selectprogram.htm

Before 2004, selecting the right MS Program was very easy--it was simply a choice between the Reading Teacher track (leading to certification as a reading teacher, K-12), or the Classroom track (leading to permanent certification in the area of your provisional).

It's not quite so simple any more. But it isn't all that complicated, either.

Ask three questions

Perhaps the best way to start is to ask yourself three questions:

What level do you want to focus on--birth through grade 1, grades 1-6, grades 5-12, or birth through grade 12?

How specialized do you want to be--to be well prepared for a classroom teaching position, or well prepared for a literacy specialist, or multiple specialist positions?

What teaching certificate(s) do you current possess or are eligible for?

If you have definite answers to the first two questions, and the answer to the third satisfies the prerequisite certification(s)--see eligibility prerequisites here--you already know which program you want. For example, if you're looking to be a pre-school teacher, and you have initial certification in Early Childhood or a provisional in any area with enough time left on it, then the MS Early Childhood (Literacy) program is ideal. If you want to be a literacy specialist in middle or high school, and you have initial certification in any area or a provisional with enough time left on it, then the MS Literacy Specialist 5-12 is the right choice. If you want the works, then either the MS Literacy B-12 or the Special Education/Literacy 67-hr program are for you.

Consider the constraints

But you may have some constraints:

--You live too far away to take classes on campus, and thus can only take online courses. MS Childhood Education (Literacy) is your only option.

--You only have one kind of certification (say, provisional in Elem Ed). If you refer to the eligibility tables (click here) you'll see that some programs are open to you, and some are not.

--You have no teaching certificate, no matter how much teaching experience you've had. SpEd/Literacy 67-hr is your only option.

--You want to be an elementary classroom teacher, but (a) you want to have in-depth understanding of how to teach struggling students, and (b) you want a competitive edge in a tight employment market. The MS Childhood Education (Literacy) will do the job, but the MS Literacy B-6 is a better choice.

--Because of other commitments, you can only study part-time. SpEd/Literacy 40hr and SpEd/Literacy 67hr won't be appropriate (they require full-time study), but all other programs are fine for part-timers.

--You are on a very tight schedule, but can devote yourself to full-time study. SpEd/Literacy 40hr is full-time, and takes one year and two summers. Early Childhood, Childhood Ed (on campus version), Lit B-6 and Lit 5-12 can be completed full-time in a year plus one or two summers. Lit B-12 will take at least two regular semesters plus two summers (it's not just the additional 6 credit hours--Lit B-12 is a 36-hr program--it's that you'll be taking all the practicum courses from both B-6 and 5-12). However, we caution you about fast-tracking your program. First, we don't guarantee that all required courses will be available in the semesters and on the days/times you need. Second, we are preparing reflective practitioners, and a critical component is time to reflect. If simply getting a degree in the shortest amount of time is your goal, then probably you should explore options elsewhere. On the other hand, we have outstanding graduates of our new programs who devoted themselves to their studies full-time, performed superbly in coursework, demonstrated the skills and dispositions we aim for, and graduated with high GPAs within the timeframes we outlined above.

Examine the programs closely

Next, look through the program planning sheets for each of the programs you are thinking about. They can easily be accessed from the menu (left). You'll see that the courses and course distribution requirements differ among the programs--some have many options, others have none. If you want to learn about specific courses, click on Listing of Reading Courses (menu, left, under SELECTING/TAKING COURSES). If you click on a course title, you'll see course templates that describe the course topics, suggested assignments and readings. Doing your homework will help you narrow down the choices, and also prepare you for the actual courses you'll be taking in your selected program.

Ask us

Finally, don't be afraid to ask us about selecting the right program for you. The way to do this is to contact the Department via email (LPapa@albany.edu) or phone (518-442-5594) pose your questions to Linda Papa, Department Secretary. She'll put you in touch with a faculty or staff member best qualified to address your questions.

Prepare an application

If you are all set, and have decided on the right program for you, then proceed immediately to preparing an application. We have detailed advice on that, but the most important suggestion is to get started well in advance of the application deadline. This is one of those tasks that (a) takes longer than you think, and (b) is well worth the effort that goes into it.

Last Updated: October 6, 2005