Certificate of Advanced Studies (CAS) in Literacy

The 6th year Certificate of Advanced Study in literacy is a 36-credit, state-approved, and nationally-recognized by the International Literacy Association as a program that prepares candidates to serve as literacy professionals in their schools and districts. The first 21 credits yields the state certificate for the Remedial Reading/Remedial Language Arts Specialist (state endorsement 102). With the completion of four additional courses, candidates are eligible to apply for the for the Reading Consultant Certificate (state endorsement 097).

Scholarly work, undertaken during the last two courses in the program, is the result of candidates’ action research in self-selected topics that addresses identified areas of need in literacy. Over the course of two semesters, candidates design and implement projects in their respective school districts and present their findings through the writing of a formal research paper. The capstone experience is the Sacred Heart University Annual Literacy Conference, which provides the platform for prospective reading professionals to share their research with colleagues, university faculty, teachers, and administrators within the community.