Literacy Studies, Ph.D.
The Literacy Studies Ph.D. Program at Middle Tennessee State University is designed to address one of education's most pressing needs—the shortage of scholars, practitioners, administrators, and policy-makers equipped to bridge the gap between the rapidly expanding body of scientific research on the development of literacy and educational practice, policy, and professional preparation. Drawing on the faculty from the College of Education, the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences, and the College of Liberal Arts, this interdisciplinary program offers a flexible framework of courses, field experiences, teaching, and research opportunities designed to provide professionals in various spheres of influence with the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities to effectively address the literacy crisis in the United States and beyond.
Dream job integrates developmental reading and writing instruction
“In spring 2013, I was collecting data for my dissertation, an investigation of the impact of literature circles (classroom-based book clubs) on reading outcomes for college students. I was especially interested in how the reading-writing connection could enhance comprehension and skill transfer for struggling students,” remembers Davonna Thomas, who says she was “up to her eyeballs in coursework and dissertation” but dreaming of a position in which she could teach developmental integrated reading and writing. A series of events she attributes to fate resulted in her landing a position at Coastal Carolina Community College as their developmental reading and English coordinator. “The new developmental curriculum has been enormously successful, as evidenced by statewide performance measures and observation of our successful students. I am wildly fulfilled in my position at Coastal. I am entrusted to develop course materials and assessments. I get to teach an incredibly special student population in the way that I believe is most effective. I can honestly say that none of this would have been possible if I hadn't earned my Ph.D. in Literacy Studies at MTSU,” says Thomas, who describes the interdisciplinary program as “tight-knit and supportive” with a breadth of experiential opportunities.
Program takes a unique and multi-faceted approach to reading
“I like that this program takes a unique and multi-faceted approach to understanding reading.” says Casey Brasher, who holds both an M.S. and Ed.S. from MTSU and is completing her Ph.D. dissertation. “The component of the program most interesting to me is the emphasis on translation of research to practice,” says Brasher, explaining that she had to continue working as a school psychologist while enrolled in Literacy Studies. “The courses and experiences I had in the program have directly informed and improved my practice as a school psychologist.” Not only have faculty members guided her studies but have supported her personally. During her second semester in the program, she found out she was having twins! “The faculty was very understanding about my taking time off due to complications with the pregnancy. They helped and encouraged me throughout the re-entry process. My twin girls are turning 5 now. I started the program with three kids and will be graduating with five!” In 2014, Brasher started teaching as a graduate adjunct one class each semester in the Department of Elementary and Special Education.
Graduates from the Literacy Studies Ph.D. Program may be employed in a variety of professional positions. Examples include, but are not limited to
- College/university faculty
- Leaders in literacy reform
- Materials/test developers at publishing companies
- Professionals at federal/state/local education agencies
- Researchers
- School consultants
- Teacher trainers
Employers of MTSU Literacy Studies Ph.D. program alumni include
- Austin Peay State University
- Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools
- Coastal Carolina Community College
- Colorado Department of Education
- Gestalt Community Schools
- Huntsville, Alabama, City Schools
- Lebanon Special School District
- Lipscomb University
- MTSU Center for the Study and Treatment of Dyslexia
- MTSU College of Education, adjunct
- New Hope Academy
- Rutherford County Schools
- Self-Employed
- Sumner County Schools
- Tennessee Department of Education
- Tullahoma City Schools
MTSU’s College of Education offers the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Literacy Studies. This program is a 60-hour, post-master’s, interdisciplinary program with faculty from the College of Education, the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences and the College of Liberal Arts. Within the program are four specialization areas:
- Literacy Instruction and Staff Development
- Reading Disabilities/Dyslexia
- Literacy Measurement and Analysis
- Administration/Policy
Admission to the program is based on qualifications including GRE scores, GPA, letters of recommendation, professional experience, career goals, and ability to communicate orally and in writing. Currently the program admits students in fall semester only. February 1 is the deadline for priority consideration for admission and graduate assistantships. Applications are accepted until June 1.
The Literacy Studies Ph.D. Program is prepared to supply a limited number of graduate assistantships to qualified applicants. Two types are available: 20-hour and 10-hour. The 20-hour assistantship provides full tuition plus a stipend of $14,000 per year and requires 20 hours of work commitment per week. The 10-hour assistantship pays half tuition plus a stipend of $7,000 per year and requires 10 work hours per week. Apply now using the application form.
For complete curriculum details, click on the REQUIREMENTS tab above.
Other graduate degrees
The College of Education also offers a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Assessment, Learning, and School Improvement [Ed.D].
Literacy Studies, Ph.D.
Jwa Kim, Program Director
(615) 898-8419
Jwa.Kim@mtsu.edu
The Ph.D. in Literacy Studies is an interdisciplinary program drawing on faculty from the Colleges of Education, Behavioral and Health Sciences, and Liberal Arts. The program offers a flexible framework of courses, field experiences, and research opportunities designed to provide professionals in various spheres of influence with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to effectively address the literacy and learning crisis in the United States.
Applicants with master's degrees in a variety of disciplines are eligible for admission. Typically, a successful student will hold formal qualifications related to some area of PK-12 educational practice with three or more years of professional experience in their specializations.
Admission Requirements
Admissions are based on a comprehensive assessment of a candidate’s qualifications including Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores, undergraduate and graduate grade point average, letters of recommendation, prior professional experiences, and application essay.
Applicants are expected to have a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.50 in master’s coursework.
Application Procedures
All application materials are to be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies.
