Language Arts and Literacy

For students Fall 2026 and beyond.

The Master of Education (M.Ed.) Degree in Language Arts and Literacy is a 30 credit program designed to provide the necessary course work and practicum experience for Teacher of Reading Licensure in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The program is open only to teachers who work in Massachusetts schools and who hold either an initial or professional Massachusetts teaching license in Elementary Education, English Language Learners, Moderate Disabilities or Early Childhood Education.

Required Core Courses

All coursework must be completed before the Practicum.

Practicum/Seminar

Required total credits = 30

*This course can be taken after 18 credits and requires the permission of the Graduate Coordinator.

**Must be taken before EDUC.5290

***Practicum I must be taken before Practicum II

Important Licensure Information

Candidates who hold a current initial or professional Massachusetts license, complete all coursework, including the practicum in a Massachusetts school, and pass the Massachusetts Test of Educator License in Communication and Literacy Skills (01) and Reading Specialist (08) are eligible for Massachusetts licensure as a Reading Specialist.

Out-of-state candidates should apply to the M. Ed. program in Reading and Language Non-licensure concentration.

Updated 10/24/25

For students Fall 2026 and beyond.

The Master of Education (M.Ed) Degree in Language Arts and Literacy is a 30 credit program designed to meet the needs of experienced practitioners who wish to broaden and deepen their professional knowledge and to expand the contributions they can make to education. Candidates who seek to enroll in this degree program should hold a teaching license in Elementary Education, English Language Learners, Moderate Disabilities or Early Childhood Education and be employed as teacher in a public or private K-12 school setting.

Required Core Courses

Elective

Capstone

Total required credits = 30

*This course can be taken after 18 credits and requires the permission of the Graduate Coordinator.

**Must be taken before EDUC.5290

***This course must be taken at the end of the program. It may be taken in conjunction with one other course only.

Important Information

This program does NOT lead to licensure in any field. Instead, it provides the professional knowledge required for the continuing education of experienced practitioners. Candidates who complete the program successfully are awarded a Master of Education degree, but cannot be endorsed for licensure in Massachusetts or in their own state.

Updated 10/24/25

For students entering Fall 2026 and beyond.

This thirty (30) credit program is designed to meet the needs of experienced practitioners who already hold a M.Ed. in a field other than reading and language. The program is open only to teachers who work in Massachusetts schools and who hold either an initial or professional Massachusetts teaching license in Elementary Education, English Language Learners, Moderate Disabilities or Early Childhood Education. Candidate must have a minimum of 3 years teaching experience.

Required Core Courses

*EDUC.5280 is a prerequisite for EDUC.5290. These two are best taken in consecutive semesters.

Practicum

EDUC.5500 must be taken before EDUC.5511 and after all other course requirements have been met, although it is possible to take one course concurrent with the practicum each semester.

Total required credits = 30

Important Licensure Information

Candidates who hold a current initial or professional Massachusetts license, complete all coursework, including the practicum in a Massachusetts school, and pass the Massachusetts Test of Educator License in Communication and Literacy Skills (01) and Reading Specialist (08) are eligible for Massachusetts licensure as a Reading Specialist. Out-of-state candidates should apply to the M. Ed. program in Reading and Language Non-Licensure. concentration.

10/23/25

For students entering Fall 2026 and beyond.

This thirty (30) credit program is designed to meet the needs of experienced practitioners who already hold a M.Ed. in a field other than reading and language. The program is open only to teachers who work in Massachusetts schools and who hold either an initial or professional Massachusetts teaching license in Elementary Education, English Language Learners, Moderate Disabilities or Early Childhood Education. Candidate must have a minimum of 3 years teaching experience.

Required Core Courses

*EDUC.5280 is a prerequisite for EDUC.5290. These two are best taken in consecutive semesters.

Non-Licensure Option

Total Required Credits = 30 

Candidates undertake an in-depth study of issues pertinent to PK-12 education and develop a product to address these issues. Candidates must complete 24 credits prior to registering for the Ed.S. Seminar.

Important Licensure Information  - This program does NOT lead to licensure in any field. Instead, it provides the professional knowledge required for the continuing education of experienced practitioners. Candidates who complete the program successfully are awarded a Master of Education Degree, but cannot be endorsed for licensure in Massachusetts or in their own state.

Updated 10/24/25

Cost Per Credit
Online Education: $470
Online 7000-level Education: $655
 
Term Registration Fee: $30

Please see online tuition and fees for more information.

As a graduate student, you may qualify for federal student aid and other need-based scholarships. To be considered for financial assistance, you must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Learn more at UMass Lowell Graduate Aid.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and certain eligible non-citizens. Please visit Financial Aid if you have questions about your eligibility.

All College of Fine Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences master’s and doctoral applicants must submit:

1. An application
2. An application fee
3. A statement of purpose
4. Letters of recommendation
5. Official transcripts
6. Official test score report - only required for:
   1. (GRE) Criminology and Criminal Justice, Ph.D.
   2. (GRE) Global Studies, Ph.D.
   3. Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL) Music Education, Master of Music (M.M.)
7. Resume - required for:
   • Music Education, M.M.
   • Public Administration, M.P.A
   • Master of Education, M.Ed., programs
     • Optional for the Education Administration PK-12 option
   • Language Arts and Literacy, Ed.S
   • Doctoral level education programs
     • Optional for the Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice
     • Ph.D. in Psychology applicants should submit a curriculum vitae (CV)
8. Writing Sample (Education Ph.D. programs only)
9. Forms (M.Ed In Education Administration, PK-12 Option only)

Note: All required materials must be received before the application package can be evaluated. Supporting documents may be uploaded directly to your GradCAS application. If you have trouble uploading materials after applying, you may email them directly to graduate_admissions@uml.edu.

