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The Literacy, Language, and Learning Doctoral Program requires 56 credit hours with additional 15 dissertation research hours.
Course Requirements
Core Requirements
Literacy Foundation and Core (24 credits required)
Children's and Young Adult Literature in the Schools
Advanced Content Area Literacy Instruction
Writing Theory and Instruction
Assessment and Intervention for Reading Difficulties
Foundations of Literacy
Understanding Educational Research in Literacy
Literacy Acquisition Theory and Instruction
Comprehension Theory & Instruction
Teaching Internship in Literacy
International Children's and Adolescent Literature
Language and Literacy Development of Young Children
Psychology of Reading
Psychology of Writing
Special Topics Summer Seminar in Literacy
EDPS
Specific Courses at the U of U Reading Clinic
Vocabulary Theory and Instruction
Doctoral Seminar: Early Research I
Doctoral Seminar: Early Research II
Psychology of Reading
Psychology of Writing
Directed Readings and Research for Doctoral Students
Research Methodology (15 credits required)
Quantitative Methods I (required)
Quantitative Methods II (required)
Qualitative Research (required)
Advanced Research Design
Introduction to Hierarchical Linear Modeling
Introduction to Measurement
Psychometric Theory
Other Recommended Elective (9 credits required)
Cognitive Assessment
Foundations of Learning
Lifespan Development: Childhood & Adolescent
Seminar in Metacognition
Foundation of Instructional Design
Multimedia Learning
Cognitive Development
Directed Readings and Research for Doctoral Students
Doctoral Seminars (5 credits)
Learning Sciences Seminar (required for 2 semesters)
Professional Writing in Education
Dissertation Proposal Writing
Writing for Publication
Survey of Statistical Package (recommended)
Preliminary Exam (3 credits)
Preliminary Exam (required)
Dissertation (15 credits)
Dissertation Research (required)
Course Sequencing
Once accepted, each doctoral student will design his or her own program of the study with the advisor. The program of study must satisfy the following requirements: core requirements, research methodology, electives, doctoral seminars, preliminary exam, and dissertation research. The timing for each requirement may vary by students, depending on each student’s standing in the program.
Year 1
Directed Readings/Writings
Students will receive a reading list at the beginning of their doctoral program and
expand the list throughout the year 1 to read and develop related research ideas.
If possible, students are
expected to participate in their faculty advisor’s research projects to learn research
processes.
Year 2
Directed Readings/Writings
Students will continue through the reading and research participation. The experiences are to be developed into a writing project or a research conference proposal.
Spring - Year 3
Preliminary Exam
Students will complete the preliminary exam this semester. The exam will involve three student-generated questions and essays around the three questions that are to be completed independently. The questions students ask and answer will directly relate to their research interests for their doctoral dissertation.
Three faculty members read and rate the preliminary exam as pass or no pass. Students must pass the preliminary exam in order to continue in the program.
Other Requirements
Apprenticeship to the Doctorate
In addition to the requirements above, students must complete the following:
- Teach an elementary or secondary undergraduate course: Students will be required to intern with a faculty member teaching an undergraduate course in reading and/or writing methods.
- Presentation of a paper: Students will be required to present a paper at a national conference.
- Publication: Students will be required to prepare and submit a paper in a peer-reviewed journal.
Dissertation Proposal
When students have completed their first and second chapter of their dissertation, and before they have begun to collect any data, students have a formal meeting with the five faculty members of their dissertation committee. Four of the five members need to be from the Department of Educational Psychology and one is from outside of the department. Students must pass this qualifying exam in order to continue to work on the dissertation and begin to collect data.
Final Dissertation Defense
Upon completion of the dissertation, a final defense is scheduled to defend the dissertation. The defense is scheduled with the five committee members.