Language and Literacy Degree Program

About the Program

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The Simmons College graduate program in Language and Literacy is an innovative program designed to provide advanced training to an educator who wishes to specialize in meeting the needs of learners with language-based challenges in both specialized and inclusive settings. The program is research-based and incorporates methodologies, strategies, and techniques developed using multisensory structured language principles. The strategies employed and the skills mastered are of equal relevance and benefit to all learners. The goal is a significant reduction in the percentage of learners currently being identified with reading and writing skills below a basic level of achievement in general education settings.

Degree Options

There are two degree options that students may pursue—the Education Specialist (Ed. S.) and the Master of Science in Education (M.S. Ed.). The Ed. S. degree is an advanced graduate program that provides a student who currently holds a master's degree with an area of educational specialization. Emphasis is placed on the preparation of the master teacher in a specialized area and the development of leadership skills. The M.S. Ed. degree meets the educational needs of an individual who wishes to gain more knowledge in an area of special needs and both degrees have the option that might lead to Massachusetts licensure in reading.

Courses (Subject to change)

RDG 406 The Structure of Language for Teachers I
Designed to acquaint educators with the structure of the English language and with the methods of teaching reading and spelling through the use of multisensory and associative teaching techniques.

RDG 461 Reading Research
Focus on past and current research in areas of reading and language arts. Evaluate reading theories and research within a framework and determine appropriate instruction based upon the findings.

RDG 429 Language Development and Disorders
This course will explore the components of typical and atypical language and development across the linguistic domains—phonology, morphology, semantics, syntax, and pragmatics. The behavioral manifestations associated with language disorders and their impact on academic functioning, particularly development of written language skills, will be assessed.

RDG 410 Multisensory Structured Language Skills Across Curricula
Learn to identify and develop appropriate strategies to meet the needs of diverse learners in reading, language arts, and social studies. Explore the principles of inclusion and applying instructional strategies and curricular adaptations that are most effective in both general and special education settings.

RDG 433 The Structure of Language for Teachers II
Designed to further explore the structure of English language through syntax and syntactical structure with a focus on language comprehension.

RDG 457 Technology to Support Reading and Writing
As classrooms increasingly have access to new learning technologies, it is important to support professionals in trying to meet the literacy, learning, and assistive technology needs of students who struggle with reading and writing. Primary focus is on technology-based instructional strategies to help differentiate learning.

RDG 572 Internship Experience - Fall Semester
Use multisensory, structured language principles, under supervision, with learners who have language, reading, and writing challenges, implementing the methods of the Wilson reading System. This is an opportunity to pursue Wilson Level One training.

RDG 572 Internship Experience - Spring Semester
Use multisensory, structured language principles, under supervision, with learners who have language, reading, and writing challenges, implementing the methods of the Wilson reading System. This is an opportunity to pursue Wilson Level One training.

RDG 428 Teaching of Writing
Explore the effect of weakness in receptive and expressive language, organization, memory, and visual motor coordination on written production. Learn teaching techniques to address these challenges.

RDG 432 Reading Assessment
An in-depth course in administering and interpreting data obtained from formal and informal reading assessments. Learn to develop specific recommendations for appropriate reading and written language curricula to enhance the development for learners.

RDG 469 Topics in Clinical Practice
Work with learners with special needs under the mentorship of a faculty advisor. Study and apply current classroom techniques in language-based instruction.

RDG 573 Practicum in Reading
Provides supervision and mentoring in the area of reading. Presents program management and evaluation procedures.

Program Advisory Board

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Barbara A. Wilson, Chair
Louisa Moats
Sylvia Richardson
Rebecca Felton
Marilyn Adams