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Ph.D. in Literacy: Curriculum

Curriculum Details

42 total credits required

St. John’s University’s online Ph.D. in Literacy program incorporates a holistic focus on addressing the needs of at-risk learners. This 42-credit hour program includes research, literacy, and concentration courses that are completed prior to a dissertation project that on average takes one year of time, which requires continuous enrollment until completion. The Ph.D. curriculum includes:

  • Core literacy courses: 18 credit hours
  • Research core courses: 15 credit hours
  • Specialization courses: 9 credit hours
  • Dissertation supervision required each semester until you graduate

Students may choose from one of two specializations. Read the specific courses below or click on a specialization title to learn more:

Core Literacy Courses

Credits

Introduces foundations of literacy research, the range of methodologies and methods of inquiry, and examines the current state of research appropriate to the literacy field, including points of concern and debate.
Examines the diverse viewpoints and approaches to reading and writing revealing that literacy acquisition and development involves integrating a complex network of interactive processes. Literacy is studied through the viewpoints of different disciplines and explored through a range of theoretical models within each discipline.
Explores research and evidence-based practice in pre-school to grade 16, literacy program assessment, curriculum development and community advocacy and outreach. This course addresses International Reading Association standards for preparing literacy coaches and reading specialists.
Open to students in advanced or doctoral programs. Course analyzes current issues and design approaches in literacy theory and practice and examines emerging initiatives in the literacy field. Doctoral students begin to identify a potential domain and focus of inquiry for the dissertation.
Open to students in advanced or doctoral programs. Explores theories, research and issues in literacy education for at risk and diverse populations. Emphasis is on the influence of poverty and inequality issues in literacy issues.
Students continuously register for Dissertation Seminar until the dissertation is completed and the degree is awarded. The proposal is a document in which the student outlines the need for the study, a literature review, the procedures and design of the study among other sections. The student also selects a faculty member who serves as a mentor. A dissertation study cannot be conducted until all course requirements are met and satisfactory scores on the third annual portfolio are achieved to satisfy the doctoral culminating requirement.
Students continuously register for Dissertations seminar until the dissertation is completed and the degree is awarded. Directed research and chapter writing occur under guidance from the dissertation mentor and committee members.

Research Core Courses

Credits

This course provides an introduction to mixed methods research and design, focused on applications in educational settings. Particular attention is given to the design and implementation of research that combines qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis. Prerequisite: EDU 5655 or EDU 3285 and EDU 7900.
Open to student in advanced or doctoral programs. Review of major topics (e.g. comprehension) in literacy research with emphasis on the appropriate application of research designs and data analysis methodologies.
This course develops knowledge and applications of advanced univariate and multiunivarate inferential statistical methods, multiple correlation and regression, principles of measurement, internal validity, power analysis and effect size. Students will have hands-on use of statistical software such as SPSS to organize and analyze data and engage in critical analyses of published research that exemplifies a variety of statistical techniques.
This course focuses on a variety of qualitative approaches to discipline and inquiry that can be brought to bear on the problems in education and also examines underlying theoretical frameworks of these approaches. The course provides opportunities for students to develop knowledge and skills in the various qualitative techniques and methods.
Prerequisites: 5655 and 7211. This course advances the principles and concepts developed in earlier research courses through practical applications and field-based studies. The course will include instrument development, data collection strategies and advanced data analysis techniques using statistical software.

Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Concentration

Credits

History, and legal/political underpinnings of American education with an emphasis on programs for linguistically diverse learners; examination of exemplary principles, policies, educational models, research, assessment and technology.
Provides students with theory and practice and necessary knowledge and skills for teaching literacy and language arts to monolingual and linguistically/culturally diverse learners.
An introduction to the fundamental principles of descriptive and theoretical linguistics and the application of linguistic analyses to the teaching of language.

Literacy Specialization

Credits

Study and analysis of approaches and materials for literacy and English Language Arts instruction focusing on language acquisition, word identification, vocabulary development, comprehension, Common Core ELA competencies and motivational aspects for Birth through Grade 12. This course will also provide teachers with knowledge of and methods of teaching the New York State Common Core Standards.
Presents theories of and instructional Strategies for Teaching Literacy and English Language Arts in the Content Areas in regular and inclusive settings through print and technological means. Emphasis on comprehension, vocabulary, and motivation through informational reading and writing consistent with the competencies of English Language Arts of the Common Core Standards.

Plus, one below for the Literacy Specialization

Credits

This course is designed to instruct teachers to develop effective Literacy/ English language Arts skills for middle school and adolescent students. Teachers will learn to incorporate the Common Core State Standards in writing, grammar, speaking, listening and reading. Teachers will learn to use multisensory materials and technology to enhance children’s reading to writing and writing to reading skills. They will also demonstrate their knowledge for teaching writing in a variety of original, imaginative works, as well as, narrative and expository texts, that observe conventions of genres and use of figurative language and text structure. Teachers will enable their students to communicate clearly to an external improving their form, content and style of writing using appropriate language and grammar.

This course is designed to instruct teachers to develop effective Literacy/ English language Arts skills for early childhood and elementary school children. Teachers will learn to incorporate the Common Core State Standards in writing, grammar, speaking, listening and reading. Teachers will learn to use multisensory materials and technology to enhance children’s reading to writing and writing to reading skills. They will also demonstrate their knowledge for teaching writing in a variety of original, imaginative works, as, well as, narrative and expository texts that observe conventions of genres and use of figurative language and text structure. Teachers will enable their children to communicate clearly to an external audience improving their form, content and style of writing using appropriate language and grammar.

This course is designed to instruct teachers to develop effective Literacy/ English language Arts skills for early childhood, elementary, middle school and adolescent students. Teachers will learn to incorporate the Common Core State Standards in writing, grammar, speaking, listening, and reading. Teachers will learn to use multisensory materials and technology to enhance children’s reading to writing and writing to reading skills. They will also demonstrate their knowledge for teaching writing in a variety of original, imaginative works, as well as, narrative and expository texts, that observe conventions of genres and use of figurative language and text structure. Teachers will enable their students to communicate clearly to an external audience improving their form, content and style of writing using appropriate language and grammar. Fee $25.

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