Brooklyn and Patchogue, NY – July 27, 2005 – St. Joseph’s College has announced the launch of another new graduate program—a Master of Arts Degree in Literacy/Cognition, which will be offered at both its Brooklyn and Patchogue campuses. The 36-credit program, which is designed for students who hold basic certifications in Early Childhood and/or Childhood Education, will be available beginning in the fall of 2005.

Building on the strength of St. Joseph’s long-renowned teacher education program, the Master of Arts in Literacy/Cognition degree (birth through grade 6) is tailored for individuals who wish to become diagnosticians of literacy processes to meet the needs of all students. The part-time program produces innovative teachers of literacy who wish to enrich lesson plans in their own classrooms or seek to become elementary school reading specialists. This degree leads to NYS Certification in Literacy (birth-grade 6). With some additional coursework in administration, graduates can qualify as English Language Arts supervisors.

The 36-credit curriculum includes a Master’s Thesis and a 50-hour practicum. The unique program will address the challenges today’s educators face in the area of literacy as it pertains to students and families of diverse cultures, and explore the role of cognition and literacy in the selection of instructional techniques; assessment; prescribed teaching strategies based on assessment outcomes; and recognition of the needs of children and families from an array of backgrounds. The integration of theory and practice is provided through a strong research component.

To learn more about St. Joseph’s new graduate program, attend an Information Session for prospective students on either campus. Join us at the Brooklyn campus on Wednesday, August 3rd at 7:00 p.m. at the Dillon Child Study Center located at 239 Vanderbilt Avenue, or visit the Suffolk campus in Patchogue on Wednesday, August 10th at 7:00 p.m. in the McGann Conference Room, 3rd floor, O’Connor Hall. For further information, please call the Brooklyn Admissions Office at (718) 636-6868 or the Suffolk Admissions Office at (631) 447-3219. Or, visit the College’s website at www.sjcny.edu.

St. Joseph’s College has been dedicated to providing a diverse population of students in the New York metropolitan area with an affordable education rooted in the liberal arts tradition since 1916. Independent and coeducational, the College provides a strong academic and value-oriented education at the undergraduate and graduate levels, aiming to prepare each student for a life characterized by integrity, intellectual and spiritual values, social responsibility, and service. With campuses located in the Clinton Hill area of Brooklyn and in Patchogue, Long Island, the College offers degrees in over 21 majors, special course offerings and certificates, affiliated and pre-professional programs through its School of Arts and Sciences and its School of Adult and Professional Education. Graduate degrees are also offered including an Executive MBA, a Master of Science in Management, a Master of Science Degree with a Major in Nursing, a Master of Arts in Literacy/Cognition and a Master of Arts in Infant/Toddler Early Childhood Special Education.