or in Literacy,
Language, and Culture.
How do students make sense of the texts they encounter
in school?
How do community practices influence sense-making?
How do teachers best foster students’ communication of
their ideas?
What happens when these processes do not work smoothly?
Faculty and students in English Education are exploring questions like these in their efforts to improve the literacy learning of children and adolescents in school settings.
It means commitment to the understanding and fostering of language and literacy development for individuals of a variety of backgrounds and capabilities. Our work takes place in both school and community settings, and it is motivated by a range of theoretical, methodological, and practical perspectives. What binds it together is the commitment to understanding the dynamics of how individuals make sense of, and communicate, meaning.
Examples of current projects include:
This degree specialization is housed within the Educational Studies program, which fosters links among students and faculty in a number of specializations sharing a commitment to the integration of theory and research on teaching, learning, and educational access in P-12 settings.
The Program in English Education is designed for practicing secondary English language arts teachers who wish to continue their practical, intellectual, and professional development; however, this is not a program in teaching English as a second language. Working with your advisor, you will craft a program of study from courses in both the School of Education and the English department, which builds upon core courses in education and suits your particular interest in expanding an area of expertise as an English teacher. You may also select a subspecialty, such as technology, composition, or media studies, and elect relevant courses from other departments. Your course of study culminates in a teacher research project, which you may conduct in your own classroom or in one you choose.
Core courses will familiarize you with influential scholarship and practices in educational reform, the teaching of literacy, ways to work with typical and atypical learners, and approaches for studying your own and others practice.
Upon completion of the program, you will be able to serve as
a teacher leader in forwarding English language arts curriculum,
pedagogy,
and teacher research. You will also be qualified to apply for
one
of our doctoral programs in either the Joint
Program of English and Education or in Literacy,
Language, and Culture.
If you have a general question about the program, or would like to talk to a current student about the program, please visit the English Education Contacts page.
Faculty: To view a faculty member's research interests, click on their name (links open up a new window).
Affiliated Faculty
Deanna Birdyshaw
Ambassadors are students who have agreed to answer your questions about the program. We know there are times when you really want to hear about the program from a student's perspective, and these students have agreed to share their experiences. If you have general questions, please contact the program directly here. Remember: To help us alert you to recruitment events and the latest admissions updates, be sure to also fill out a graduate program inquiry form
Ambassadors:
Jen Denzin jbdenzin@umich.edu
Below is a list of courses taken by many students in English Education. Working with your advisor, you will craft a program of study from courses in both the School of Education and the English department, which builds upon core courses in education and suits your particular interest in expanding an area of expertise as an English teacher.
500. Foundations of Literacy. Prerequisite: Graduate standing
505. Literacy Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment: Middle/Secondary
621. Teaching Writing in the Elementary and Secondary Schools
638. Internship and Directed Field Experience. (1-6) Prerequisite: Graduate standing
Are you interested in applying to our program? If so, you've come to the right place. Just follow the steps below and you will learn all you need to know about how to apply. (Links on this page will open up in a new window, close the window to return to this page.)
1. Do you have any questions you would like answered before you
apply? If so, view the School
of Education Frequently Asked Questions or contact
the program. If not, continue on to item 2.
2. Fill out a Rackham program inquiry form to get you into our
system, so we can inform you of the latest recruiting events and other admissions
updates. You can fill
out a program
inquiry form by clicking here (be sure to close the new window to return
to this page).
3. Application Process: You will need to complete an application
to the Horace H. Rackham Graduate School,
which is the overall administrative unit for graduate programs. It is mandatory
that you use the Rackham Web application to apply to our programs.
You also need to send us a statement of purpose, official transcripts from every institution you have attended, three letters of recommendation, and your GRE scores. International students should also send in their TOEFL scores.
We created an application checklist for your use in keeping track of where and when you sent application materials. We recommend that you download and print up an application checklist.
Application Checklist
Fee waivers are available through the Rackham Graduate School for prospective students who qualify for Specialized Fee Waiver Groups. Please check Rackham's fee waiver Web page to see if you are eligible for one of these groups.
Note: The Office of Student Services matches documents to an application using the name appearing on the Rackham application. If the name on your documents, i.e., transcript, letter of recommendation, etc., is different from the name appearing on your application, please be sure to indicate all former last names or other first names on the Rackham application. Contact the Office of Student Services if you have information about your name that you did not include on the Rackham application.
For the latest deadline, please see our deadlines page
5. We hope you will get acquainted with us through our web materials,
e-mail correspondence, and when possible, a personal
visit. Be sure to
check out the University of
Michigan Web site, the Rackham
Graduate School Web site, and the rest of the resources in this program
site along with the School of Education Web site. In addition, you may want
to view the SOE
Bulletin.
There are opportunities through both the School of Education and the Rackham
Graduate School for merit and need based fellowships. To find out more, we
encourage you to review the
Graduate Financial Aid Resource Guide.
The Office
of Fellowships and Recruitment
is the contact for the Rackham Graduate School (734-764-8119).
We are delighted to learn of your interest in the University
of Michigan and this program. We encourage you to visit the campus to
discuss your interests with faculty and students. Visits are most helpful if
made prior to or during the application process. In addition to arranging individual
campus visits, you are encouraged to attend the annual Graduate Information Day. This is a great opportunity
for you to meet with School of Education faculty and staff, some of our current
students, and other prospective students. We wish you the best of luck in pursuing your
graduate studies and encourage you to contact us (above) if you have any questions
about the University of Michigan or your program.
Still have questions? If so, please visit the School
of Education Frequently Asked Questions, or contact the Office
of Student Services.
Questions about the status of your application? Check your application data and status online, via Wolverine Access. Please allow 7 days after submitting your application before checking your web application status on Wolverine Access. To do this you will need to use a login ID and password, and confirm some personal data before viewing your application:
For applicants who are current students or employees
1. Log into Wolverine Access using your existing UMICH uniqname login and click "New and Prospective Student Business."
"For applicants who are new to the University you will
need to create a secure login using a UM Friend Account and then log into Wolverine
Access at https://friend.weblogin.umich.edu/
1. Create a Friend Account by clicking on the following link: Create a Friend Account.
NOTE: If you have questions about creating a UM Friend Account you may go to http://www.itd.umich.edu/itcsdocs/s4316
2. Log into Wolverine Access at https://wolverineaccess.umich.edu/ and click "New and Prospective Student Business."
If you have any further questions, contact the Office
of Student Services at
(734) 764-7563 or
ed.grad.appl@umich.edu.
If you are interested in other School of Education programs, return to the "Academic Programs" home by clicking on the tab above or by clicking here.
