Literacy, Language & Culture, M.Ed.
FAQs
Applying and Attending
Can I apply for admission to any term?
Yes, applications are accepted for admittance in each semester—Fall, Spring, Summer. Click here for application deadlines.
Do I have to take the GRE?
No.
How long is the program?
The program is flexible, allowing students to progress at their own rate, depending on whether you attend full time or part time. Most part-time students complete this degree program over a two-year (2 courses/semester) to three-year (1-2 courses/semester) period.
Can I still work and complete this program?
Yes, the majority of LLC MEd students still maintain part-time or even full-time employment while pursuing the program.
Do I need a degree in Education to be admitted into this program?
No, but you cannot obtain either the Reading Endorsement (Strand A) or the Reading Specialist certificate (Strand B) without Illinois teacher certification.
Can I transfer other coursework I've completed elsewhere into this program?
1. Up to 12 hours of graduate UIC credit can be transferred into this program, with advisor approval.
2. Up to 9 hours of non-UIC graduate level credit can be transferred into this program, with advisor approval.
Can I defer enrollment?
Yes, with the program coordinator's approval enrollment can be deferred for up to one year.
Are classes taught on Saturday?
No, classes are offered Monday through Thursday from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Is there financial assistance available?
Yes. For scholarship information, please visit our Funding Your Education page for more information. If you are a full-time student, you may want to explore the possibility of a position as a Research Assistant (RA). RAs work anywhere from 10-26 hours per week on a research project that Education faculty are conducting. This pays a stipend for hours worked and, depending on the position, may also provide tuition and fee remission.
Certification and Endorsement
Do I need a teaching certificate to be admitted into this program?
No and Yes. You can enter the LLC MEd program under Strand C without any teaching certificate and get a degree. But, it is not possible to obtain either a state of Illinois Reading Endorsement or Reading Specialist certificate without IL initial teacher certification, as the state considers both the endorsement and the RS certificate as additions to basic certification. If you wish to obtain initial certification, your best bet would be the Graduate MEd program in Elementary Education.
Do I need a teaching certificate to obtain Reading Specialist certification (Strand B)?
Yes; you must have a valid Illinois Type 03 Elementary Education or Type 09 Secondary Education certificate and three years of full-time teaching experience.
I already have a Master’s degree in Education. Can I get a Reading Specialist certificate without having to get another Masters degree?
You must still pursue a 39-hour degree in order to achieve this certificate through UIC’s Council on Teacher Education (CTE).
The only possible exception is if you obtained a M.Ed. from UIC within the past three years. If so, your advisor and the M.Ed. program coordinator can discuss options with CTE.
Is there any additional paperwork I need to complete to obtain Reading Specialist certification (Strand B)?
Yes, you should register with the Council on Teacher Education as soon as possible after beginning your program in Strand B.
Is there any additional paperwork I need to complete to obtain Reading Endorsement (Strand A)?
Yes, you should register with the Council on Teacher Education as soon as possible after beginning your program in Strand A.
Completing the Program
Can I take more than one course each semester if I’m working full-time?
Most students find that if they are teaching full time, they get the most out of their program and coursework if they take only one literacy course each semester. Students may find that because of the scheduling availability of courses, they occasionally will take a second course, consulting with their advisor when doing so. When taking CI 525 or CI 526, associated with tutoring in the Reading Clinic, no other courses may be taken if teaching full-time.
Can I count coursework from my undergraduate program or another masters in this program?
If a course has been used to fulfill requirements for another degree, it may not be applied again toward obtaining your M.Ed. in LLC.
Can I count coursework in Reading that I took several years ago? I did not use it in any other degree program.
All coursework applied to the degree must have been done within 5 years of admission, not be counted toward any previously earned degree, and be graduate-level. Thus, if you are admitted for Fall (August) 2009, all coursework must have been completed no earlier than Fall 2004.
How long do I have to complete my degree?
Your degree must be completed in 5 years from term of admission.
Can I switch Strands after I have been admitted?
You can switch Strands at any time with advisor approval and by completing the appropriate paperwork with the Office of Student Services. Keep in mind, however, that because requirements for the three strands vary somewhat that you must fulfill all of the requirements for the strand from which you graduate. (Also, please note that it can be more challenging to change from Strand A or C into Strand B because the number of students in Strand B is constrained by the space in the Reading Clinic associated courses.)
When do I take the Clinical Practicum courses (CI 525 and CI 526)?
In consultation with your advisor, you should arrange to take CI 525 the final fall semester you are in attendance and CI 526 the final spring semester you are in attendance. (Please note that these courses must be take in sequence; you cannot enroll in 526 before completing 525.)
When do I take CI 536?
CI 536 is a capstone course that prepares students for the Comprehensive Examination. It should be taken during your final full-length (Fall or Spring) semester.
When do I take the Comprehensive Examination?
You will complete the examination on a Saturday morning during the final full-length (Fall or Spring) semester that you are enrolled in any course required for your graduation or enroll during a Fall or Spring semester for only CI 536 and take the exam. (Thus, if you take your last course during a summer semester, you must complete the examination the Spring semester prior to that summer or complete the exam during the following Fall semester.)
Please contact William Teale if you require any additional information.