New Ph.D. program in Language and Literacy, Arizona State University, College of Education

[Jeff MacSwan]

The College of Education at Arizona State University announces a new Ph.D. 
concentration in Language and Literacy in the Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in 
Curriculum and Instruction.  Please distribute this announcement widely to 
students and colleagues.

Arizona State University, an internationally recognized metropolitan 
Research I university, is located in the heart of Tempe, Arizona, where 
approximately 42,000 students are enrolled in daytime and evening 
classes.  The university is recognized nationally as a foremost research 
institution offering excellent undergraduate and graduate education and 
nationally-ranked athletic programs as well as a full array of cultural 
activities.

U.S. News and World Report recently ranked the College of Education at 
Arizona State University as 17th in the nation, 12th among public institutions.

The new Interdisciplinary Language and Literacy Ph.D. Program in the 
Division of Curriculum and Instruction of the College of Education provides 
opportunities for research and study in one or more of the following: 
language and literacy education, children’s literature, classroom discourse 
analysis, gender and literacy, emergent literacy, adolescent literacy, 
biliteracy, second language learning, educational linguistics, 
bilingualism, language policy, and other language education topics.

PROGRAM GOALS

The Language and Literacy Ph.D. Program is designed to produce researchers 
and teacher educators. The goals of the program are to prepare students to 
critically analyze and conduct research in their area of specialization; 
and to prepare students to carry out research, teaching, and service 
activities associated with faculty positions at institutions of higher 
education and other professional positions.

Some students opt to specialize in research, others pursue careers in 
teaching or administration, but all are prepared to make individual career 
decisions based on examined theory in language and literacy and a critical 
view of research.

THE CURRICULUM

Our doctoral curriculum typically requires at least three years of graduate 
study.  Students are required to spend one year as fulltime students on 
campus at Arizona State University.  However, all students are encouraged 
to integrate into the scholarly community on campus as much as possible, 
and to spend a good amount of time interacting with faculty and other 
students in the program.

The curriculum provides students with a core set of courses, seminars, 
internships, and research experiences.  Each student's program of study 
builds upon core requirements and is uniquely designed around individual 
interests, in consultation with the student's advisor.

An important feature of the program in Language and Literacy is that 
students are encouraged to draw on the scholarly resources of the entire 
university and develop a cross-disciplinary program of study that includes 
courses from outside the College of Education.

REQUIREMENTS

The following six domains comprise the Interdisciplinary Language and 
Literacy Ph.D. Program:

Area of Concentration

30 semester hours pertaining to language and literacy education, children’s 
literature, gender and literacy, emergent literacy, adolescent literature, 
classroom discourse analysis, educational linguistics, bilingualism and 
bilingual education, second language learning, language policy, biliteracy, 
or other language education topics.

Cognate Study

12 semester hours are taken to broaden the student's understanding of the 
conceptual base and issues underlying the study of curriculum and 
instruction. Students take related work outside their declared areas of 
concentration. Students are expected to choose courses that have a clear 
link to their dissertation efforts. Cognate studies can be drawn from a 
broad range of offerings across the University.
·	
  Inquiry and Analysis

15 semester hours of empirical analysis and inquiry foundations are 
required in advanced design and data analysis in quantitative and/or 
qualitative research methods.

  Core Requirements in Curriculum and Instruction

6 semester hours of courses (Interdisciplinary Research Seminar in 
Curriculum and Instruction and Curriculum Theory and Practice) are required 
as the Curriculum and Instruction core.

Practicum and Integrative/Professional Development Seminars

6 semester hours of research and University teaching internships are 
required to broaden the training and experience of students.

Dissertation and Independent Research

24 semester units of dissertation and independent research leading to 
completion of an approved dissertation are required.

Doctoral students are also encouraged to participate in the Preparing 
Future Faculty Program offered by ASU's Graduate College. This program 
consists of two semester hours in which students learn faculty roles and 
responsibilities and participate in an ongoing series of integrative and 
collaborative seminars coordinated with the Graduate College. Students have 
the opportunity to develop and participate in interdisciplinary teaching, 
research, and service activities.

LANGUAGE AND LITERACY FACULTY

Dr. Beatriz Arias (Ph.D., Stanford University): Language policy, bilingual 
teacher preparation, secondary bilingual education.  bea at asu.edu

Dr. James Christie (Ph.D., Claremont Graduate School): Emergent 
literacy.  jchristie at asu.edu

Dr. Carol Christine (Ph.D., University of Arizona): Language and literacy 
education, children’s literature. caroljc at asu.edu

Dr. Carole Edelsky (Ph.D., University of New Mexico): Language education 
and classroom discourse, language and gender.  edelsky at asu.edu

Dr. Billie Enz (Ph.D., Arizona State University): Emergent literacy, 
language acquisition.  bjenz at asu.edu

Dr. Christian Faltis (Ph.D., Stanford University): Bilingualism, second 
language acquisition, secondary bilingual education.  cfaltis at asu.edu

Dr. Gustavo Fischman (Ph.D., UCLA): Cultural studies, international and 
comparative education. fischman at asu.edu

Dr. Barbara Guzzetti (Ph.D., University of Colorado): Gender and literacy, 
adolescent literacy.  guzzetti at asu.edu

Dr. Sarah Hudelson (Ph.D., University of Texas, Austin): Biliteracy, second 
language acquisition.  sarahh at asu.edu

Dr. Jeff MacSwan (Ph.D., UCLA): Bilingualism, code switching, educational 
linguistics, language assessment policy for linguistic 
minorities.  macswan at asu.edu

Dr. Jeff McQuillan (Ph.D., University of Southern California): Language and 
literacy education, second language learning.  jeff.mcquillan at asu.edu

Dr. Alleen P. Nilson (Ph.D., University of Iowa): Adolescent literature, 
language issues.  alleen.nilsen at asu.edu

Dr. Kellie Rolstad (Ph.D., UCLA): Dual language education, language 
diversity, educational linguistics, elementary language arts.  rolstad at asu.edu

Dr. Karen Smith (Ph.D., Arizona State University): Language and literacy 
education, language policy. karen.smith2 at asu.edu

Dr. Lucy Tse (Ph.D., University of Southern California): Second language 
learning, bilingualism, and biliteracy.  lucy.tse at asu.edu

Dr. Josephine Peyton Young (Ph.D., University of Georgia): Adolescent 
literacy, critical literacy, and gender and literacy.  joyoung at asu.edu

Dr. Terrence G. Wiley (Ph.D., University of Southern California): Language 
policy, second language acquisition, bilingualism, literacy, language 
diversity.  tgwiley at earthlink.net


FUNDING AND APPLICATION DEADLINE

Applications for fall, 2000 are currently being accepted.  A limited number 
of full and partial funding packages will be available on a competitive 
basis. The application deadline is revolving; admissions decisions are made 
about once a month. Students who wish to pursue academic support are 
encouraged to apply early. Applicants and prospective applicants are 
encouraged to contact program area faculty with whom they share common 
academic interests.

To request an application, write to

Doctoral Studies
Language and Literacy Program
Box 871911
Arizona State University
Tempe, AZ 85287-1911

Or call (602) 965-4602.

Visit our website at http://is.asu.edu/coe/langlit/