UGA College of Education introduces new online degree in reading education
Athens, Ga. - The University of Georgia College of Education will offer a new online master’s degree in reading education with an emphasis on new and digital literacies. The department of language and literacy education is accepting applications until June 30 for the fall 2012 cohort.
The degree is only the third at UGA where students can take classes entirely online. The first was an online master’s degree in adult education, also housed in the College of Education.
The new program, traditionally offered exclusively on the Athens campus, is specifically designed to meet the needs of certified teachers who are unable to pursue face-to-face coursework in Athens.
“The department of language and literacy education is excited about the possibility of working with students who haven’t been able to take courses at UGA due to distance or family responsibilities,” said Bob Fecho, professor and reading program coordinator in the department.
The goal of the program is to educate teachers in methods that advance their students as readers in the broadest sense-from printed materials to digital multimedia environments. The degree is appropriate for teachers working with students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.
This two-year program will admit 20 students each fall semester of even-numbered years. As a cohort, students will be expected to take all courses in sequence and to matriculate in the summer session.
Students will be required to take two courses per semester for six semesters. The program offers a strong core of understanding of research-based literacy instruction, cultural and historical foundations and research. The core will be augmented by 12 credits of specialization courses focused on new and digital literacies. Discussion of course topics with peers and interaction with instructors will be facilitated with e-learning and Web 2.0 platforms. Tuition is set at the university’s e-rate for distance education.
For more information, see http://bit.ly/UGAonlineMEd.
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