Doctoral programs in Language and Literacy Education are highly individualized since our doctoral students have a great variety of academic and professional backgrounds and career goals. Students in our doctoral courses are a unique and stimulating mixture of local language arts teachers (often studying part-time), full-time students from across the U.S. and international students from several different countries and a variety of backgrounds. The Department of Language and Literacy Education is organized around three focus areas: Secondary English Education , TESOL and World Language Education, or Reading, Writing, Children’s Literature and Digital Literacies. In consultation with a Major Professor representing one of these areas, students form a doctoral committee comprised of faculty chosen for their expertise relevant to the student’s individual research goals. Previous academic preparation, teaching and research experience, and any specific recommendations made by the entire faculty at the time of admission are considered in the design of each student’s program requirements.

A broadly based core of proficiencies is gained through the Language and Literacy Education program’s graduate courses as well as courses in other departments and programs (e.g., Educational Research, Qualitative Research Methods, Educational Psychology, Social Foundations of Education, and Instructional Technology). Many proficiencies in the candidate’s area of concentration are gained through formal internships (in both research and university teaching), special courses, independent research projects, and, often, paid assistantship duties. These are guided by the candidate’s Major Professor or other faculty and are often carried out in conjunction with existing research, development and instructional activities of program faculty.

Doctoral students in Language and Literacy Education regularly present their work at state, regional, national and international conferences focusing on language arts teaching, teacher education, and research.

The program culminates in a doctoral dissertation study that is of unique interest to the individual student in their own intellectual and professional context and may employ any of a wide variety of research methods.