LLS Doctor of Philosophy Degree Program
The Language and Literacy program focuses on the study of literacy and the English/language arts, including reading, writing, and related fields. The program emphasizes the relationships among language, literacy, culture, identity, and social justice. As one end goal, the program strives to prepare teachers, teacher educators, and researchers who have the commitments and capacities to use literacy as a tool for social change. Degree plans are individually designed to increase the student’s knowledge of curriculum and instructional issues both broadly and in a gradually more focused way, based on the student’s background and goals. The program includes coursework in language and literacy studies as well as research methods, foundational courses, and electives within the Department of Curriculum and Instruction. In addition, our program includes clinical work within our teacher education programs and many research opportunities, including collaborations with faculty. To ensure that students experience the full quality and range of experiences in the program, one year of residency as a full-time student is strongly encouraged. Students who graduate from this program will be prepared to be professors in colleges and universities, advanced degree teachers of their subject in elementary and secondary schools, and/or literacy supervisors/coordinators in school districts.
Applicant requirements:
Applicants to the Language & Literacy Studies PhD program must be certified teachers with at least three years of teaching experience. For students seeking employment (e.g., teaching assistantships, undergraduate intern supervisors) during their degree program, PreK-12 teaching experience in the USA is necessary for most of the work opportunities in the department.
Total minimum hours: 60 hours (including dissertation)
General C&I Requirements (Minimum 21 hours)
Foundation Requirements (9 hours required)
- EDC 380F Sociocultural Foundations
- EDC 381F Introduction to Teaching and Teacher Education
- EDC 383F Curriculum Theory
Research Methodology Requirements (12 hours minimum)
To be taken in sequence:
Step 1 (3 hours)
- EDC 381R Introduction to Systems of Human Inquiry
Prerequisite to Step 2(EDC 385R):
- EDC 382R Fundamentals of Statistics
Other course choices for this requirement include: EDP 371, EDP 380E or an advisor approved statistics course brought in from other institution.
Step 2 (6 hours in any order)
- EDC 385R Introduction to Quantitative Research
- EDC 386R Introduction to Qualitative Research
Step 3 (3 hours, one course topic from either category or an advisor approved advanced research course)
- EDC 387R Advanced Quantitative Research
OR - EDC 388R Advanced Qualitative Research
Directed Research (Minimum: 12 hours)
EDC 396T Directed Research in Curriculum & Instruction (6 hours minimum)
Two additional courses that include a substantial research component approved by advisor.
Please Note: EDC 396T can be taken more than once for credit.
LLS candidates are required to take:
- EDC 396: Research in English Language Arts
- EDC 396: Research in Reading
- EDC 396T Directed Research (two sessions, 6 hours total)
Specialization Requirements (Minimum 21 hours)
Students will take additional related courses to their program of study, which will be selected
with the assistance and approval of the area program adviser. To help meet their personal career
goals, students are encouraged to select courses from other clusters in the Department of
Curriculum and Instruction.
Required by LLS Program: (3 hours)
- EDC 382E or 382S: Introduction to the Teaching of English Language Arts
Additional Specialization Minimum: 18 hours, 9 hours to be taken in Language and Literacy
Studies. Check the course schedule and meet with your adviser to determine if a course meets
the specialization requirement.
Courses Outside The Department (Minimum: 6 hours)
Coursework from sections General Requirements, Directed Research, and Special Requirements
may fulfill this requirement (thus hours in this section may already be counted as credit towards
total hours).
Dissertation (Minimum: 6 hours and two consecutive semesters of dissertation)
Students are required to continuously register for dissertation once they have advanced to candidacy. Curriculum and Instruction students are required to register for 6 hours of dissertation credit* during each fall and spring semester during which they are working on their
dissertation research.
*EDC 699R and 699W
The first semester in candidacy is 699R; for all semesters after the first one in candidacy you must register for 699W.
Please Note:
- International students and students receiving fellowship, assistantship, or other financial aid, may be required to take 9 hours of dissertation credit each semester.
- For information about the entire C&I doctoral program process, download the Doctoral Checklist (pdf).
Degree Plan
Download the doctoral degree program (pdf)