Mar 29, 2024  
2011-2012 Graduate Catalog 
    
2011-2012 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master of Arts in Teaching in Reading and Language Arts


 

Department of Reading and Language Arts
485K Pawley Hall  (map)
(248) 370-3065 • Fax (248) 370-4367
http://www.oakland.edu/rla

Apply Online

► Class Schedule Search

 

Coordinator:
Linda M. Pavonetti
460C Pawley Hall
(248) 370-4683
pavonett@oakland.edu

 

Program description

Most Master of Arts in Teaching in reading and language arts students are classroom teachers whose daily work requires them to deal with the literacy needs of young children, adolescents or adults. Instruction in the MAT program prepares classroom teachers to work effectively and efficiently in settings where class sizes may range from 5 to 40 or more learners. The MAT program allows certified teachers to add a Michigan endorsement as a Classroom Reading Teacher (BT), a Language Arts Teacher (BX) or a building level Reading Specialist (BR). The core program is the same for each endorsement but Oakland can only recommend students for one endorsement program based on those courses. Requirements and elective options vary according to the intended endorsement program. Endorsement candidates must complete the coursework and pass the appropriate state of Michigan certification endorsement test before the endorsement can be issued by the State.

Admission terms and application deadlines

Before an applicant’s file can be reviewed for full program admission, all application documents must be received in Graduate Admissions by the semester deadlines listed below.

  • November 15, 2011 for the Winter 2012 semester
  • March 15, 2012 for the Summer 2012 semester
  • July 15, 2012 for the Fall 2012 semester
  • November 15, 2012 for the Winter 2013 semester
  • March 15, 2013 for the Summer 2013 semester
  • July 15, 2013 for the Fall 2013 semester

International applicants:  International applications are reviewed for fall and winter admission only. To ensure adequate time for review, international applications must be completed at least six months before the desired date of intended enrollment to the University. All international application materials must be submitted by May 1 for fall admission and by September 1 for winter admission.

Special Graduate classification:  Applicants who are seeking a graduate degree or graduate certificate, but are unable to meet the deadline for filing all required application materials or credentials for graduate admission, may contact the department and request Special Graduate temporary admission.  The applicant must submit an Application for Admission to Graduate Study, plus a copy of a transcript providing evidence of a bachelor’s degree awarded and any specific evidence concerning their qualifications for graduate study as required by the department.  Up to 12 credits may be earned in the Special Graduate classification. Admission as a special graduate student in no way assures subsequent admission to a degree or graduate certificate program.

Application requirements

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all of the following university and program application documents by the published application deadlines.

University graduate application requirements
  • Application for Admission to Graduate Study       
  • Official transcripts providing evidence of an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited U.S. institution, OR a degree equivalent to a four-year U.S. baccalaureate degree from a college or university of government-recognized standing.
  • Official transcripts for all post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned a degree (beginning with the first baccalaureate) and for all enrollment in graduate-level coursework beyond the bachelor’s degree. International university transcripts must be evaluated by a professional credential evaluation service.
    • As part of the admission requirements, graduate programs may require official transcripts from post-secondary educational institutions from which the applicant earned an associate’s degree and all enrollment in coursework both pre- and post-bachelor’s degree.
  • Two official and original Recommendation for Graduate Admission forms.
  • Proof of English language proficiency
  • International supplemental application and supporting documentation  must be submitted before international applicants can be issued the Certification of Eligibility (I-20). This certificate is required to apply for a student visa from the U.S. embassy or consulate.
Program application requirements

Admission review and assessment

Admission to graduate study at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning, each department assesses the potential of applicants for success in the program by examining their undergraduate records, goal statement, letters of recommendation, prerequisite courses and any other admission requirements established by the academic department.

The department considers only those applicants who hold baccalaureate degrees from regionally-accredited institutions. While an undergraduate grade-point average of at least 3.0 is the minimum standard for admission, other factors bearing on potential academic success are given due consideration.

Degree requirements


The Master of Arts in Teaching in reading and language arts degree is awarded upon satisfactory completion of 36 credits in an approved program of study. If the two-course option, in lieu of RDG 699 (Master’s Practicum), is selected, the program requires 40 credits.

