Curriculum and Instruction: Literacy and English Language Learning / Master of Education (M.Ed.)
This program leads to endorsements as a Reading Teacher and as a teacher for English Language Learners. The dual endorsement M.Ed. coursework meets State of Illinois requirements for both ESL and reading teacher endorsements. These endorsements are valid only at the grade levels of the teachers' current license. Coursework in this program is aligned with the Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) and International Literacy Association (ILA) standards.
Candidates who seek a Bilingual Endorsement must also take ENLE 52700.
- In addition to the in College of Education admission requirements, candidates seeking the Master of Education in Literacy and English Language Learning must meet the following requirements:
- A valid Illinois Professional Educator License with teaching endorsement.
- Fulfillment of Survey of Exceptional Child requirement (105 ILCS 5/21-2a).
- Successful completion of the following program requirements. No more than 6 hours may be transferred; certain courses may not be transferred.
Degree Offered: Master of Education
Total Credit Hours: 33 + Comprehensive Examination
Degree Requirements
Program: MED-LELL-E
Required courses (30)
| ENLE-51000 | Foundations of Bilingual and English Language Learner Education | 3 |
| ENLE-51200 | Linguistics for Teachers of English Language Learners | 3 |
| ENLE-52600 | Curriculum and Instruction for English Language Learning | 3 |
| EDLD-55700 | Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment for School Improvement | 3 |
| RDLT-53900 | Assessment of Literacy and English Language Learning | 3 |
| RDLT-54200 | Cross-Cultural Studies in Literacy and English Language Learning | 3 |
| RDLT-50900 | Child and Adolescent Literature | 3 |
| RDLT-53300 | Strategic Comprehension Instruction and Practicum for the Reading Teacher | 3 |
| RDLT-53600 | Theory and Practice for Intervention and Remediation of Reading | 3 |
| RDLT-57500 | Practical Research for Learning Communities | 3 |
One of the following courses (3)
| RDLT-52300 | Foundations and Methods of Teaching Content Area Reading and Intermediate-Adolescent Literacy | 3 |
| - | OR (dependent on previous coursework) | |
| RDLT-52400 | Foundations and Methods of Teaching Developmental Reading and Early Literacy | 3 |
Clinical hours are embedded in course assignments. Reading Teacher endorsement requires 65 clinical/fieldwork hours. ESL endorsement requires 100 clinical/fieldwork hours or 3 months teaching with ESL/ELL students.
Comprehensive Examination Required
The following courses may be substituted for dual Reading and ESL endorsement students:
- RDLT 52700 for RDLT 54200
- RDLT 53800 for RDLT 53900
In order to meet the ISBE Reading Teacher Endorsement requirements, the design of the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction: Literacy and English Language Learning requires that a candidate have at least three hours of previous graduate or undergraduate coursework in reading. Anyone who does not have three hours of previous reading coursework can fulfill that deficiency through Lewis University.
State Assessment Requirements
At the conclusion of the program, candidates seeking Reading Teacher Endorsement on a Professional Educator License must pass the Illinois Test for the Reading Teacher, or its State-approved equivalent. At this time, there is no state test for ESL endorsement. Candidates pursuing a Bilingual endorsement must pass a State-approved language test.