Program Overview

The Professional Diploma in Advanced Literacy Studies is designed for teachers with a master’s degree in education and an interest in advanced studies in literacy. The P.D. in Advanced Literacy Studies provides a critical examination of current issues in literacy pedagogy for experienced teachers interested in the professional development of literacy teachers. The professional diploma involves advanced course work in contemporary theory and practice in literacy studies, language and language learning, reading and writing processes, advocacy for language learners, literacy in families and communities, and cultural and historical perspectives of literacy and schooling. Students will examine a range of theoretical approaches to teacher inquiry, staff development, and teacher leadership in literacy education. Two years of supervised field work provide first hand experiences working with readers and writers who struggle, and examining critical issues in literacy learning and teaching with colleagues and parents.

Program I: Professional Diploma in Advanced Literacy Studies

This program provides advanced studies in literacy pedagogy and professional development for students who have a master’s degree in reading or literacy studies and current certification in reading or literacy. We are looking for applicants who are committed, life-long teacher/learners with a potential for language arts/literacy staff development. This program prepares students for the following positions:

• Classroom teachers with advanced preparation in literacy learning, teaching, and teacher research.
• Literacy specialists with advanced preparation in one-on-one and small group instruction in literacy processes.
• Literacy specialists prepared to work collaboratively with classroom teachers in designing and implementing effective literacy instruction in inclusive environments.
• Lead teachers or mentor teachers, working at the building level, to provide consultations, demonstrations and resources for language arts/literacy teachers.
• Language arts/literacy specialists at the building or district level.
• Language arts/literacy consultants and writers.

Admission Requirements

1. Master’s degree in education with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
2. Current certification in reading or literacy.
3. A letter of application describing teaching experiences and interest in professional development in literacy.
4. Minimum of 2 years of full-time teaching experience.
5. Two recommendations including at least one school administrator.
6. Interview with a member of the Literacy Studies faculty. Portfolios or other examples of applicant’s work are welcome at interviews.

Program Requirements - Semester Hours: 30

Graduation Requirements

1. Completion of a minimum of 30 semester hours in prescribed courses, including at least 24 semester hours in residence, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
2. Completion of the supervised field experience involving a minimum of 70 hours of field work.
3. Completion of a professional paper on literacy teaching.

Program II: P.D.: Adv. Literacy Studies With NYS Teacher of Literacy Certification (B-G 6 or G 5-12)

This program provides advanced studies in literacy pedagogy and professional development for students who have completed a Master’s Degree in Education and have initial or provisional certification. We are looking for applicants who are committed, life-long teacher/learners with a potential for language arts/literacy staff development. Students in this program work towards certification in Literacy Studies as they complete the Professional Diploma. Students in this program are prepared to meet the educational requirements for certification as literacy specialists in either early childhood and childhood education, Birth through Grade 6, or middle childhood and adolescence, Grade 5 through 12.

This program prepares students for the following positions:

• Classroom teachers with advanced preparation in literacy learning, teaching, and teacher research.
• Literacy specialists with advanced preparation in one-on-one and small group instruction in literacy processes.
• Literacy specialists prepared to work collaboratively with classroom teachers in designing and implementing effective literacy instruction in inclusive environments.
• Lead teachers or mentor teachers, working at the building level, to provide consultations, demonstrations and resources for language arts/literacy teachers.
• Language arts/literacy specialists at the building or district level.
• Language arts/literacy consultants and writers.

Program Requirements - Semester Hours: 42

The Professional Diploma in Advanced Literacy Studies includes a series of six courses, with related field courses, providing advanced course work in literacy pedagogy and professional development in literacy studies. The core sequence is typically taken during six consecutive semesters (fall, spring, summer) in a cohort group. All P.D. students are expected to participate in the Summer Community Literacy Project (involving a three- to four-week session with K-12 students) during the first year.

Students in Program II also take five additional courses in Literacy Studies. These courses are taken as a prerequisite or corequisite to core courses, as indicated on the plan of study. With advisement, students may transfer up to one course (3 s.h.) in language arts/literacy teaching and one course (3 s.h.) in children�s or adolescent literature taken previously at the graduate level.

Courses in Literacy Studies (Birth-Grade 6) - Semester Hours: 15

Phase I - Semester Hours: 9

• LYST 213 - Introduction to Bilingual and Biliteracy Instruction for Children and Adolescents Semester Hours: 3

• or

• LYST 214 - Language and Literacy in Early Childhood and Childhood Semester Hours: 3

• or

• LYST 216 - Literacy Learning at Home and in School: Social Contexts of Young Children Learning to Read and Write Semester Hours: 3
• LYST 218 - Reading and Writing Practices in Early Childhood and Childhood Semester Hours: 3
• LYST 220 - Literature in the Lives of Young Children Semester Hours: 3

Phase II - Semester Hours: 6

• LYST 241 - Miscue Analysis and Retrospective Miscue Analysis Semester Hours: 3
• LYST 242 - Literacy Practicum: Assessing the Complexity of Student Learning (Birth Through Grade 6) Semester Hours: 3

Courses in Literacy Studies (Grades 5-12) - Semester Hours: 15

Graduation Requirements

1. Completion of a minimum of 42 semester hours in prescribed courses, including at least 36 hours in residence, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
2. Completion of a 50-hour practicum as a literacy specialist.
3. Completion of the professional diploma supervised field experience involving a minimum of 70 hours of field work.
4. Completion of a professional paper on literacy teaching.

Teacher Certification Requirements

Upon successful completion of a school-based program, students will be eligible to apply for the University’s recommendation for New York state certification. The state requires applicants to have passing scores on each of the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations (NYSTCE): the Liberal Arts and Sciences Test (LAST), the Assessment of Teaching Skills-Written (ATS-W), and the appropriate Content Specialty Tests (CSTs). The state will not issue certification to individuals not receiving passing scores on all New York examinations.

In addition to fulfilling the required courses of study, the Commissioner’s Regulations mandate that all prospective teachers, pupil personnel and education leaders receive instructions regarding:
    1.     Identification of Child Abuse and Maltreatment.
    2.     Fire and Arson Prevention.
    3.     School Violence Prevention and Intervention.
    4.     Prevention of Alcohol, Tobacco and Drug Abuse.
    5.     Highway and School Safety/Prevention of Child Abduction.

New York State legislation also requires all persons seeking certification as special education teachers or school administrators working in special education to have training in the area of children with autism. All of these requirements must be completed before the conferral of the degree and recommendation for certification. Candidates for certification in New York state must also demonstrate satisfactory performance on the requisite state assessment. No degrees will be conferred without the completion of all of these requirements. Please contact the Office of Certification and Educational Support Services for information regarding fingerprinting, examinations and seminars.

Relationship Between P.D. in Advanced Literacy Studies and the Literacy Studies Doctoral Program

The Professional Diploma in Advanced Literacy Studies is recommended for teachers with a primary interest in exploring issues of pedagogy and staff development in literacy. It is also recommended for advanced graduate students interested in literacy certification. Students with a primary interest in teacher research, research in language and literacy, and/or a position in higher education are encouraged to apply to the Literacy Studies doctoral program. Completion of the Professional Diploma in Advanced Literacy Studies does not guarantee admissions into the doctoral program.

Students awarded a diploma must meet all of the requirements and complete all the standard procedures for admissions into the Literacy Studies doctoral program. Students who receive a Professional Diploma in Advanced Literacy Studies at Hofstra and are accepted into the doctoral program may bring up to 45 semester hours into the doctoral program subject to approval by faculty in the Literacy Studies Department.