Deepen Your Expertise in Reading Instruction
Expand your understanding of literacy development and enhance your classroom instruction of reading and writing. With the certificate of advanced graduate study (CAGS) in Reading & Literacies Education, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills you need to grow as an educator and leader.
Designed for licensed K–12 teachers who already have a master’s degree, the CAGS in reading and literacy will advance your professional skills and impact. You can complete the program full time in one year or enroll part time.
Program Features
Advance Your Professional Qualifications
Prepare as a Specialist Teacher of Reading licensure and qualify for Sheltered English Immersion (SEI) endorsement. With the CAGS in reading and literacy, you’ll build skills in literacy development, assessment, instruction, and more.
While an initial teaching license is required for admission to the CAGS program, teaching experience is not required. Coursework completed for the Graduate Certificate in Reading & Literacies Education may be applied toward this master’s degree.
Field-Based Experiences
Turn theory into practice with hands-on literacy instruction. This CAGS in literacy education features two immersive, practice-based learning experiences: serving as a literacy tutor through the Donald K. Durrell Literacy Collaborative and observing a literacy specialist in a K–12 school setting.
Complete a Capstone Project
Students in the CAGS in reading education apply learning through a capstone project that addresses a real-world literacy challenge in a school or community setting. Working closely with a faculty advisor, you’ll identify a meaningful problem of practice and develop an evidence-based plan to create lasting impact.
“BU Wheelock has made me a more holistic educator. Instead of only focusing on the end result I expect from students, I give more time and attention to the process.”
Career Outcomes
Grow as an educator of reading and writing with instruction and leadership rooted in a critical and humanizing approach. With the CAGS in reading and literacy from BU Wheelock, you will:
- Develop expertise in literacy theory, research, and evidence-based instructional practices.
- Design inclusive, equitable learning experiences that support diverse learners, including multilingual students and students with disabilities.
- Use assessment data to inform instruction, differentiate learning, and improve student outcomes.
- Foster collaborative partnerships with colleagues, families, and communities while creating safe, engaging learning environments.
Join Alumni in a Rewarding Career as a Reading and Literacy Educator
Designed for educators ready to expand their impact, our CAGS program prepares graduates to lead literacy instruction and drive meaningful change across schools, districts, and communities. Alumni have gone on to serve in roles such as:
- General education classroom teacher
- Reading/literacy coach
- Reading/literacy teacher
- Curriculum director
- School, district, or state literacy leader
Featured Faculty
Faculty who teach in the Reading & Literacies Education CAGS program are researchers and educators with expertise in different aspects of literacy learning, including early 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
Drawing on critical sociocultural theories, Dr. Kate Frankel seeks to understand how adolescents’ multiple literacies and identities intersect with, and complicate, the literacy practices of school. Working in collaboration with young people, their teachers, and communities, she co-designs literacy learning opportunities that affirm and extend adolescents’ literacy histories, identities, and capacities in the pursuit of sustainable, expansive, and equity-oriented learning.
Courses in the CAGS in Reading & Literacies Education
Build expertise in literacy development, instruction, assessment, and leadership through a curriculum grounded in theory, research, and evidence-based practice. Customize your CAGS degree with electives in areas such as bilingual literacy, second language acquisition, and writing instruction.
Required courses include:
- Introduction to Literacy Leadership
- Instructional Methods for Teaching Foundational Literacy Skills
- Instruction and Assessment for Emergent and Developing Literacies
- Critical Analysis of Children’s and Young Adult Literature
Related Programs
The CAGS in reading and literacy education is designed for licensed K–12 teachers who already hold a master’s degree and are seeking Specialist Teacher of Reading licensure and SEI endorsement. If you do not wish to pursue licensure, or if you already have your master’s, consider the options below.
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 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.
For educators who are seeking to build expertise and leadership in reading and literacy instruction but do not wish to pursue licensure or a master’s degree. This four-credit certificate in reading and literacy education can be applied to toward the master’s or CAGS.
Scholarships Available
Don’t let questions of funding keep you from pursuing your CAGS in Reading & Literacies Education. Boston University offers merit-based scholarships for graduate programs.
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 CAGS in reading and literacy education. Learn about application requirements and deadlines, sign up for an information session, or start your application today.
BU’s CAGS in reading and literacy education is for licensed educators who already hold a master’s degree. Through coursework, field experiences, and a capstone project, you’ll develop advanced knowledge in literacy instruction, assessment, intervention, and educational leadership.
You’ll build advanced skills in evidence-based literacy instruction, reading and writing assessment, intervention strategies, literacy leadership, and supporting diverse learners. This CAGS in reading and literacy also explores literacy theory, multilingualism, and culturally responsive teaching practices.
Students enrolled full-time can complete the CAGS in reading and literacy in approximately nine months, spanning the fall and spring semesters. Part-time study options are also available for working professionals.
Yes. You’ll complete a field-based practicum during each semester, including literacy tutoring, school-based experiences, and shadowing a literacy specialist. These experiences will allow you to apply research-based instructional practices in authentic educational settings.
Graduates of this CAGS in reading and literacy education are prepared for roles such as reading specialist, literacy coach, reading teacher, curriculum director, instructional leader, or district and state literacy leader. The program also supports educators seeking advancement into leadership positions focused on literacy instruction.
Licensing Disclosure
BU Wheelock Educator Preparation Programs Licensing Disclosure provides information about BU Wheelock state-approved programs and how the educational requirements compare with those in other states. Education students in licensure programs should review this resource and contact edlic@bu.edu with questions.
Background Checks
Students who are admitted into BU Wheelock routinely participate in field experiences as a part of their respective program curriculum and requirements. Most field sites require criminal background checks to determine students’ eligibility for participation. History of a criminal background may disqualify students from participating in these required experiences, which in turn may impede the successful completion of one’s degree program.