Candidates in the UVEI Literacy Educators Program may also choose to pursue an MEd in Literacy Teaching or Literacy Instructional Leadership. These MEd degrees are intensive, 1-3 year courses of study combining the following elements:
- Demonstration of core teaching competency
- Demonstration of core literacy education competency through the literacy educator licensure program
- Pursuit of advanced research-based practice in literacy instruction or literacy instructional leadership through the literacy educator licensure program
- Completion of a year long action research project in literacy instruction or literacy instructional leadership
The MEd degree pathways are driven by inquiry, experience and demonstration of competency, rather than a focus on courses or exams. A large part of the program consists of structured and independent practice in the school and classroom, and the seminar component of the program blends in person seminars with synchronous online seminars. All seminars take place on weekdays in the late afternoon. Successful candidates are self-motivated educators who want to look deeply at their own practice, think about critical issues, and are interested in meaningful measures of literacy education effectiveness.