Literacy Education (Ph.D.)

The Literacy Education specialization within our doctoral program in Education is designed for Ph.D. students interested in exploring the theories, traditions and research that shape and explain literacy, language and culture across varied contexts.

A photo of a teacher working with an elementary student learning about letters.

Program overview

The specialization in Literacy Education, part of the University of Maine’s Education Ph.D. program, focuses on theoretical research traditions, historical perspectives, and diverse epistemologies and methodologies that frame the study of literacy in varied settings, with emphasis on the distinct needs of rural areas. Through coursework, collaborative research and the opportunity to publish and present research findings, students develop the skills and strategies to answer their own questions related to literacy education. The program’s hallmarks include its selectivity, small size and close mentoring by nationally recognized faculty. Enrollment is limited to no more than 12 students, to ensure quality and close relationships with faculty. We prepare doctoral students to be literacy leaders and advocates in their communities.

A typical doctoral program of study in the literacy education specialization, would include the following courses:

Research Prerequisite (4 Credits)
EHD 510 – Introduction to Educational Research (3 credits)
INT 601 – Responsible Conduct of Research (1 credit)

Foundations Courses (15 credits)
EHD 690 – Doctoral Proseminar (3 credits)
EHD 660 – History of American Education (3 credits)
EHD 661 – The Sociology of Education (3 credits)
EHD 664 – Philosophy of Education (3 credits)
EHD 522 – Educational Psychology (3 credits)

Research Core (15 Credits)
EHD 573 – Statistical Methods in Education I (3 credits)
EDT 574 – Statistical Methods in Education II (3 credits)
EHD 571 – Qualitative Research: Theory, Design and Practice (3 credits)
EHD 572 – Advanced Qualitative Research (3 credits)
Research Methods Elective (3 credits)

Program Core (15 credits)

Specific courses will vary by student. Some students may choose to complete all 15 credits in literacy. Others may choose to complete 9 credits in literacy and 6 credits from another concentration within the Education Ph.D.

Dissertation (6 credits)

Graduates of our doctoral program in Literacy Education have gone on to serve in other academic institutions as professors and researchers, in government or nonprofit education organizations, and as members of the National Writing Project. Many of our graduates also work in schools, as administrators and curriculum coordinators with a strong understanding of current literacy research and practice.

The mission of the Graduate School of the University of Maine is to produce engaged scholars and professionals by promoting excellence in all aspects of the graduate student experience. The Graduate School provides advanced education and professional training through innovative teaching, mentorship, research, and creative activity in established and emerging areas. This rigorous education prepares students to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of the state of Maine, the nation and the global community.

The University of Maine Graduate School prepares engaged scholars and professionals to make meaningful contributions to their communities of practice: research consortia, clinical practices, studios, workplaces, classrooms, and political collectives. As graduate students are key agents in helping to sustain an environment supportive of learning through teaching, collaborative inquiry, mentoring or demonstration, they are critical ambassadors for public higher education during their coursework and after graduation. During and after graduate training, accordingly, the Graduate School’s doctoral, masters, and professional-certifications degree programs will enable students to:

Understand, interpret, shape, and augment the knowledge base by

  • Contributing research, scholarship, creative work, and informed practice to our developing understanding of the social and material world;
  • Staying abreast of methodological, pedagogical, and professional advances;
  • Consuming research for continuing professional knowledge and practice; and
  • Committing to professional development through engagement in professional societies and other knowledge-transfer modes.

Share disciplinary expertise openly, effectively, and accurately by

  • Accurately distilling and disseminating complex expertise to help solve problems;
  • Responsibly integrating developing research consensus into professional best-practices;
  • Working collaboratively across domains to develop new insights and effective practices;
  • Responding with principled recommendations to emerging concerns that confront their communities of practice; and
  • Respectfully observing (and where necessary, helping to shape) the communicative conventions of the community of practice.

Demonstrate responsible and ethical practice by

  • Attending to sustainability, responsiveness, and potential long-term implications when engaging local-global context and communities;
  • Learning from and working respectfully with diverse cultural perspectives, knowledge-systems, and priorities;
  • Giving and acting on productive feedback;
  • Complying with best-practices in methodology and pedagogy and in making informed recommendations to employers, coworkers and the broader public;
  • Maintaining a critical awareness of structural inequities in their communities of practice and working to redress them; and
  • Assuring that context–and discipline-informed modes of inquiry are safe.

For current information about tuition and fees, please visit Student Business Services.
 
Students interested in graduate assistantships will need to apply through the UMaine Graduate School. More information is online.

Applicants for the doctoral program must have at least a master’s degree. Applications should be submitted through the UMaine Graduate School.

Contact Us

For questions about the Education Ph.D., contact Director of Graduate and Online Programs Esther Enright, esther.enright@maine.edu.
 
For general queries use the Graduate School contact form below, or email coehd@maine.edu.

Graduate School Contact Form