Endorsement requirements and elective courses


MAT plus Classroom Teacher (BT) endorsement


The MAT plus Classroom Reading Teacher (BT) endorsement provides the most flexibility in choice of electives. The program consists of the core courses plus 12 credits of electives in Reading (RDG) or Instructional Systems Technology (IST). Any 500- or 600-level course with a RDG or IST designation preceding the course number constitutes an acceptable elective. In addition, RDG or IST 700-level courses may serve as electives, but only with adviser and course instructor permission. If you choose to substitute two additional electives for RDG 699, Master’s Practicum (previously Master’s Project), this would allow five electives.

Teachers can design a focus area for their program through the selection of electives.
 

An Elementary focus would include electives like:

A Middle School and Secondary focus would include electives like: 

 A Research focus would include electives like: 

MAT plus Reading Specialist (BR) endorsement


The MAT plus Reading Specialist (BR) endorsement consists of the core requirements plus RDG 538 and RDG 540 plus one elective. If a student chooses to substitute two additional electives for RDG 699, Master’s Practicum (previously Master’s Project), this would allow three electives. The credits needed to graduate remain the same in either program.

MAT plus Language Arts (BX) endorsement


The MAT plus Language Arts (BX) endorsement consists of the core requirements plus RDG 534 and two electives. These electives must fulfill the English and Linguistics requirements for this endorsement. If these requirements have been met with undergraduate courses not used for a previous endorsement, then RDG or IST electives can be substituted to fulfill the needed electives. If a student chooses to substitute two additional electives for RDG 699, Master’s Practicum (previously Master’s Project), this would allow four electives.
 

Satisfactory academic progress


Satisfactory academic progress (SAP) is the term used to denote a student’s successful completion of coursework toward a certificate or degree. Federal regulations require the Office of Financial Aid to monitor Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for all financial aid recipients. The required types of monitoring include Time Limit, Completion Rate, Excessive Withdrawals and GPA Requirements. Students who fall behind in their coursework, or fail to achieve minimum standards for grade point average and completion of classes, may lose their eligibility for all types of federal, state and university aid. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for additional details.

Good academic standing


All graduate students are expected to remain in good academic standing  throughout the entire course of their graduate program. To be in good academic standing, a graduate student must make satisfactory progress toward fulfilling degree requirements, including the completion of critical degree milestones as set forth by the applicable program and maintain a minimum semester and overall GPA of 3.0.

Good academic standing is a requirement for:

  1. Holding a Graduate Assistantship
  2. Receiving a fellowship or scholarship
  3. Advancing to candidacy for a graduate degree
  4. Going on a leave of absence
  5. Obtaining a graduate certificate or degree from Oakland University.

Additionally, graduate students must meet all department academic standards which may be more stringent than the minimum set forth by the University.

Graduate students who are not in good academic standing for any reason are subject to probation and/or dismissal from further graduate study.

Related program information


Plan of study

All accepted applicants, in consultation with their assigned faculty program adviser, must develop a plan of study that details specific courses the students will use to satisfy their degree requirements. The plan of study must be approved by the faculty program adviser and submitted to Graduate Study and Lifelong Learning.

Master’s and graduate certificate students must submit a department-approved plan of study by the end of their first semester of graduate coursework. Doctoral students must submit an approved plan of study prior to completion of the first year of coursework.

 

Master of Arts in Teaching Reading and Language Arts with Endorsement in Early Childhood Education (ZS)



Coordinator:

Linda M. Pavonetti
460C Pawley Hall
(248) 370-4683
pavonett@oakland.edu   

 

Program description

A limited number of reading and language arts students will be admitted to the early childhood endorsement sequence. Candidates for admission to the certificate endorsement sequence in early childhood must first be admitted to the MAT in reading and language arts program and then apply to the early childhood program by the June 1 deadline for fall admission (see early childhood education). Students admitted to this sequence must schedule an advising appointment with the program coordinator before taking courses.

Program requirements


This program can lead to two combinations of endorsement: the Early Childhood (ZS) endorsement and either the Classroom Reading Teacher (BT) or Reading Specialist (BR) endorsement.

BT plus ZS program


The BT plus ZS program consists of the MAT core courses, RDG 560 and the 22-credit Early Childhood (EC) sequence shown below.  this is a total of 50 credits; if you choose to substitute two electives for RDG 699, this increases the total to 54 credits.

BR plus ZS program


The BR plus ZS program consists of the MAT core courses (not including RDG 699), RDG 538, 540 and 560 and the 22-credit Early Childhood sequence. This is a total of 54 credits (RDG 538 and RDG 540 substitute for RDG 699).