Department of Literacy and Early Education
M.A. in Education,
Reading/Language Arts OptionDr. Glenn DeVoogd, Department Chair
Dr. Imelda Basurto, Graduate Program Coordinator
- Making a Difference in a Diverse Society | Program Development | The Four Program Dimensions | Faculty | Quick Facts
Making a Difference in a Diverse Society
In the graduate education programs at California State University, Fresno, students are preparing to effect change within a culturally diverse society. The Kremen School of Education and Human Development is committed to being one of the best education school in the nation. To that end, the faculty has developed and approved a vision statement accompanied by the theme "Making a Difference in a Diverse Society." Standing behind this ideal, we are determined to make a real difference in the development of human potential through education and in the quality of practice in our schools. All program delivery is based on the school's commitment to developing reflective, collaborative leaders.
The Master of Arts degree program in Education with an option in Reading/Language Arts has been designed to address the needs of the communities we serve. Our program provides specialized preparation in Reading/ Language Arts for classroom and resource teachers, for reading and language development specialists, and for clinic and curriculum supervisors. Our program graduates have gone on to pursue advanced degrees, teach in community colleges, serve as reading/language arts consultants, establish private clinics, and work for publishing companies. In addition, graduates have assumed leadership roles as officers in professional organizations, specialists in staff development, and leaders in school districts. They are making a difference in their respective communities.
Program Development
The model for the knowledge base of our Reading/Language Arts Program encompasses five major areas:
- the reading process
- integrated language arts
- literature for children and adolescents
- second language acquisition
- assessment
Students become familiar with the research in each of these areas and are expected to draw from this to make decisions as a reflective, collaborative leader regarding curriculum and their philosophical view.
The Master of Arts degree in Education with an option in Reading/Language Arts is a 30-unit program. Within these 30 units are 12 units of the Reading/Language Arts core, 8 units of electives in Reading/Language Arts, and 10 units in the Research core.
The Reading/Language Arts Specialist Credential is a 27-unit program and may be taken separately or may be incorporated in the master's degree program. Of the 27 units required for the Reading/Language Arts Specialist Credential, 21 of these units may be applied to the master's degree program.
The Four Program Dimensions
The faculty in the Kremen School of Education and Human Development have designated four dimensions around which all programs in graduate education revolve.
Philosophical and Ideological Dimension
In the Reading/Language Arts program, students learn historical and contemporary philosophies of literacy learning. Our students learn about how children and adolescents learn language and become literate. They review language acquisition theories and examine the reading and writing processes. A solid understanding of language acquisition and child language development is emphasized. Emphasis is also placed on the relationship between cognitive development and sociocultural contexts of language development. The relationship between first and second language acquisition is stressed, focusing on the role of the first language in second language development and the common underlying proficiency model of bilingual proficiencies.
Cognitive and Reflective Dimension
Thoughtful planning and decision making are fundamental aspects of the Reading/Language Arts Specialist Credential Program. Throughout the program, students are asked to be reflective and analytical of their learning and teaching behaviors. They are asked to evaluate learners, the reading context, and the match between the learner and context.
Integration and Application of Knowledge Dimension
In every course of the Reading/Language Arts Program, students translate theory into practice as they learn specific techniques and approaches of language arts instruction. Field work experiences are developmentally designed to relate directly to coursework and culminate in the students' experience working as a reading specialist.
The Diversity Dimension
A major component of the Reading/Language Arts Program is preparing teachers to meet the challenges of cultural and linguistic diversity and the changing American society. We believe that our students should develop a sound knowledge base of second language acquisition to enable them to effectively teach all students, including Limited English Proficient students. Throughout the program students learn ways to create a multicultural classroom, read multicultural literature, and validly assess the language and literacy development of diverse learners. This component of the Reading/ Language Arts program is crucial to the training of teachers who can effectively meet the needs of the culturally and linguistically diverse student population in the area that our institution serves.
We believe our program ranks among the most competitive and innovative in the nation. The completion of our Education Building in 1994 reflects our dedication to offering the very best in graduate and undergraduate degree programs. This 121,000 square foot facility offers many special features which are organized into the several major program centers. The Education and Human Development Center houses both a clinical center and a learning development center. In the Interdisciplinary Instructional Center, computer classrooms, self-study laboratories, and a demonstration classroom are available. The Graduate Research Center enables students to conduct research, develop projects, and write theses. This center also serves as a research base in developing and conducting collaborative research initiatives with area school districts. The Instructional Technology Center focuses on instructional media and materials, and provides for audio-video technology support and development within the Education Building and extending to regional sites.
With this expansion and development, we have assumed a regional leadership role as a university wholly dedicated to Making a Difference in a Diverse Society.
Making a Difference in a Diverse Society | Program Development | The Four Program Dimensions | Faculty | Quick Facts