Ed.D. in Literacy

This is an archived copy of the 2016-2017 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit catalog.shsu.edu.

Program Description

The Doctor of Education degree in Literacy provides the highest professional degree available to candidates who aspire to literacy leadership positions.  The degree requirements include a prescribed curriculum of required and elective courses and the successful completion of a major research project resulting in the presentation and defense of a dissertation.  A comprehensive examination will be taken after the completion of at least 45 hours of coursework.  Students must be enrolled during the semester the comprehensive examination is taken.  After successful completion of the examination, the student may defend the dissertation proposal.

The program includes:

Concentration of Reading Courses24
Research Component15
An Elective Area12
Dissertation9
Total Hours60

Please see the curriculum outline for a complete listing of program course requirements.

The EdD Program is a modified cohort program.  Individuals are admitted to a specific cohort and follow the schedule for the cohort to which they are assigned.  Electives courses may be taken independent from the rest of the cohort.  Cohort groups begin in June of each year. In the event of emergencies that require an individual to drop-out of the normal schedule, they may be required to join another cohort group with another schedule.  Admission to the program requires a significant commitment of time for the duration of the individual"s program.  The inability to devote the necessary time will require the individual to drop-out of the program.

Candidates who complete this program will:

  • have knowledge of the foundations of reading and writing processes and how to design research around and write about such topics;
  • gain an understanding of, and an ability to design research and write about the assessment of reading and writing acquisition;
  • apply knowledge acquired from research and scholarly study to education in reading and writing, and design, conduct and interpret research in reading and writing education.

Admissions

Admission to the program requires a significant commitment of time for the duration of the individual’s program. The inability to devote the necessary time will require the individual to drop out of the program.

This program followings a modified cohort model. Individuals are admitted to a specific group, called a cohort, and follow the schedule for the cohort to which they are assigned. Elective courses may be taken independent from the rest of the cohort. Cohorts begin in June of each year. In the event of emergencies that require an individual to drop out of the normal schedule, they may be required to join another cohort group with another schedule.

Applicants seeking admission to the doctoral program in Literacy must submit the following directly to the Office of Graduate Admissions:

  1. Graduate Application
  2. Application fee
  3. Official transcript(s) showing receipt of a baccalaureate degree and a master's degree from an accredited institution
  4. Official GRE scores
  5. Program application and fee
  6. Personal statement (1000 words maximum)
  7. Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can speak to your preparedness on doctoral graduate studies (preferably a former professor)
  8. Evidence of teaching certificate with a reading specialist endorsement and/or three years of teaching experience preferred.

The master’s degree should be in literacy, reading or a related field with at least eighteen hours of graduate credit in reading. Students without the prerequisite eighteen hours in reading may be required to take additional coursework during the program. The graduate GPA should be 3.0 or higher.

Applicants meeting the criteria above may be invited for an interview with the doctoral admissions committee. A candidate who fails to meet one of the admission requirements may receive probationary admission if sponsored by a doctoral faculty member.

Degree Requirements

Ed.D. in Literacy

Ed.D. in Literacy
Specified Courses
COUN 7373Stat Methds-Counslr Edu Rsrch3
LITC 7300Psychological & Social Foundations of Language & Literature3
LITC 7310The Politics of Literacy3
LITC 7320Issues & Trends in Literacy Ed3
LITC 7330Research in Lang & Literacy3
LITC 7335Curriculum Thry & Literacy Edu3
LITC 7340Sociolinguistics/Discourse Analysis3
LITC 7345Analysis, Interpretation, and Dissemination of Literacy Assessment3
LITC 7350Qualitative Methods in Lit Edu3
LITC 7366History of Reading3
LITC 7370Quantitative Rsch Method - Lit3
Restricted Elective
Select two of the following:6
Multivariate Mthd-Cnslr Edu Rs
Advanced Studies in Qualitative Methods in Education
Adv Studies In Literacy Rsch
Virtual Ethnography
Electives
Select four of the following:12
Litercy Pedagogy For Adlt Lrng
Strategies for College Reading in Developmental Education
Lang Arts: Theory & Practice
Digital Epistemologies
Graduate courses in READ, EDLD, or SPED
Dissertation
LITC 8320Application Of Literacy Rsrch3
LITC 8030Dissertation in Lit Leadership6
Total Hours60
1

LITC 8030 can be taken three times for a total of up to nine hours. A minimum of 6 credits is required. Once enrolled in this course, the student must enroll in it until graduation.