Online Master of Education in Literacy and Second Language Studies
The University of Cincinnati’s Master of Education in Literacy and Second Language Studies is fully online and focuses on reading, writing, and speaking as language processes. A M.Ed LSLS degree will train you in the strategies needed to devise the tailored curriculum, interventions, and assessments for your students.
Master of Education in Literacy & Second Language Studies Program Overview
Our program takes students on a journey to broaden and deepen their understanding of the social, cultural, linguistic and institutional factors that contribute to a learner’s ability to use reading, writing, and speaking in their first or second language. Our program is practitioner-based and students are paired with a faculty mentor throughout their program tenure.
The M.Ed program and Endorsement Graduate Certificates in Literacy and Second Language Studies importantly offers students flexibility in selecting the disciplinary concentration that applies most directly to his/her individual educational and professional goals.
Ohio Assessment for Educators (OAE) passing rates between 2021 and 2022:
- Literacy/Reading Endorsement: 90%
- TESOL/ESL Endorsement: 94%
Interested in the program, but want to know a little more about what you’ll learn? Check out our webinar below, featuring our faculty and enrollment services team.
Master of Education in Literacy & Second Language Studies Program Highlights
High Quality Education
LSLS Graduate Program Concentrations
You can narrow your coursework to one of the following areas of concentration to tailor your educational experience.
- PreK-16 Literacy and Learning Instruction: This concentration is for those who want to teach reading and basic writing skills within literacy programs. This concentration will help advance your career in reading instruction by preparing you to help students overcome challenges in reading and writing. You can learn how to help students of all ages succeed, as well as how to make yourself a better educator.
- PreK-12 Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Focus: This concentration can also be completed as a graduate certification that will provide teachers a deeper understanding of the effective methods to teach English Language Learners (ELLs); English as an additional language (EAL); English language acquisition (ELA) in the U.S.
- International/ Adult Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL) Focus: This concentration will provide teachers with a deeper understanding of the effective methods to teach English as a second language (ESL); Teaching English as a foreign language (EFL); English language acquisition (ELA) aboard and in the U.S.
- Endorsement Graduate Certificate Programs: We also offer courses that include PreK-12 Reading Instruction and PreK-12 Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages that will allow you to further explore this area of study.
- PreK-12 Reading Instruction (15 credits)
- Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) (15 credits)
Flexibility
- 100% online instruction
- Financial aid available
- Easy to transfer credits
- Enroll in the spring, summer, or fall semesters
- Part-time flexibility
Support from Application through Graduation
At UC, you’ll have a full support team behind you:
Enrollment Services Advisor: Your go-to resource during the application process
Student Success Coordinator: Helping you prepare for classes and stay on track
Access to Resources: Access to university resources that will support you through your program including online learning expectations and resources, health and wellness resources, and academic support
Admission into the University of Cincinnati’s Master of Education in Literacy and Second Language Studies online program is selective and based on meeting the requirements outlined below.
Applications for the online program are reviewed in a manner that carefully considers all items in your application portfolio. Our Admissions Office is happy to work with you to answer any question you may have and help determine your eligibility. Contact an Enrollment Services Advisor or email onlineenrollment@uc.edu.
Prerequisites
- A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college/university
- Overall minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale (recommended)
- For students applying to the PreK-16 Literacy Learning Instruction, it is highly recommended to have at least 2 years of teaching experience
Admission Materials
- Two letters of Recommendation
- Goal Statement
- Resume or CV
- Unofficial Transcripts
Complete the online application and submit the application fee.
Standard Application Fees:
- $65.00 for domestic applicants to most degree programs
- $70.00 for international applicants to most degree programs
- $20.00 for domestic applicants to Graduate Certificates
- $25.00 for international applicants to Graduate Certificates
- Application fees for UC Online programs are waived through Fall 2026 for all applicants who apply by July 1, 2026
- Fee waivers are automatically applied for applicants who: are currently serving in the US armed forces, or are veterans of the US armed forces.
