Ed.D. in Literacy Education

Coordinator: Dr. Alisa Belzer (732-932-7496, ext. 8234; email: alisa.belzer@gse.rutgers.edu)

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I. PURPOSE

The purpose of the Ed.D. degree is to prepare professionals who can lead the development and improvement of literacy education. These professionals will contribute to the application and creation of knowledge through the analysis of literacy learning and/or teaching or through the analysis of issues related to program development.

II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The program requires 72 credits of study beyond the bachelor of arts degree. Students develop a broad understanding of literacy issues, a repertoire of research tools, an understanding of how their work relates to the work of other disciplines both within and outside the Graduate School of Education (GSE), and pursue an inquiry into an area of special interest. In addition to coursework, students are required to write a qualifying paper, pass a qualifying exam, propose and complete an original research project, and complete and defend a dissertation based on that research.

III. ADVISEMENT

Upon admission each student is assigned an academic adviser. Students should meet with their advisers each semester and should work with them to develop the student's proposed degree program, which must be filed within the first 18 credits after matriculation. Students may request a new adviser at any time prior to filing a proposed degree program. Please note that the academic adviser does not have to serve as the chair of the dissertation committee.

IV. DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

1. Foundations of Education (At least one course in each of the following areas)

    Learning in a Content Area

        policy and leadership

        social and philosophical foundations

        psychological foundations

The 9 credits that the student will take will be outside the student's own program.

2. Literacy Education

     A. Area of Specialization Required Courses

        15:252:514  Issues of Diversity in Language and Literacy Learning (3)

        15:252:615  Independent Study (Qualifying Paper) (BA)

        15:299:561  Foundations of Literacy Instruction (3)

        15:299:564  Diagnosis and Correction of Reading Difficulties (3)

        15:299:566  Seminar in Reading Research and Supervision (3)

        16:300:516  Developing a Theory of Language and Literacy Education (3)

        16:300:532  Language in Education: Sociocultural Theory (3)

    B. An additional 9 credits taken in literacy education or in relevant areas within or outside the GSE. Elective courses require adviser approval.

3. Research Methodology (9 credits consisting of courses in two of the following three areas)

      quantitative foundations

      qualitative foundations

      program evaluation

      courses require adviser's approval

4. Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination requires students to respond to two questions in 15-20 page papers. Each year one common question will be given to all candidates. This question will center on an issue that cuts across areas of specialization and will be designed to guarantee both that students are current in their knowledge and that they are able to use research and theory to advance their own arguments. The second question will be developed by the adviser and will center on the area that the student plans to investigate in his or her dissertation. Like the coursework, then, the qualifying exam is designed to ensure that students have both sufficient depth and breadth of knowledge. Qualifying examinations must be read by two members of the core faculty.

5. Dissertation (24 credits)

15:250:701  Dissertation Study: Learning and Teaching (BA) (Note: No more than 12 credits of dissertation study may be taken before the successful completion of the qualifying examination.) The dissertation committee consists of at least three members approved by the program and department chair. The chair of the dissertation committee must be a member of the Graduate School of Education, and at least one committee member must be a member of the student's program. At least two committee members must be Rutgers faculty members; at least one must be from outside the student's department.

Total Credits: 72

Please note:

• Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25 in the doctoral coursework and dissertation research courses.
• Students may petition the faculty to transfer up to 18 graduate credits of coursework taken elsewhere to meet these requirements. Transfer of credits is not guaranteed, and it must be demonstrated that transferred credits meet the specific goals of the program. The faculty will review each petition and decide if the coursework taken elsewhere meets the standards of courses sponsored by the Ed.D. program.
• Degree programs will be approved by both the student's program adviser and by the chair of the department.