Doctoral Program

The Department of Reading offers a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Reading Education. The doctoral program in reading prepares educators and researchers for specialized work in reading at all levels of education. The program responds to the recognition of the value of literacy and contributes to its development in diverse social contexts, from local school districts to universities in the United States and abroad. At all levels of study, we value the interrelationships of theory and practice, as we lead students to develop theory and new knowledge leading to a transactional integration of research and teaching.

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Admission Requirements for Doctoral Students in Reading
The doctoral applicant must meet the following program admission requirements:

• A minimum grade point average of  3.5 on the master's degree
• Completed GRE with preferred score of 500 on verbal section and also score of 500 on either quantitative or analytic section OR scores within one standard deviation of the posted mean
• Completion of three years of successful teaching experience. If the student does not have the full three years of experience, the Admissions Committee may recommend that the student participate in extensive prerequisite coursework, practice, or internship as part of the doctoral degree requirements.
• Initial acceptance into the doctoral reading program is also based on a review of the following: 
  • Interview
  • Professional writing sample
  • Goals statement for doctoral studies
  • On-site writing sample
  • Three letters of reference
• Successful completion of admission examinations developed by the Admissions Committee

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Program Requirements for the Ph.D.
Students have 10 years to complete the doctoral program. No coursework beyond the master's degree which is over 10 years old at the time the doctoral degree is conferred can be used toward the doctoral degree.

Total Hours Required: A minimum of 90 hours post-baccalaureate or 66-72 hours post master’s degree, including 12 hours of dissertation.

Reading Core: 18 hours

Minor and/or Supporting Field: 12-15 hours. Adjusted to meet the needs of each student’s program.

Research Tools: All doctoral candidates must complete 6 hours of graduate-level course work in statistics. In addition, Ph.D. students are required to take 9 hours of advanced research. The advanced research requirement can be met by either 9 hours of advanced research or 6 hours of advanced research and 3 hours of computer science.

For students holding the master’s degree, a minimum of 60 hours beyond the master’s is required plus satisfaction of the research tools requirement for the Ph.D. Based on a review of the preparation of each entering student, additional courses may be required. No grade below a “B” is accepted toward the doctoral degree.

1.      The following specific degree requirements must be completed for the Ph.D.

Major in Reading: ……………………………………18 hours
Minor:……………………………………………12-15 hours
Elective (subject to approval):……………………12-15 hours
Dissertation:…………………………………………12 hours
Research Tools (includes 6 hours of statistics):……..   15 hours
Statistics:……………………………………………. .6 hours

(Ph.D. students are required to complete an inquiry-based apprenticeship.)

2.      Students must take a minimum of 12 hours outside the Department of Reading.

3.      To complete the integrated core curriculum of the doctoral program in reading education, the student must complete each of the following courses.

READ 6533    Foundations of Reading: Physiological and Psychological Dimensions
READ 6573    Reading as Related to Language

 4.      Additional core and elective requirement can be satisfied by completing doctoral level courses approved by the advisor from the following:

READ 6483    Qualitative Research
READ 6493    Advanced Qualitative Research Design and Analysis
READ 6513    Observing and Responding to Young Readers
READ 6523    Early Literacy Intervention
READ 6553    College and Adult Reading
READ 6563    Adolescent Literacy
READ 6583    Research in Reading
READ 6593    Advanced Reading Research Design: Analysis and Evaluation
READ 6663    Practicum
READ 6683    Doctoral Seminar in Reading
READ 6903    Special Topics
READ 6911    Special Problems

A student may also take elective courses from other departments. The courses must first be approved by the advisor.

Courses             
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