Applications are accepted continuously throughout the year. Please review and submit the following materials:
All applicants are required to upload unofficial transcripts during the application process, showing all undergraduate and graduate course work completed, including degrees granted and dates of conferral.
Official transcripts are not required until the student has received and accepted an offer of admission from the university. Once the offer has been confirmed, the student must submit official transcripts.
Students who have received degrees from the University of Cincinnati do not need to submit official paper copies of their UC transcripts.
For questions regarding international students, contact an Enrollment Services Advisor.
Transcripts can be submitted electronically or by mail. To see if your transcript(s) can be ordered electronically, visit the links below and search for your previous school(s).
- Parchment
- Please select “University of Cincinnati – Main Campus” as the recipient of your transcript.
- National Student Clearinghouse
- Please have your transcript sent directly to admissions@uc.edu.
If you do not see your past school(s) listed on either site, please contact the school(s) directly. Then, mail your sealed, unopened, official transcripts to:
Please mail sealed, unopened, official transcripts to:
University of Cincinnati
Office of Admissions
PO Box 210091
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0091
Transfer Credits
You may transfer up to 9 credit hours of graduate courses from a regionally accredited college or university. These credits must have been earned within the last five years prior to admission and be approved by the program faculty. Practicum coursework cannot be transferred into the program.
Talk to an Enrollment Services Advisor to discuss the petition process
Two letters of recommendation are required.
- Recommendations should come from individuals who can attest to your academic and professional skills. References from current and former employers are always desirable. Additionally, recommendations from contacts within academia or professional organizations you’re involved in are also desirable.
- Those writing letters should explain who they are, their relationship to the applicant, and what they know of the applicant’s academic and professional abilities.
- Letters of recommendation from family, friends, or current students are not accepted.
- Recommendations are submitted by the recommender themselves; they cannot be completed or submitted by the applicant or another party on behalf of the reference.
Professional Resume:
A resume relevant to academic and professional data. It should include the applicant’s name; phone; email; colleges attended with degrees, dates conferred, and grade point average; employment history; professional experience; present employer; and names of references.
Curriculum Vitae:
A detailed look at the applicant’s career path, including achievements, publications, and awards. Including comprehensive information about candidate’s research background, presentations, publications, committee memberships and other experience of an academic, clinical, or scientific nature.
The goal statement serves as a sample of the applicant’s writing quality and ensures their goals match with the program. It should denote applicant’s desired program concentration (if applicable) and highlight applicant’s motivation for pursuing a career in the field, and how the program will benefit them.
No GRE is required of applicants.
GRE scores are optional for admission. Scores are recommended to strengthen applications that may be weak in areas. For example, applicants with a minimum undergraduate GPA of less than 3.0 should include GRE scores with their application.
International students are required to provide specific information about their transcripts. Transcripts must have a course-by-course evaluation completed from a member of the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES).
For questions regarding international student admissions contact an Enrollment Services Advisor.
| Term | Application Deadline | Classes Start |
|---|---|---|
Summer 2026 Fall 2026 |
April 24, 2026 August 8, 2026 |
May 11, 2026 August 24, 2026 |
The University of Cincinnati's online course fees differ depending on the program. On average, students will accrue fewer fees than students attending on-campus classes.
The one fee applied across all UC Online programs is the distance learning fee. Students living outside the state of Ohio must also pay an additional “non-resident” fee to enroll in courses at UC Online. This fee is lower than the out-of-state fee for traditional on-campus programs.
To view tuition information and program costs, visit the Online Program Fees page.
- The University of Cincinnati and all regional campuses are accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
- The University of Cincinnati is ranked in the top 50 Online Master of Education programs on U.S. News and World Report (2023).
- Top tier of America’s Best Colleges by U.S. News & World Report.
- Fully accredited nationally.
- Prek-12 Reading Instruction and TESOL Graduate Endorsements are Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) accredited.
- Prek-12 Reading Instruction and TESOL Graduate Endorsements are chancellor-approved by the Ohio Department of Higher Education for earning a Reading (K-12) or TESOL (K-12) endorsement after successfully completing the required graduate coursework and the Ohio Assessment for Educators test.
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