Online Master’s in Literacy – Early Literacy
Foster Early Reading Skills in Your School
Online
20 Months
30 Credit Hours
$500 per Credit
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Help Your Students Fall in Love With Reading
- Apply By: 12/15/26
- Start Class: 01/11/27
Earn your master’s in literacy education online with Shenandoah to share your passion for reading with young learners. The online master’s in literacy program offers a concentration in early literacy that delivers the credential you need to meet Virginia add-on endorsement requirements. Through online courses taught by experienced faculty, you’ll learn to design engaging instruction that fosters reading and writing skill development for children ages three to five.
This program is intentionally aligned with Virginia licensure requirements, and state approval is in progress.
Concentrations Details
- Earn the credential necessary for add-on endorsement in Early Childhood Education in Virginia
- Flexible online coursework designed to fit a teacher’s schedule
- College of Distinction for SU’s Division of Education and Leadership1
- Small class sizes and personalized support from educators
- Graduate fast with accelerated, eight-week courses
Choose a Curriculum That Delivers Classroom-Ready Skills
The online master’s in literacy in early literacy degree requires you to complete 11 courses for a total of 30 credits. The curriculum features seven concentration courses, including a hands-on practicum experience and an on-site 3-day Children’s Literature Conference where you’ll learn from world-renowned authors, illustrators and literacy leaders. Each course is taught by dedicated faculty who ensure you focus on the instructional practices necessary for teaching early literacy.
Early Literacy Required Courses
Course description currently under development.
Learn more about the Children’s Literature Conference
This course is designed to impart a thorough understanding of the Virginia English Standards of Learning as well as the reciprocal nature of reading and writing. Reading instruction includes phonemic awareness, concept of print, phonics, fluency, vocabulary development and comprehension strategies. Writing instruction includes writing strategies and conventions that support the composing/writing expression and usage/mechanics domains. This course includes proficiency in understanding the stages of spelling development, the writing process and fostering appreciation of a variety of fiction, non-fiction text and independent reading.
The language development of children from school years Pre-K through 12 is discussed. Consideration is given to instructional strategies that focus on language acquisition and its relationship to reading and the communicative arts of spelling, writing and speaking.
This is the first course in a paired supervised early childhood practicum for candidates pursuing the Early Childhood Add-On Endorsement. Students establish an approved clinical placement serving children ages three through five and prepare for successful supervised teaching through orientation, developmental and contextual analysis, health and safety preparation, family and site communication, naturalistic assessment, and initial curriculum planning. Students develop the foundational plans and documentation necessary for the clinical practice that continues in RDG 616.
This is the second course in a paired supervised early childhood practicum for candidates pursuing the Early Childhood Add-On Endorsement. Students complete sustained instructional practice with children ages three through five and apply whole-child developmental knowledge through ELDS-aligned curriculum, environmental design, authentic inquiry, supportive interactions, positive behavioral guidance, family partnership, assessment, and reflective practice. Students complete the required clinical hours and documentation and demonstrate successful teaching through satisfactory clinical evaluation.
Discover what your future could hold with an online degree from Shenandoah. Learn more about the online master’s in literacy education program and its core courses.
View Program CurriculumPrepare for an Impactful Education Career
The need for expert educators is always in demand. With the M.S. Literacy Education Early Literacy Concentration online program from Shenandoah, you’ll prepare to share your love of learning and literacy with future generations as a top-skilled educator.
Graduates of this program find success in a variety of education roles both inside and outside the classroom, including teaching and instructional coordination. From the first course, you’ll be taking steps toward a more meaningful career with rewarding teaching opportunities, many of which offer competitive salaries of more than $60,000 per year.2
Literacy Teacher $60,934 per year2
Kindergarten and Elementary School Teacher $62,310 per year3
Explore More M.S. in Literacy Education Concentrations
For the SU online literacy master’s, you must choose one concentration from the options below. Learn more and find the literacy specialization that advances your personal and professional goals. Whether you want to deepen your expertise or aim to improve your current classroom with a stronger literacy acumen, Shenandoah has the online program that will take you where you want to go.
Sources
- Colleges of Distinction. “Shenandoah University.” Retrieved August 20, 2025, from https://collegesofdistinction.com/school/shenandoah-university/.
- Zip Recruiter. “Literacy Teacher Salary in Virginia.” Retrieved April 21, 2026, from https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Literacy-Teacher-Salary–in-Virginia.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook. “Kindergarten and Elementary School Teachers.” Retrieved May 13, 2026, from https://www.bls.gov/ooh/education-training-and-library/kindergarten-and-elementary-school-teachers.htm#tab-5.