling admission, so apply anytime, and begin in the fall, spring, or summer semesters.

Applicants should submit:

Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
One letter of recommendation
A one- to two-page career goals essay
GRE scores are not required

Apply Now

Personal Advising, Experienced Faculty

Our master’s program comes with a deep, Russell Sage-level of support from an assigned faculty advisor who works with you to ensure your success.

Kathleen A.
Gormley, Ph.D.

Professor

Learn more about Kathleen

“Russell Sage College and the Esteves School of Education act as leaders in teacher education, not just in the Capital District but in New York State”

Peter Stapleton, Ph.D.,
Assistant Professor of Education

student teacher reads to two elementary students — 3

Careers with a Master’s in Childhood Education and Literacy

When you graduate, you’ll be eligible to become New York State-certified in Childhood Education (Grades 1-6) and Literacy Specialist (Birth-Grade 6) upon successfully completing the Content Specialty tests and edTPA.

Spotlights

Meet some alumni of our graduate Education programs.

Alumni

Childhood / Literacy Education 2020

Tahisha Richards, MSEd

Tahisha Richards figured the moment had passed her by. For so long she’d thought one day she’d become a teacher. …

Alumni

“The professors were amazing. They were both down-to-earth and full of knowledge. They were always ready to answer my questions. And believe me, I’m a question-asker.”

– Tahisha Richards, MSEd

Alumni

Educational Leadership Literacy / Special Education

Jennie Evans

It almost feels like understatement to say Jennie Evans is well educated. After attaining her bachelor’s degree, she came to …