Literacy, Language, and Culture
How do students make sense of the texts they encounter in and outside of school? How do cultural systems of meaning and community practices influence these interactions? How can teachers best foster students' communication of their ideas? What happens when these processes do not work smoothly? How can we bridge gaps between literacy research and practice to foster the development and educational success of children and adolescents?
Requirements
Core courses will familiarize you with theoretical perspectives that have informed literacy research and teaching practices over the last 100 years, as well as with current perspectives on literacy research and practice. In addition, faculty offer special seminars related to their specific research interests on a rotating basis. Such courses are designed to provide in-depth treatment of particular areas of literacy theory, research, and practice.
Core credits
Students complete the following courses:
- EDUC 790 – Foundations of Schooling (3 credits)
- EDUC 791 – Foundations of Teaching & Learning (3 credits)
- EDUC 792 – Methods of Educational Research: Qualitative (3 credits)
- EDUC 793 – Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Educational Research (3 credits)
- EDUC 898 – Professional Development Seminar (1 credit); need 4 credits total
- An advanced research methods course (3 credits)
Concentration credits
Students complete the following courses:
- EDUC 500 – Foundations of Literacy
- EDUC 525 – Language Development in Home and School Contexts
- EDUC 703 – Historical Perspectives on Literacy Research
- EDUC 706 – Issues in Research on Literacy
Elective credits
A minimum of three credits must be literacy-related. Students choose from the following courses:
- EDUC 704 – Contemporary Perspectives on Literacy Research
- EDUC 706 – Seminar: Issues in Research on Literacy Topic: Youth Literacy Culture Identity
- EDUC 706 – Seminar: Issues in Research on Literacy Topic: Disciplinary Literacy
- EDUC 706 – Seminar: Issues in Research on Literacy Topic: Pedagogy of Literacy Teacher Education
- EDUC 706 – Seminar: Issues in Research on Literacy Topic: New Literacies and Media
- EDUC 706 – Seminar: Issues in Research on Literacy Topic: Intro to Systemic Functional Linguistics OR EDUC 737 – Topics in Educational Studies Topic: Intro to Systemic Functional Linguistics
- EDUC 706 – Seminar: Issues in Research on Literacy, Topic: Secondary Writing Research with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students OR EDUC 737 – Topics in Educational Studies Topic: Secondary Writing Research with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students
- EDUC 733 – Reading and Writing Development of Young Children
- EDUC 737 – Topics in Educational Studies, Topic: The Education of Latin@s in the US
Cognate credits
Cognates are defined as graduate, non-Education courses. Cross-listed, meet-together courses with Education can be elected to fulfill the cognate requirement. With advisor approval, students may choose Higher Education courses.
Apprenticeship credits
Students complete a minimum of one and up to three credits in each of the following apprenticeships:
- EDUC 789 – Research Apprenticeship
- Graduate Student Research Assistant (GSRA) Position or Apprenticeship to Faculty Member
- EDUC 798 – Teaching Apprenticeship
- Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) Position or Apprenticeship to Faculty Member
Preliminary exam credits
Students complete a minimum of one and up to three credits in each of the following courses:
- EDUC 991 – Prelims Part A (1 credit minimum) (may be elected more than once)
- EDUC 992 – Prelims Part B (1 credit minimum) (may be elected more than once)
Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
Prospective Students
Associated Faculty
Connect with ES
Contact
Phone: (734) 763-9497
Master's: edstudiesma.info@umich.edu
Doctoral: edstudiesphd.info@umich.edu
Location
610 E. University Avenue
Room 4218
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1259
Office Hours
Monday–Friday
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Application Deadline
Educational Studies is suspending admissions to its PhD program for the fall of 2021. We are doing this to ensure that we can continue to provide the support needed by our current students at this uncertain time. However, we are engaged in an exciting redesign of our PhD program and look forward to welcoming your applications in the fall of 2021 for the fall of 2022. Please check in (at this site) for updates regarding our redesign efforts.
Quick Facts
GRE general exam required
Yes
Financial aid available
Yes
Starting term
Fall term only
Connect with ES
Contact
Phone: (734) 763-9497
Master's: edstudiesma.info@umich.edu
Doctoral: edstudiesphd.info@umich.edu
Location
610 E. University Avenue
Room 4218
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1259
Office Hours
Monday–Friday
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Careers
Upon completion of the program, graduates are prepared for a number of positions:
- Faculty at research and teaching universities
- Research scientists and post-doctoral fellows at research centers
- Curriculum and professional development leaders in literacy and language education in school districts or community organizations within and outside the U.S.
- Private consultants
100%
100%
$61K
Graduates typically go into these industries
- Educational leadership
- Higher education research
- Independent research organizations
- Policy communities at the local, state, and national levels
- Reform and innovation communities within and beyond K–12 governance
Graduates often work as
- Education Consultant
- Director of Research
- Policymaker
- Professor
- Research Design Specialist
- Research Investigator
- Research Specialist
Recent job titles include
- Associate Director of Education Research
- Chief of Research
- Clinical Professor
- Deputy Director
- Director of Enrollment Research and Data Management
- Director of Mathematics Learning Center
- Instructional Consultant
- Principal Researcher
- Research Scientist
Internships
Although no internship is required, students must satisfy the apprenticeship requirement by completing a minimum of one and up to three credits in each of the following apprenticeships:
- EDUC 789 – Research Apprenticeship
- Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) Position or Apprenticeship to Faculty Member
- EDUC 798 – Teaching Apprenticeship
- Graduate Student Research Assistant (GSRA) Position or Apprenticeship to Faculty Member