Reading and Language Arts, Master of Arts in Teaching

Department of Teaching and Learning
485B Pawley Hall (Map)
teach@oakland.edu
www.oakland.edu/teach

Coordinator:
Dr. Jason Moore
jasonmoore@oakland.edu

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Program description

Most Master of Arts in Teaching-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 Reading Specialist (BR). To add the endorsement, candidates must complete the coursework and pass the state of Michigan 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 Oakland University’s Graduate School by the semester deadlines listed below. Incomplete applications will not be sent to departments for admission review.

Admission is rolling, and you will be able to be admitted for the next academic semester subsequent to your application submission (fall, winter, or summer).

International Applicants

Application requirements

To be considered for graduate admission, applicants must submit all Graduate Application Requirements and additional department requirements by the published application deadlines:

Graduate Application Requirements

In addition to the Graduate School online application ( https://gradapply.oakland.edu/apply/), you’ll need the following:

Two recommendation forms
Official transcripts from previous academic work

Admission review and assessment

Admission to graduate school at Oakland University is selective. In making admission recommendations to Oakland University’s Graduate School, 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 Reading and Language Arts degree is awarded upon satisfactory completion of 32 credits in an approved program of study.

Course requirements (32 credits)

8 classes across two years:

RDG 5520 - Foundations of Reading Instruction (4 credits) (fall semester)
RDG 5558 - Disciplinary Literacies (3 or 4 credits) (winter semester)
RDG 6996 - Master’s Project (4 credits) (summer semester)
RDG 5542 - Teaching Writing in the Elementary and Secondary Schools (4 credits) (summer semester)
RDG 5640 - Leadership in Literacy Instruction (4 credits) (fall semester)
RDG 5533 - Adolescent Literature in Middle Schools, Junior and Senior High Schools (4 credits) (winter semester)
RDG 6962 - Literacy Assessment (4 credits) (summer semester)
RDG 6963 - Assessment-Based Literacy Instruction (4 credits) (summer semester)

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 for all financial aid recipients each semester.

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 academic program. The student must also maintain a minimum semester and overall GPA of 3.0.

Good academic standing is a requirement for:

Holding a Graduate Assistantship
Receiving a fellowship or scholarship
Advancing to candidacy for a graduate degree
Going on a leave of absence
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 by the student to Oakland University Graduate School.

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. (See the Graduate Student Responsibility section of this catalog.)

Note: Credit granted for successful completion of a course toward an undergraduate degree program may not be repeated for a graduate degree. If a substitution is approved, the minimum number of program-approved graduate credits will be required. A Petition of Exception - OU Course Waiver/ Substitution requesting the substitution must be approved.