Curriculum and Instruction, Ph.D., Concentration in Literacy Education

Required Courses

The total required credits for the required courses is 79 credit hours. Students must complete 9 credits of Program Knowledge Base courses, 12 credits of Advanced Research courses, 21 credits in the Literacy Education Concentration, and 12 credits of Dissertation hours.

Additional Information:

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, Disciplinary 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.

Application Process

For students to be considered for admission to the PhD in Literacy Education program, they must:  

• Submit all application materials. Please note: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis during the fall and spring semesters each year. Once all application materials have been submitted, the process typically takes several months.

• Complete an online application to the Literacy Education PhD Program. Submit supporting materials using the online application (see below).

• Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 in prior undergraduate or graduate work

• Interview with Literacy Education Program faculty, either in person or via telephone

• Master’s degree is preferred

Supporting materials include: 

• A current resume or vita;

• A detailed letter that expresses why the applicant wishes to pursue a PhD in Literacy Education, including the applicant’s career goals; the applicant’s prior experiences in literacy or literacy education (e.g., relevant teaching or other educational experiences); previous university degrees, programs, certificates, or emphases related to literacy; potential areas of focus in a literacy doctoral program; potential research interests; and any other information the applicant considers to be relevant to her or his admission;

• Two Letters of Recommendation from those who can speak to the applicant’s intellect, scholarly abilities, teaching ability, or other qualifications for doctoral study. These letters typically would be former professors, supervisors, or administrators;

• An official report of the  Graduate Record Examination (GRE);

• An  Application for a Graduate Assistantship should the student wish to seek one;

• An academic writing sample is not required but is preferred.

• TOEFL or IELTS test is required for international students. 

Coursework:

A minimum of 54 hours beyond the master’s degree are required as follows:

• Core: Students must complete 9 hours of core courses, enroll in EDCI 5810 Writing for Professional Publication, and take two approved elective courses selected collaboratively by the doctoral student, her or his PhD advisor, and the committee.

• Research: A minimum of 12 hours of research methods in quantitative, qualitative, or other methodologies are required. The courses will be selected collaboratively by the doctoral student and her or his PhD advisor and committee so that the research methodology training is thorough, rigorous, and compatible with the student’s dissertation research plans and anticipated career research focus.

• Literacy Education: A minimum of 21 hours of doctoral literacy coursework is required. Additional courses may be selected from existing and new advanced, graduate-level courses within the Literacy Program Area; from courses in other departments in the College of Education; and other relevant academic departments at the University (e.g., Anthropology, Communication Disorders; English, Family and Consumer Sciences; African American, Chicano, American Indian, or Women’s Studies; Psychology, Sociology). Course selection decisions will be made collaboratively by the doctoral student in consultation with the student’s PhD advisor and committee based on the doctoral student’s prior graduate work and post-doctorate career goals.

• Dissertation Research: Students must enroll for a minimum of 12 hours of dissertation research credit during the period they plan, implement, and defend their dissertation.

• Preliminary Examination: The Preliminary Examination (also called the Comprehensive Examination) for the PhD in Literacy Education is governed by policies specified in Chapter 1 of the UW Student Handbook/Thesis & Dissertation Format Guide. 

Research Apprenticeship:

Doctoral students are required to participate in a research apprenticeship in which they work closely with a faculty member to gain experience and skills in conducting research. The apprenticeship may involve an ongoing faculty project or may be a project initiated by the student and faculty member. Examples of acceptable apprenticeships include:

• writing an IRB or grant proposal

• collecting and analyzing data (e.g., a qualitative analysis, a statistical analysis)

• writing a research report for publication independently or collaboratively with a faculty member

• presenting theoretical or empirical work at a professional conference independently or collaboratively with a faculty member

• a project that enhances the student’s ability to conduct rigorous educational research.

The Research Apprenticeship must be approved in advance by the doctoral committee, and at the committee’s discretion, students may enroll for independent study graduate credit as part of the Research Apprenticeship experience