Reading Endorsement (Language and Literacy Program)

Program Details

Total credit hours: 14 - 15
Program start: September, January, or June
Program length: Full-time for part-time classes (weekend, evening, and summer)
Off-campus classes: Available through the Office of District-Affiliated Programs
View the current program of study in the course catalog
Faculty Coordinators: Ruth Shagoury and Andie Cunningham

"I learned new practical elements for my practice and have a deeper awareness of my own reading."
- K-12 teacher and program graduate

Lewis & Clark’s Language and Literacy Program applies a dynamic view of literacy to reading and writing instruction in the schools. Our course of study builds on the belief that language, in all its richness of form and function, is the foundation from which effective literacy evolves. The program’s theoretical base owes much to the work of Nancie Atwell, Donald Graves, Ellin Keene, Louise Rosenblatt, Frank Smith, and others who maintain that reading, writing, listening, and speaking are all language processes. We take an integrated and holistic approach to the teaching of these skills.

The courses in the Language and Literacy Program lead to a Reading Endorsement, allowing candidates to teach reading at all four levels of licensure (early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school). The program requires 14-15 semester hours of credit and averages 18 months of part-time study.

Oregon educators who hold an Initial Teaching License can add a Continuing License by completing this program.

What to Expect

Adopting the stance of teacher- researchers, program participants and faculty explore different issues in the teaching of reading and writing. Within each course, students explore literacy, language arts instruction, the intersections of literacy and politics, and the culture of our classrooms and who learns in them. The goal of the program is to offer educators tools to observe, describe and learn from the behaviors of their students and to build cohesive theoretical bases for learner-centered literacy programs. The program is designed for the needs of practicing professionals. Coursework is offered in the evenings, on weekends, during the summer and, in some cases, on-site in a school district. Classes emphasize individual attention and the opportunity to learn and work collaboratively with fellow teachers and school leaders. All endorsement coursework may be applied to a M.A.T. degree and the Continuing Teaching License at Lewis & Clark.

Expectations for Admission

Teachers seeking to gain admission to the Language and Literacy Program must possess an active teaching license in any teaching field, pre-k- 12. Teachers may take up to 8 hours of coursework before being formally accepted into the program.

Apply Now

You can find admissions requirement information and an online application at the Graduate Admissions Office website.

For more information, or to make an appointment with an advisor, contact either of the program coorindators, Ruth Shagoury at shagoury@lclark.edu or Andie Cunningham atandiec@lclark.edu or contact the office of Teacher Education at lcteach@lclark.edu or 503-768-6100.

For Current Students

Download the Program planning sheet (.pdf)—Coming soon!

Finished your program? Apply for your endorsement

Related Programs

For information regarding off-campus offerings, visit the District-Affiliated Programs site.

Endorsement Summer Studies

Oregon Writing Project

Northwest Writing Institute