Degree Plans

Master Degree Plan (M.Ed.)

Master of Education (M.Ed.) degree with a specialization in language and literacy studies are offered through the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.

Redesigned in 2009, the Masters Program in Language and Literacy Studies (LLS) stands at the intersection between practice, theory, and leadership for change. In other words, the program is designed to help teachers improve the quality of their practice; to read and think deeply about their work; and to influence their school, their colleagues, their professional network, and district, state, and national policy. The program is based on a commitment to four principles:

• Literacy is in a constant process of change in form and function.

• The practicalities of teaching are more interesting, humane, and effective when they are built upon a sound foundation in research and theory that informs inquiry and personal development.

•  Literacy professionals improve their practices best in the context of the study of their own practices (in the company of others  working toward the same goal).
• Literacy professionals must be conscious and critical of the contexts for teaching and prepared to challenge present circumstances out of concerns for equity and social justice.

The program has been designed to affect instruction in our geographic area, so the LLS faculty is committed to the establishment of close working relationships with local teachers and schools through such initiatives as the Master Reading Teacher Program and the Heart of Texas Writing Project, both of which are integrated into the Language and Literacy Masters Program.

All Masters students choose between two program options: (a) general language and literacy (including secondary English Education), or (b) the reading specialist program for students who plan to apply for the Texas State Reading Specialist Certificate. These degree options are described below. Both programs support the development of an electronic portfolio, which is required for graduation and integrated into coursework.  Students choosing the reading specialist option will be prepared to teach and lead reading programs in Pre-K through 12. With three years of teaching experience, students who have completed the reading specialist program will be eligible to take the Texas State Reading Specialist Exam and apply for the certificate.

Applicant requirements:

Applicants to the LLS MEd program must already be certified to teach.  Some teaching experience is preferred (most applicants have at least two years of teaching experience, which can be achieved concurrently with enrollment).

Visit the Language and Literacy Studies Master Degree programs web page

Master Degree Plan (M.Ed.) with Secondary English Teacher Certification

A Master of Education degree in Secondary English Education is now offered through the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.  This degree is tailored for students holding a bachelor’s degree in English or a closely related field and seeking secondary English teacher certification.  The degree merges the Masters in Language and Literacy Studies described above and Texas teacher certification requirements.  This program is designed to help English teacher candidates develop knowledge, skills, and dispositions to support teaching and learning in linguistically and culturally diverse urban settings.  Please contact Dr. Allison Skerrett for more information.

Visit the LLS Master Degree with Certification web page

Doctoral Degree Plan (Ph.D.)

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.

Visit the Language and Literacy Studies Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree program Web page