Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Literacy Education

Graduate students in the Literacy Education program will study with eight full-time, professionally active, knowledgeable Literacy Education Faculty members, who have diverse backgrounds, interests, and experiences in research, teaching, and service. In addition, there are Affiliated Faculty members in other departments, within and outside the College of Education, who provide coursework and advising for graduate students in areas such as Communication Disorders; Cultural and Linguistic Diversity; Communications; American Indian Studies; English as a Second Language; College Teaching; and Special, Foreign Language, Math, Science, and Counselor Education. Graduate students will take advanced coursework in Literacy Education, collaborate with faculty on grants and research projects, and have the opportunity to teach and supervise students in undergraduate literacy education courses. In addition to acquiring a breadth of knowledge in foundational areas in literacy education, students will have an opportunity to focus on specific areas in literacy education, such as Emergent Literacy, Family Literacy, Early Childhood Literacy, Elementary Grade Literacy, Adolescent Literacy, Content Area Literacy, Children’s and Young Adult Literature, English Education, Literacy Teacher Education, New Literacies, Evaluation and Instruction of Students with Reading Difficulties, Literacy Education for English Learners, and Literacy Education for Culturally Diverse Students. Competitive graduate assistantships are available to support students throughout their studies, enabling them to be immersed in the academic and scholarly environment as they work with faculty on research projects, collaborate on papers for presentation and publication, and teach courses and supervise students in the undergraduate teacher education program.