Literacy CERT

Advanced Certificate in Literacy


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Admission Information

Displaying requirements for the Spring 2025, Summer 2025, and Fall 2025 terms.

Advanced Certificate

  • Points/Credits: 15
  • Entry Terms: Spring, Summer, Fall
  • Enrollment Formats: Full-Time Campus-Based, Part-Time Campus-Based

Certification

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  • Initial Certification: Literacy - All Grades

Application Deadlines

Entry Term AvailablePriority DeadlinesFinal DeadlinesExtended Deadlines
SpringNovember 15, 2024November 15, 2024N/A
SummerApril 1, 2025April 1, 2025N/A
FallJuly 1, 2025July 1, 2025N/A

Select programs remain open beyond our standard application deadlines, such as those with an extended deadline or those that are rolling (open until June or July). If your program is rolling or has an extended deadline indicated above, applications are reviewed as they are received and on a space-available basis. We recommend you complete your application as soon as possible as these programs can close earlier if full capacity has been met.

Application Requirements

 Requirement
 Online Degree Application, including Statement of Purpose and Resume
 Transcripts and/or Course-by-Course Evaluations for all Undergraduate/Graduate Coursework Completed
 Results from an accepted English Proficiency Exam (if applicable)
 $75 Application Fee
 Two (2) Letters of Recommendation
 Master's degree required
 Supplemental application required (included in online application)
 Recommenders must have interacted with the applicant within the last five (5) years
 Must hold Master's degree and certification in a related teaching area (e.g., elementary education, English education) to be eligible for NYS initial Literacy certification
 Teaching and educational professionals with a minimum of two (2) years of experience in their field who are not interested in pursuing literacy certification but want to broaden their understanding of literacy assessment and intervention should speak with the program before applying

For admission-related inquiries, please contact HAEPadmission@tc.columbia.edu.

Requirements from the TC Catalog (AY 2024-2025)

Displaying catalog information for the Fall 2024, Spring 2025 and Summer 2025 terms.

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Course Requirements:  15 points Fall/Spring/Summer Entry

Courses in the Advanced Certificate in Literacy are designed to enable educators to work more knowledgeably with both typically developing as well as struggling readers and writers across the grade span using evidenced based techniques. The Advanced Certificate Program can be completed within one academic year if needed with students taking two courses in the Fall term and three courses in the Spring semester. Alternatively, It can also be readily be completed over two years during those fall and spring terms. Students should know that the practicum course offered in the spring requires an additional 3 hours per week of direct contact with school-aged individuals who are not meeting grade level expectations in reading and writing because of literacy difficulty, even if they are not formally diagnosed with a reading/learning disability.  These hours are in addition to class and supervision time. Note that NYS requires practicum work with both the lower level (Pre-K to Grade 4) and upper level (Grades 5-12) of the literacy grade span.

HBSK 4072 (3) – Theory and Techniques of Assessment and Intervention in Reading

Provides an overview of theories and research pertaining to reading acquisition and assessment and intervention techniques for reading across the lifespan. Content is organized according to four major themes: the psychology of reading development, language structures, assessment, and intervention.

This course is offered in the Fall, Spring and Summer terms.

HBSK 5098 (3) – Diagnosis of Reading and Writing Disabilities

This course discusses theory and research pertaining to reading and writing disabilities, and students learn to formulate a diagnosis based on standardized, norm-referenced tests. Students obtain experience in administering, scoring and interpreting a battery of measures. The course takes a lifespan perspective in its examination of reading and writing disabilities in children, adolescents, and adults. Pre-requisite:  Grade of B or better in HBSK 4072.

This course is offered in the Spring term only.

HBSK 5099 (3) – Writing Interventions Theory and Practice

This is a literacy course that applies research on cognitive, linguistic, affective, social, and cultural processes underlying writing performance to the development of writing interventions. Writing is discussed within the context of language and literacy development. Students learn to evaluate evidence-based writing interventions for both typically developing and special-needs populations of differing ages and in various educational settings.

This course is offered in the Fall term only.

HBSK 5373 (3) – Practicum in Literacy Assessment and Intervention I

This is a practicum course that prepares students to assess, analyze, and remediate literacy difficulties using research-based practices and resources. In class sessions, students learn to understand assessment and instruction across a broad spectrum of skill areas reflecting the most common areas of difficulty for struggling readers and writers. Students apply those skills in their work in the Dean-Hope Center for Educational and Psychological Services (CEPS) with individuals who have literacy difficulties. The course includes training in a structured literacy program. Pre-requisite:  Grade of B or better in HBSK 4072.

This course is offered in the Spring term only.

 

 

HBSE 4071 (3) – Language and Literacy in Literature and the Content Areas for the DHH and Students with Language Delay/Language Based Reading Disabilities

This course addresses the ‘reading to learn’ stage and explores the relationship between literacy instruction and content area study (literature, science, math, social studies). Particular emphasis is given to the reading, language mediation and study of expository materials at all levels of the curriculum. Specific teaching and learning strategies for deaf, hard of hearing and students with language delays and/or language-based reading disabilities will be covered.

This course is offered in the Spring term only.

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