Associate Professor Henry, Doctoral Programs Director, (516) 463-5801

The Literacy Studies Program of the Department of Specialized Programs in Education offers two doctoral programs: Doctor of Education in Literacy Studies and Doctor of Philosophy in Literacy Studies.

The programs in literacy studies have five components:

1. The completion of matriculation requirements.
2. The completion of qualifying requirements.
3. The satisfaction of course requirements.
4. A passing candidacy paper, which is the equivalent of a comprehensive examination.
5. The successful defense of a doctoral dissertation which demonstrates independence, originality, and the ability to contribute to the understandings of language, literacy and learning at an advanced level of conceptualization in investigation in the field of literacy studies.

These programs are designed for literacy researchers and teachers who work in universities, colleges, public schools and community settings. We are looking for applicants who have demonstrated exceptional scholarship and who have a strong commitment to literacy and issues of equity and social justice.

Literacy studies degrees are not pursued in isolation. When students enter the doctoral program they are immediately immersed in research projects that have direct relevance to their professional lives. Students are given every opportunity to develop their own plans of study focusing on their particular research interests.

The doctoral programs focus on five core areas in literacy studies:

1. Literacy, literature and the imagination.
2. Sociolinguistic and psycholinguistic perspectives of literacy.
3. Literacy learning and pedagogical practices.
4. Sociopolitical perspectives of literacy.
5. Cultural historical perspectives of literacy.

Students take seminars in these five areas of concentration and are required to pursue at least one, and no more than two, areas to a more advanced level. Within this context students are encouraged to develop their own theoretical frameworks for literacy research.

Literacy Studies faculty work diligently to provide courses and seminars focused on areas of literacy research and pedagogical practices that are directly relevant to the expressed interests of students. Faculty, and visiting scholars from around the world, introduce students to the intellectual discussions, debates and arguments – epistemological, philosophical, theoretical and pedagogical – ­that frame the field. In so doing, faculty encourage students to expand their understandings of literacy so students can participate in conversations about literacy in families, communities and schools – internationally and nationally – as well as at local levels.