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Master of Arts

Program Description

The primary goal of the 36-semester hour Master of Arts in Reading Instruction (MARI) program is to provide candidates with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to become a building or district-level Reading Specialist. Coursework is designed to address the Reading Specialist standards of the International Reading Association (IRA) and the six areas required for licensure by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE). The degree is intended for experienced, practicing licensed teachers who seek to become reading coaches or reading specialists. The Reading Specialist must successfully complete the Reading Specialist Content Test (#176).

Thirty-six semester hours are required for the Master of Arts in Reading Instruction (MARI) degree. Thirty semester hours involve coursework designated to develop candidates’ content knowledge and skills related to reading instruction and program leadership. The remaining six semester hours are spent in a supervised clinical experience involving assessment and instruction with struggling readers (EDU-6410 Practicum in Reading).

Full-time coursework leading to the degree consists of six semester hours per term for a total of 18 semester hours per year and 36 semester hours for the MARI degree. Of the 36 semester hours, six involve a supervised clinical practicum in assessment and instruction with struggling readers. The program also involves candidates in various field experiences in which they apply course content to their classroom instruction, to individual work with a struggling reader, or to developing coaching and collaboration skills.  

Thirty-six semester hours (30 semester hours in content related to literacy 6 semester hours of supervised clinical practicum involving assessment and tutoring with struggling readers).

Admission Requirements

• A valid Illinois professional educator license (early childhood, elementary, secondary, special PreK–12, or preschool-age 21)
• One or more years of teaching experience in a PreK–12 setting and current teaching position
• A completed Graduate Application for Admission (aurora.edu/auapply)
• Transcripts (official, sealed in envelope) from the last degree earned: undergraduate degree indicating a GPA of 2.75 or higher or a graduate degree indicating a GPA of 3.0 or higher, both based on a 4.0 scale. Aurora University accepts official electronic transcripts at AU-ETranscripts@aurora.edu.
• A current resume documenting required teaching and leadership experience
• A recommendation from your current building principal or direct supervisor

The School of Education Graduate Faculty Committee may accept a maximum of nine semester hours of graduate credit from regionally accredited institutions of higher learning for application toward elective degree requirements. Transfer credit is completed prior to enrollment in the first course of the program. Graduate faculty reserve the right to decide on the applicability of all transfer credit.

All courses must be less than five years old at the time of admission and must be completed with a grade of “B” or better.  An official transcript must be provided. University policy states that a maximum of six semester hours taken as a “Student-At- Large” may be applied toward a graduate degree program.

Program Requirements

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required Courses
EDU-6300	Professional Research in Literacy Learning	6
EDU-6310	Effective Word Study Instruction	3
EDU-6320	Effective Comprehension Instruction	3
EDU-6330	Literacy in the Content Area	3
EDU-6340	Assessment of Literacy Learning	3
EDU-6350	Teaching Reading to Diverse Learners	3
EDU-6370	Texts for Children	3
EDU-6380	Supervision and Administration in Literacy I	3
EDU-6390	Supervision and Administration in Literacy II	3
EDU-6410	Practicum in Reading	6
Total Credits		36

Graduate Degree Requirements

1. Completion of all coursework specified by the graduate program.
2. Cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, or higher if specified by the graduate program.
3. Submission of all pre-graduation materials required by the graduate program.
4. Acceptance of thesis or other required final project by the graduate program.
5. Submission of two copies of approved thesis or project in a specified form together with payment of binding fee where applicable.
6. Submission of Application for Graduation and payment of any graduation fees assessed by the university.
7. In the case of certification programs, submission of all governmental forms.
8. Residency Requirement: A minimum of 25% percent of the total credits required for the completion of the graduate degree or post-baccalaureate certificate or credential must be earned at Aurora University. Individual programs may establish more extensive residency requirements, including requirements that specific coursework be completed at Aurora University.

Attendance Policy

Attendance is mandatory at all class sessions. If a candidate is to be absent for any reason, they must discuss the expected absence with the course instructor before the absence occurs.

Academic Standards and Evaluation in Graduate Education Programs

Upon completion of each course, letter grades are assigned to each candidate. At the graduate level, a “C” grade indicates less than complete mastery of the content and methods of the course. Only two grades of “C” are accepted at the graduate level. If a “C” is received within the first three courses, the candidate may be removed from the program, by action of the program faculty.

Learning Outcomes