Applicant must submit
- application with the appropriate application fee (online at www.mtsu.edu/graduate/apply.php);
- official transcripts certifying coursework from each college or university attended (a minimum GPA of 3.5 in master's coursework is required for admission to program);
- a current curriculum vitae showing at least three (3) years of documented professional experience;
- a 700 - 1000 word essay explaining how his/her background and objectives relate to the program's purpose;
- three (3) letters of recommendation from professionals who can address the applicant's interest in literacy and potential for successfully completing a doctoral program;
- recent GRE scores (within the last five years); preferred minimum scores are Verbal 156 (current scale) or 550 (former scale), Quantitative 144 (current scale) or 500 (former scale), and a 4.5 on Analytical Writing.
Degree Requirements
Once admitted to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Literacy Studies program, candidates must complete at least 60 semester hours with at least 70 percent at the 7000 level. Candidates are required to complete and successfully defend a research-based dissertation.
Curriculum: Literacy Studies
Candidate must complete 60 hours in the following course of study:
Required Core (27 hours)
Foundations (6 hours)
LITS 7100 - Historical Issues, Trends, and Methodologies in Literacy
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Permission of department. Explores historical and emerging trends and issues related to literacy research methods, processes, and practices. Examines historical trends in theories of literacy development; linguistic, sociocultural, and instructional influences on literacy development; and development in academically diverse children.
- LITS 7130 - Literacy in the Socio-Cultural Context 3 credit hours
LITS 7130 - Literacy in the Socio-Cultural Context
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: CDIS 6000 or ENGL 7520. Exploration of how language and socialization patterns within families of various cultural groups (ie., Latinos, Asian Americans, African Americans, and Native Americans) may influence acquisition of literacy skills and performance in literacy instruction.
Language and Literacy (6 hours)
- LITS 7011 - Neurobiology of Language and Literacy 3 credit hours
LITS 7011 - Neurobiology of Language and Literacy
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: CDIS 6000 or ENGL 7520 and permission of department. Advanced introduction to the functional anatomy of language acquisition, perception, comprehension, and production. Contemporary anatomical and functional neuroimaging techniques in research and clinical applications.
- ENGL 7520 - Essentials of Linguistics 3 credit hours
ENGL 7520 - Essentials of Linguistics
3 credit hours
Major linguistic approaches to the study of language-dominant trends and current issues in linguistics; the phonological, morphological, and syntactic structure of the English language.
Pedagogy (6 hours)
- LITS 7110 - Models of Literacy Assessment 3 credit hours
LITS 7110 - Models of Literacy Assessment
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Permission of department. Examines frames of reference within which approaches to diagnostic and achievement testing reside. Topics include grade level achievement models, discrepancy models, curriculum-based assessment, process models, and value-added models.
- LITS 7210 - Evidence-Based Methods of Literacy Development 3 credit hours
LITS 7210 - Evidence-Based Methods of Literacy Development
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Permission of department. Explores context that spawned the evidence-based movement and the founding of What Works Clearinghouse. Evaluation of instructional programs and methods for reading and spelling within the framework of scientifically based evidence of effectiveness.
Research Design and Data Analysis (6 hours)
- LITS 7140 - Research, Design and Methodology in Literacy 3 credit hours
LITS 7140 - Research, Design and Methodology in Literacy
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Permission of department. Integrated review of current and historical designs and methodologies in literacy research. Analysis of theoretical principles and underlying assumptions will be addressed.
- PSY 7290 - Psychological Statistics: ANOVA 3 credit hours
PSY 7290 - Psychological Statistics: ANOVA
3 credit hours
Prerequisite: PSY 3020 or equivalent or admission to Psychology graduate program. Corequisite: PSY 7291. Review of basic statistics. Scientific quantification, research design, and statistical analysis from the perspective of analysis of variance: one-way, factorial, repeated measures, and mixed designs. Laboratory included.
Practicum (3 hours)
- LITS 7200 - Practicum in Literacy Studies 1 to 3 credit hours
LITS 7200 - Practicum in Literacy Studies
1 to 3 credit hours
Prerequisite: Admission to the program; good academic standing; completion of at least 20 hours of core coursework; Practicum Contract forms; permission of department. Field-based experiences, in as many as three settings, selected by the student in collaboration with the program advisor. Purpose is to expand the student's world view of a career path/field as one connected to literacy issues across a spectrum of disciplines.
Specialization Area (12 hours)
Selected with advisor:
- Reading Disabilities/Dyslexia
- Literacy Instruction and Staff Development
- Literacy Measurement and Analysis
- Administration/Policy
Electives (9 hours)
Selected with advisor
Dissertation (12 hours)
- LITS 7640 - Dissertation Research 1 to 12 credit hours (minimum 12 hours)
LITS 7640 - Dissertation Research
1 to 12 credit hours
Prerequisite: Permission of department. Selection of a research problem, review of pertinent literature, collection and analysis of data, and composition of dissertation. Once enrolled, student should register for at least one credit hour of doctoral research each semester until completion. S/U grading.
Program notes
Currently, the program admits students in Fall semester only. All students in the graduate program will be expected to satisfy a residency requirement.
Candidate must
- file a degree plan in the College of Graduate Studies prior to entry into the program;
- file a Notice of Intent to Graduate form in the College of Graduate Studies within the first two weeks of the term in which candidate intends to graduate.
Contact and Student Information
Dr. Jwa K. Kim
Director
615-904-8419
Jwa.Kim@mtsu.edu
Angela Morrell
Secretary
615-904-8434
Angela.Morrell@mtsu.edu
Dr. Jwa K. Kim
Director
615-904-8419
Jwa.Kim@mtsu.edu
Literacy Studies Ph.D. Program
Middle Tennessee State University
MTSU Box 402
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
College of Graduate Studies
Middle Tennessee State University
MTSU Box 42
1301 East Main Street
Murfreesboro, TN 37132
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