Please note the new documents and references will be considered only if your application has not been reviewed for admission.  

Program Application Deadlines for Fall Admissions:

• Global Studies Ph.D. - January 15
• Psychology Ph.D. - January 15
• Criminology Ph.D. - February 1
• Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism Studies - February 15

Program Application Deadlines for Summer Admissions:

• The Leadership in Schooling Ed.D. is a cohort-based program that begins each year in May. Applications are accepted during the preceding year between July - October 15. 

International Students: please see the additional application requirements.

Bachelor's to Master's Students: You will need to apply via the application portal. Visit the Bachelor's to Master's page to learn about the process to transition to your desired master's program.

1. Online Application application

Applications are accepted through the GradCAS application portal.

• Application assistance

Apply for Summer 2025, Fall 2025 & Spring 2026

Apply for Summer 2026, Fall 2026 & Spring 2027

2. Application Fee⁠

The application fee is $50 for each application and is non-refundable. Applications will not be processed until this fee is received or the applicant inputs a coupon code at checkout.

3. Statement of Purpose statement

In a separate document, submit a brief statement indicating your immediate and long-range goals, relevant work history, academic honors/awards received, any teaching experience and/or research conducted/published that may be pertinent to your graduate program. Two page recommended maximum.

For applicants to Doctoral education programs:

Leadership in Education Ph.D. and Research & Evaluation in Education Ph.D. - candidates should submit a statement of no more than 1,500 words, that responds to two questions:

• What are you interested in researching during your doctoral studies, and why?
• How would doctoral studies at UMass Lowell advance your career goals?

Leadership in Schooling Ed.D. - A two-page statement of purpose in which the applicant describes their understanding of equity-based educational problems and identifies and articulates the reasons to address a contextually relevant, equity-based problem (for STEM applicants should have a STEM focus).

Note: If you are applying to more than one program, you will need to submit a program-specific statement of purpose with each application package.

4. Letters of Recommendation recommendation

Master's and Ed.D. applicants need to submit two (2) letters of recommendation. Doctoral (Ph.D.) applicants are required to submit three (3) letters of recommendation. You will be asked to provide contact information for your referees during the application process, and an automated request will be sent out. 

Criminal Justice, M.A.: Letters of recommendation are optional, not required.

Recommendations should be from instructors who have taught you, ideally in the field to which you are applying. Recommendations may also be from employers or supervisors who are in a position to compare your performance to that of your peers.

5. Official Transcripts transcripts

Provide a complete and official transcript from the institution that awarded or will award you a bachelor’s degree. Master’s transcripts are required for students applying to the Ed.D. and Education Ph.D. programs. Otherwise, submission of any master’s coursework is optional.

You may also include transcripts from other institutions at which you have taken relevant coursework, which may be beneficial for supporting your candidacy. Please note that waiting for additional transcripts may delay review of your application.

Review the GradCAS Transcript Request Instructions. Candidates are encouraged to submit their official transcripts directly to GradCAS, which is particularly advantageous if you are applying to multiple schools. GradCAS will attach your transcripts to all existing applications for all schools, allowing you to request these official documents just once.

Transcripts are also accepted in sealed and signed envelopes mailed to the Office of Graduate Admissions or electronically directly from your university. Send to graduate_admissions@uml.edu. If you received your degree from UMass Lowell, it is not necessary for you to request a transcript, we are able to provide one for you.

University of Massachusetts - Lowell
Graduate Admissions
Graduate and Professional Studies (GPS) Center
839 Merrimack Street, 2nd Floor
Lowell, MA 01854-3941

International transcripts demonstrating completion of a bachelor's/master's degree require a course-by-course credential evaluation from a National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES) agency, such as:

• Center for Educational Documentation, Inc. (CED)
• Educational Credential Evaluators® (ECE)
• World Education Services (WES)

Please note, the Office of Graduate Admissions reserves the right to have any application credential evaluated.

test-score 6. Official Test Score Report(s)

Submission of the GRE test score report is required for applicants to the following programs:

• Criminology and Criminal Justice, Ph.D.
• Global Studies, Ph.D.

• Master of Music in Music Education, MM - Applicants to this program must submit proof of successfully passing the MTEL test in Music. 
  

For more information about standardized tests, our Admissions Standards page provides current information.

7. Resume⁠

The programs listed below require a resume for admissions consideration:

• Music Education, M.M.
• Public Administration, M.P.A
• Master of Education, M.Ed., programs
  • Optional for the Education Administration, PK-12 option
• Language Arts and Literacy, Ed.S
• Doctoral 
  • Optional for the Ph.D. in Criminology and Criminal Justice
  • Ph.D. in Psychology applicants should submit a curriculum vitae (CV) rather than a resume to highlight academic and professional achievements.

8.  writing-sampleWriting Sample / Artifact⁠

• Leadership in Education Ph.D. and Research & Evaluation in Education Ph.D. - Please submit a writing sample that demonstrates the applicant's ability to present a cohesive, focused and persuasive response to an education issues of his or her choice. The writing sample should be accompanied by a brief note explaining the context in which it was written and identifying the kinds of support received by the applicant producing it.

If you have any trouble with the application process, please call Graduate Admissions at 978-934-2390 or email graduate_admissions@uml.edu.

9. Forms⁠

Students applying to the M.Ed. Education Administration, PK-12 Option should have their principal complete the Principal's Acknowledgment Form, which can be uploaded to the Documents section of the GradCAS application.