The Master of Education (EdM) in Language & Literacy Education is a non-licensure program for professionals who wish to study literacy development and language acquisition. The program has a strong emphasis on building on students’ linguistic and cultural backgrounds and on students’ development of bilingual/multilingual competence. You’ll explore research and practice that informs the acquisition, development, and use of language and literacy in home, school, and community settings.
This master’s program is typically completed in about two semesters and can be started in the fall or spring. It does not lead to initial teacher licensure, although some coursework may prepare you to eventually seek licensure.
Program Pathways
For the master’s in Language & Literacy Education, you can choose one of the three specializations. Regardless of which specialization you choose, you’ll explore research and practice that informs the acquisition, development, and use of language and literacy in home, school, and community settings. The three pathways are:
- Language Education
- Literacy Education
- American Sign Language (ASL) and Deaf Studies
Career Outcomes in Language and Literacy Education
Grow in your knowledge of language and literacy education that informs policy, practice, and research in home, schools, and communities. After completing the EdM in Language & Literacy Education, you’ll have knowledge and understanding in these areas:
- The role of language and culture in the literacy development and learning of children and adolescents
- Representative research and theory
- Effective practices in language/literacy assessment and instruction
- Cognitive, sociocultural, socioemotional, economic, and political components of language/literacy learning in school, family, and community contexts
- Evidence-based approaches to educating bilingual and multilingual learners
- Strategies for building on students’ linguistic and cultural backgrounds as assets in the learning process
Join Alumni in a Rewarding Career in Language or Literacy Education
Graduates of our EdM in Language & Literacy Education hold many different kind of roles in language instruction, literacy development, and educational leadership.. BU Wheelock alumni go to to roles such as:
- Instructional leaders and coaches
- Literacy and language specialist
- Curriculum developer
- Adult literacy teacher
- Policy maker or advisor
- Community organizers
- Researchers
Featured Faculty
The faculty in the Language & Literacy EdM are educators and researchers from across BU Wheelock with a strong social justice orientation and a commitment to supporting students from racially and linguistically marginalized communities. They have expertise in many areas of language and literacy development, including biliteracy, TESOL methods, second language acquisition, adolescent literacy, children’s literature, Deaf education, and more.
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Jennifer Altavilla-Giordano
Program Director, TESOL Multilingual Learner Education (Licensure)
Lecturer -
Andrea Bien
Clinical Associate Professor
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Andrew R. Bottoms
Program Director, Deaf Studies
Senior Lecturer -
Jennifer Bryson
Program Director, Elementary Education
Faculty Director, Educator Preparation
Senior Lecturer -
Naomi Caselli
Director, BU AI & Education Initiative
Director, BU Deaf Center
Associate Professor -
Todd Czubek
Senior Lecturer
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Christina L. Dobbs
Program Director, English Education for Equity & Justice
Associate Professor -
Elena Forzani
Program Director, Literacy Education
Program Director, Reading & Literacies Education
Assistant Professor -
Katherine Frankel
Chair, Language & Literacy Education Department
Associate Professor -
Emily Glenn-Smith
Lecturer
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Mary E. Hughes
Senior Lecturer
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Davena Jackson
Assistant Professor
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Laura M. Jiménez
Senior Lecturer
Director, Center for Educating Critically -
Franklin Jones, Jr.
Lecturer
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Yasuko Kanno
Professor
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Kathy Kim
Program Director, Language Education
Assistant Professor -
Amy M. Lieberman
Director, Doctoral Studies
Associate Professor -
Catherine O’Connor
Professor Emerita
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Maria C. Olivares
Research Assistant Professor
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Marnie Reed
Clinical Professor Emerita
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Eli Tucker-Raymond
Research Associate Professor
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Beth Warren
Sylvia Earl Professor
Director, Earl Center for Learning & Innovation
Language and Literacy Education Course
All specializations in the Language & Literacy master’s program will take the foundational course, Introduction to Research. In addition to that courses, you’ll take classes in your concentration of choice on topics like:
- Educational Issues in Bilingualism
- History of Reading Research
- Critical Analysis of Children’s and Young Adult Literature
- Exploring Picture Books for All Readers
- Looking at YA Literature through Multiple Lenses
- Methods in Bilingual Education/Methods in Teaching English as a Second Language
- Literacy Development for English Learners: Instruction and Assessment
- Educational Issues in Bilingualism
- Introduction to Language and Language Acquisition
- Applied Linguistics: Language and Linguistics Survey
In this specialization, you’ll complete an ASL proficiency assessment prior to the first term, which will be used to determine appropriate placement in ASL courses. You’ll take required courses in social psychology, ASL development, academic ASL, and applied ASL. In addition, you’ll be able to choose from a selection of courses that include the following:
- Teaching Deaf Literature and Visual Arts
- Topics in Speech, Language, and Hearing for Deaf Educators
- ASL/English Bilingual Instruction
- Sign Language Structure
Scholarships Available
Ready to begin your Language & Literacy Education master’s (EdM in Language & Literacy Education)? Don’t let questions of funding hold you back. At Boston University, merit-based scholarships are available to graduate students.
Admissions & Dates
Fall 2026 Semester
Aug 15, 2025
Application Opens
Fall 2026 Semester
July 1, 2026
International Applicant Deadline
Fall 2026 Semester
Aug 1, 2026
Application Closes
Connect with BU Wheelock to learn more about the EdM in Language & Literacy Education. Learn about application requirements and deadlines, sign up for an information session, or start your application today.