Our graduate programs in Literacy Education have rolling application deadlines. Prospective students should complete an application by June for a fall start date; by October for a spring start date. A bachelor’s degree is required, and at least two years of teaching experience is preferred. We will accept up to 15 hours of transfer credits from any accredited Reading Recovery program.

The Master of Education, Educational Specialist, and Doctor of Philosophy programs in the Literacy, Language and Culture Program provide practicing teachers and advanced professionals in literacy and related areas with the opportunity to explore current issues of literacy research and instruction with nationally and internationally recognized faculty in an atmosphere that encourages discussions and inquiry. While Maine is a national leader in many measures of literacy achievement in schools; changing global needs require continual examination and implementation of best literacy practices. Coursework, with faculty who have extensive experience with schools and public-school students, balances theoretical and practical issues to inform and change literacy practices.

Application for admission is conducted online through the Graduate School and requires three letters of recommendation, a statement of intent, Miller’s Analogy Test scores for Master’s students (waived for students whose undergraduate GPA was 3.0 or higher), transcripts from all previous institutions and the application fee. 

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact coehd@maine.edu. Once initial contact is made,  a faculty member in the Literacy, Language and Culture Program will be available to provide additional  assistance in selecting the most appropriate program for the applicant’s goals.

Master’s Programs in Literacy

M.Ed. in Literacy Education (Literacy Specialist Concentration) (36 credits)

Graduates of the Literacy, Language, and Culture Program become transformative literacy collaborators taking on identities as knowledgeable teachers, curriculum coordinators, literacy specialists, literacy coaches and school administrators with a strong understanding of the demands of current literacy curricula.

The M.Ed. in Literacy Education (Literacy Specialist Concentration) requires 36 credits of graduate level work and leads to Maine pathway 1 certification as a Literacy Specialist, K-12 (092 endorsement). Basic requirements consist of core coursework in literacy and electives in related fields. Electives will be scheduled with advisor’s approval. Degrees are awarded upon successful completion of courses.  This 36-credit program covers the collaborative nature of the literacy specialist and how this interventionist is key to supporting the literacy needs of schools. The curriculum includes courses in educational research, literacy and language development, linguistic diversity and multilingualism in the classroom, and intervention design for struggling readers. The program is rigorous and tightly scheduled, with few choices. As such, applicants are encouraged to speak with an advisor early in the process to prepare a course plan.

Courses in the M.Ed. (Literacy Specialist Concentration) is divided into three phases: Phase 1 courses, Phase 2 courses, Phase 3 courses and electives that can be taken anytime throughout the program of study. Students should complete the previous phase, before moving onto the next phase.

Literacy Specialist Program Requirements include:

Phase 1 Courses (12 credits)

EHD 510 Introduction to Educational Research (3 credits)
ERL 534 Literacy and Language Development (3 credits)
ERL 540 Writing in Schools & Colleges (3 credits)
ERL 531 Linguistic Diversity, Multilingualism, and the Classroom (3 credits)

Phase 2 Courses (6 credits)

ERL 554 Literacy Processing: How Students Learn to Read (3 credits)
ERL 555 Intervention Design for Struggling Reader (3 credits)

Phase 3 Courses (12 credits)

ERL 569 Clinical Practices-Teaching Children (6 credits)
ERL 552 Seminar in Teacher Research (3 credits)
ERL 601 Seminar in Literacy (3 credits)

Elective Course (6 credits)

The elective course may come from any college or university program with the approval of the student’s advisor. Contact: coehd@maine.edu.

Individually Designed M.Ed. in Literacy

The individually designed degree is a 33-credit program that offers some flexibility to educators interested in graduate study of literacy in K-12 schools and other community settings. Although it does not lead to certification or licensure, students can build a program of study in consultation with a faculty advisor and the program coordinator that meets their unique needs and interests.

Ed.S. in Literacy

The Education Specialist Program in Literacy Education (30 credits)

The College of Education and Human Development’s Education Specialist programs provide students with a cohesive program of professional development beyond the master’s level. The program of study is individually planned by the student and their advisor. A minimum of 30 semester hours of work beyond the master’s level is required to earn the Ed.S. Candidates must complete a minimum of 12 semester hours in professional education coursework at the 500- and/or 600-level at the University of Maine.  A master’s degree in Literacy Education or a closely related field is required for admission to the program.

Ph.D. Program in Literacy Education

The Ph.D. program in Literacy Education is designed for individuals exhibiting leadership in literacy, such as curriculum development, teacher research, publishing, professional presentations, and theoretical research. It prepares candidates for academic positions in universities, positions in administration and supervision of literacy programs at the local, state and federal levels, textbook and other kinds of publishing endeavors, and employment in various departments of government. Each candidate’s program is individually developed based on the student’s background, goals and objectives, and the requirements of the degree. A primary function of the Ph.D. program is to develop competency in diverse educational research strategies as a significant means of advancing knowledge. Applicants must interview with the faculty in the Literacy, Language, and Culture Program, and must provide evidence of successful teaching experience, a record of professional leadership and responsibilities, and samples of professional writing. Application information is available from the Graduate School. 

For additional information about the program, please contact: coehd@maine.edu.

Program of Study for the Ph.D. in Literacy Education

The Ph.D. program consists of five components: required coursework, coursework in research methodologies, foundational coursework, elective coursework, practica experiences, and the dissertation. Specifically:

1. Literacy Coursework (minimum 15 credit hours). This section may vary by student. Some students may choose the Literacy Program core (9 credits) + Interdisciplinary Electives (6 credits). Literacy Core Course must be at the EdS or doctoral level in Literacy, Language and Culture. Students can choose to complete the 15 hours of literacy coursework entirely from the Core, however, some students may be interested in interdisciplinary electives connected to our other College of Education and Human Development doctoral subplans in ESC, STEM, SPED and P&I. It is normally assumed that the student is a recent graduate of a literacy master’s degree program. For students with different backgrounds, a core of at least 15 credits of prerequisite literacy master’s degree coursework may be required.

2. Research Methods (minimum 15 credit hours). Students are required to complete a minimum of 15 hours selected from courses in consultation with their doctoral program committee. Courses might include EHD 571 (Qualitative Research: Theory, Design, and Practice), EHD 572 (Advanced Qualitative Research), EHD 573 (Statistical Methods in Education I), and EHD 574 (Statistical Methods in Education II) plus Research Methods Elective.

3. Foundations Coursework (minimum 15 credit hours) Students are required to take five courses in foundations of education, from EHD 621 (Educational Psychology), EHD 660 (History of American Education), EHD 661 (The Sociology of Education), EHD 663 (Comparative and International Education), EHD 6624 (Philosophy of Education), EHD 601 (Doctoral Proseminar). Students are also responsible for INT 601 (Responsible Conduct of Research).

4. Elective Coursework (minimum 12 credit hours typically outside of the Literacy, Language, and Culture Program area).

5. Practica Coursework. Students must complete either EHD 657 (Educational Practicum) or EHD 690 (Topics in Education: Methods of College Teaching).

6. Dissertation Research (minimum 6 credits of EHD 699 (Graduate Thesis/Research).