Take Literacy Instruction to the Next Level
Help every student become a more confident reader and writer with the Reading & Literacies Education graduate certificate. Geared toward in-service K–12 educators, the certificate in reading and literacy education will build your expertise in reading and writing instruction and leadership.
Program Features
Rigorous Graduate-Level Courses
This four-credit certificate in reading and literacy education will support you in expanding your understanding of literacy development and how to apply what you’ve learned to your instruction and leadership.
While it doesn’t lead to licensure or a master’s degree, earned units may be applied toward the requirements for the Reading & Literacies Education Master of Education (EdM) or Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (CAGS) or the EdM in Language & Literacy Education.
Career Outcomes
Expand your knowledge and understanding of teaching reading and literacy. The graduate certificate in reading and literacy education from BU Wheelock equips you to:
- Master evidence-based literacy theory, research, and instructional best practices
- Support diverse learners through equitable, inclusive, and differentiated instruction
- Build strong partnerships with colleagues, families, and communities to support student success
- Strengthen your teaching through reflective practice, collaboration, and continuous improvement
“I am a school-based speech-language pathologist, and many of my students with speech or oral language difficulties are also struggling to learn to read. I enrolled in the BU Wheelock certificate program in order to learn more about this area to be able to better support my students.”
Join Alumni in a Rewarding Career as a Reading and Literacy Educator
With a graduate certificate in reading and literacy education, you’ll increase your impact as an in-service teacher or administrator at the school and district levels. Our alumni have gone on to work in a variety of roles, including:
- General education classroom teacher
- Reading/literacy teacher
- Reading/literacy coach
- Curriculum director
- School, state, or district literacy leader
Featured Faculty
The faculty of Reading & Literacies Education graduate certificate are researchers and educators with expertise in many aspects of literacy learning, including early literacy, adolescent literacy, digital literacy, children’s literature, and literacy coaching.
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Jennifer Bryson
Faculty Director, Educator Preparation
Program Director, Elementary Education
Special Director, Educator Preparation Early Literacy Initiatives
Senior Lecturer -
Erica Caasi
Program Director, Literacy Education and Reading & Literacies Education
Clinical Assistant Professor -
Christina L. Dobbs
Chair, Language & Literacy Education Department
Program Director, English Education for Equity & Justice
Associate Professor -
Katherine Frankel
Associate Professor
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Laura M. Jiménez
Senior Lecturer
Director, Center for Educating Critically -
Eli Tucker-Raymond
Research Associate Professor
Dr. Laura M. Jiménez is a senior lecturer and the director of the Center for Educating Critically.Her scholarship looks at the ways marginalized communities are represented in children and YA literature and the ways teachers can learn to critically engage their own teaching practices to include and forefront humanizing pedagogy and the power of modifying existing curriculum.
Courses in the Reading & Literacies Education Certificate
Build your knowledge of theory, research, and evidence-based practice in literacy. Students in the certificate in reading and literacy education take three required courses and choose a fourth from electives on topics such as bilingual students, children’s literature, and instructional methods. Required courses are:
- Instruction and Assessment for Emergent and Developing Literacies
- Introduction to Literacy Leadership: Becoming a Critical Specialized Literacy Professional
- Instruction and Assessment for Disciplinary and Digital Literacies
Related Programs
The certificate in reading and literacy education is a four-credit program for in-service K–12 teachers. If you are seeking a master’s degree or interested in pursuing licensure, consider the options below.
If you are seeking both a master’s degree and licensure, you can explore the Master’s in Reading & Literacies Education. The master’s program can be completed in one year, full time.
If you are not seeking licensure but wish to study literacy development and language acquisition, you can explore the Master’s in Language and Literacy Education. Choose from one of three specializations: language education, literacy education, or American Sign Language (ASL) & Deaf studies.
If you are a teacher who already has a master’s degree, you can expand your expertise in reading instruction through a certificate of advanced graduate studies (CAGS) in Reading & Literacies Education. The CAGS program can be completed in 9 months full-time; part-time options are also available.
Admissions & Dates
Fall 2026 Start
Jul 1, 2026
Application Closes (International Applicants)
Fall 2026 Start
Aug 1, 2026
Application Closes
Fall 2027 Start
Aug 15, 2026
Application Opens
Spring 2027 Start
Dec 15, 2026
Application Closes
Connect with BU Wheelock to learn more about earning your graduate certificate in reading and literacy education. Learn about application requirements and deadlines, sign up for an information session, or start your application today.
Frequently Asked Questions
This certificate is designed for licensed teachers and education professionals who want to expand their knowledge of literacy development, improve instructional practice, and better support multilingual learners and students with diverse literacy needs. It’s an ideal option for educators seeking advanced graduate study without pursuing a master’s degree.
You’ll explore literacy development, evidence-based reading and writing instruction, children’s and young adult literature, and culturally and linguistically responsive teaching practices. This certificate program in reading education enables you to learn to apply research-informed strategies that support literacy growth for a wide range of learners.
BU Wheelock prepares educators through rigorous coursework, expert faculty, and opportunities to connect literacy research with classroom practice. You’ll leave with advanced knowledge and practical skills you can immediately apply to support student learning in reading and writing and strengthen literacy instruction.