Online Master's Program in Literacy Studies

The Online Master's Program at the University of Nevada, Reno offers licensed teachers the
opportunity to develop advanced knowledge in the area of Literacy Studies. The online Master
of Education (M.Ed.) degree is a rigorous academic curriculum intended for the practicing
educator. This degree is a total of 40 credits and requires a comprehensive examination at the
end of the program.  The degree focuses on research-based literacy instruction from the
perspective of Multiple Literacies. Literacy in contemporary society is undergoing change as
a result of social, cultural, economic, and technological practices and advances.  As a result of
these changes, literacy encompasses many new ways of reading and writing; literate practices
are not limited to print decoding or cognitive strategies used for comprehension or
composition.  

Educators in modern society must attend to the myriad and complex ways that
social groups construct and disseminate meanings through new and evolving literate
practices.  The online master’s program places special emphasis on the many literacies used in modern society and assumes a critical perspective about relationships between literacies and empowerment in a multicultural and pluralistic world. 


Applicants for the online Master’s Degree Program in Literacy Studies must have an overall cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better (on a 4-point scale) or 3.0 for the last half of the undergraduate degree.

Applicants who are U.S. citizens are not required to take additional tests. International applicants must take the TOEFL.  There are no provisional admissions to the online program. Please use the following checklist to manage the steps of your application.


If you wish to take some course work while awaiting admission to the graduate program, you
will want to apply to the Graduate School for admission as a “Graduate Special” student.
Graduate Special standing allows you to take up to nine graduate credit hours that may apply
to your online master's program. Taking courses prior to admission does not guarantee
admission to the program. Be sure to consult with the Literacy Studies advisor before taking
any courses. Please note that a maximum of 9 credits may be transferred into a master's
degree program from another university or from prior to full admission to the Literacy
Studies program.