About the Program:

The Language Literacy program (EDLL) is an academic program in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction.  The program provides in-depth course work focused on literacy pedagogy and research. Graduates develop expertise that prepare them to assume roles of professional leadership and to provide critical analyses of trends and issues in literacy teaching and learning.

Standards

Program work within Language Literacy is developed and guided by a strong conceptual framework, the standards from the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), guidelines from the International Reading Association (IRA), the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), criteria from the State of Texas, and the sound professional judgment of an experienced and caring faculty.  

Degree/Certification programs of study

A student may opt to simultaneously work on a Master’s Degree and the advanced certifications, Master Reading Teacher and/or Professional Reading Specialist. The academic requirements for a Master’s degree in Language and Literacy, those for the Professional Reading Specialist certificate, and those for the Master Reading Teacher certificate have some courses in common.  The Master’s Degree program requires 36 hours of course work. When students seek to complete both a master’s degree and the Program for Professional Reading Specialist, the plan will exceed 36 hours.  More advanced degree work is also available as a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Language Literacy.

Details about program options are found in the Language Literacy Handbook and in the variety of online documents that are accessed through the links found on this homepage.

Language Literacy candidates come from a variety of academic and professional backgrounds.  Many program participants have either worked at, or are currently employed by a school district.  To accommodate the needs of these working professionals, the Language Literacy Program routinely offers a variety of evening and summer courses.  Some of these courses utilize distance education delivery systems.