Doctoral Programs
Reading, Language, and Literacy Doctorate
Program Overview
The Ed.D./Ph.D. program in Reading, Language and Literacy is designed to provide students with a strong background in research, theory, reading, writing and multiliteracy programs. Our graduates are prepared, as faculty and leaders, to design and implement literacy programs in a variety of public and private school, university, adult and community-based, corporate, non-profit educational settings. This program enables students to:
- Understand theoretical and evidence-based foundations of reading and writing processes and instruction.
- Use instructional approaches, materials, and an integrated comprehensive, balanced curriculum to support student learning in reading and writing.
- Use a variety of assessment tools and practices to plan and evaluate effective reading and writing instruction.
- Create and engage students in literacy practices that develop awareness, understanding, respect and valuing of differences in our society.
- Create a literate environment that fosters reading and writing by integrating foundational knowledge, instructional practices, approaches and methods, curriculum materials, and appropriate use of assessments.
- View professional learning and leadership as a career-long effort and responsibility. (Adapted from IRA Professional Standards, 2010)
Admission Requirements
- Completion of Master’s Degree at a regionally accredited university with a minimum 3.0 GPA
- At least 3 years experience in an education/literacy-related field
- GRE scores that are no older than 3 years
- Interview with the Reading Department Admission Committee (if needed)
- All other doctoral requirements outlined by the College of Graduate and Innovative Programs
Degree Requirements
- 61-62 hours of coursework
- Capstone experience embedded in two semesters of internship
- Comprehensive Examinations
- Dissertation
Areas of Study
Ed.D. Course Track
| Course | Title |
| RLL 7000 | Trends and Issues in Literacy Research (3cr) |
| RLL 7010 | Instructional Approaches Related to Reading, Writing & Language (3cr) |
| EDL 7140 | Organizational Change |
| RLL 7020 | Development and Evaluation of Literacy Programs |
| EDL 7210 | Policy Analysis |
| RLL 7030 | Policy and Politics of Reading, Language and Literacy |
| EDL 7300 | Ethics of Educational Leaders |
| RLL 7040 | Cultural and Socioeconomics Perspectives of Literature and Literacy |
| RLL 7200 | Literacy Supervision, Leadership and Coaching (3cr) |
| RLL 7050 | New Literacies and Multiliteracies in Education |
| RLL 7060 | Internship in Reading, Language, and Literacy |
| RLL 7310 | Writing in Recorded Thinking |
| RLL 7061 | Internship in Reading, Language, and Literacy |
| FPR 7011 | Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations of Leadership |
| RES 7605 | Quantitative Analysis |
| RES 7700 | Quantitative Research |
| COMP 7000 | Comprehensive Exam (fee based) |
| RES 7900 | Research Design (4cr) |
| DISS 7010 | Dissertation |
| DISS 7020 | Dissertation |
| DISS 7030 | Dissertation |
| DISS 8000* | Dissertation Supervision (as needed, fee based)* |
Ph.D. Course Track
| Course | Title |
| RLL 7000 | Trends and Issues in Literacy Research (3cr) |
| RLL 7010 | Instructional Approaches Related to Reading, Writing & Language (3cr) |
| EDL 7140 | Organizational Change |
| RLL 7020 | Development and Evaluation of Literacy Programs |
| EDL 7210 | Policy Analysis |
| RLL 7030 | Policy and Politics of Reading, Language and Literacy |
| EDL 7300 | Ethics of Educational Leaders |
| RLL 7040 | Cultural and Socioeconomics Perspectives of Literature and Literacy |
| RLL 7200 | Literacy Supervision, Leadership and Coaching (3cr) |
| RLL 7050 | New Literacies and Multiliteracies in Education |
| RLL 7060 | Internship in Reading, Language, and Literacy |
| RLL 7310 | Writing in Recorded Thinking |
| RLL 7061 | Internship in Reading, Language, and Literacy |
| FPR 7011 | Philosophical and Theoretical Foundations of Leadership |
| RES 7605 | Quantitative Analysis |
| RES 7700 | Quantitative Research |
| RES 7800 | Mixed Methods Research |
| RES 7710 OR RES 7620 | Advanced Quantitative Analysis OR Advanced Qualitative Analysis |
| COMP 7000 | Comprehensive Exam (fee based) |
| RES 7900 | Research Design (4cr) |
| DISS 7010 | Dissertation |
| DISS 7020 | Dissertation |
| DISS 7030 | Dissertation |
| DISS 8000* | Dissertation Supervision (as needed, fee based)* |
* Students must register for DISS 8000 repeatedly (as needed) to maintain continuous enrollment until program completion.
Tuition Guarantee
Tuition for the online Doctoral programs is $735 per credit hour for Fall 2020. This rate is guaranteed not to increase over the life of your enrollment in the program as long as students remain continuously enrolled. In addition, a technology fee of $16 per credit hour ($48 per 3-credit course) will be assessed for the purpose of supporting and enhancing student learning.
Please contact the Graduate Information Office for document deadlines.
Admission Requirements
- Application and $50 Application Fee
- Objective statement (include educational goals and/or objectives and their relationship to pursuing doctoral work at CUC)
- Documentation of 2 years of teaching and administrative leadership experience (resume, copy of teaching and principal/administrative certificate)
- Proof of master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution with a GPA of 3.00
- Two letters of recommendation from individuals qualified to comment on the applicant’s potential for doctoral study
- Original, official transcripts from all colleges and universities where degrees were earned
- Official scores from either the GRE or the MAT within the past three years
- Writing Sample
Once all materials are submitted and your file is complete, the following steps will be taken:
- Your file will be reviewed by the Executive Director of Graduate Admission and Enrollment Services and the Doctoral Admission Committee.
- At the committee’s discretion, you may be invited to participate in an interview with the Faculty Doctoral Committee. Applicants who are not considered for the interview process will be notified.
- Once an admission decision has been reached, you will be notified personally and in writing within a few days.
Admission to the Doctoral programs depends on several factors, including your cumulative Grade Point Average, program fit, letters of recommendation, professional experience, test scores, and writing abilities.
The Office of Graduate Admission and Enrollment Services will send a letter and a graduate catalog upon receipt of your application and non-refundable $50.00 application fee. If you have any questions regarding your admission status, please feel free to contact us at:
Office of Graduate Admission and Enrollment Services
Phone: 877-282-4422
Fax: 708-209-3454
Email: graduate.admission@CUChicago.edu
Important Contact Information:
| Graduate Information Office | kwebster@graduateprogram.org | 877-453-0380 |
| Payment Plan | Office of Student Business Services | 866-204-1882 |
| Financial Assistance Office | 877-266-7331 |
GRE / MAT Information
All candidates for the Doctor of Education programs must complete the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or the Miller Analogies Test (MAT) as a part of the application process.
MAT: For more information about the MAT (registration and study guides), contact the Psychological Corporation at 800-622-3231 or visit their website at www.milleranalogies.com. The MAT is 60 minutes in length and is offered in both computerized and paper-and-pencil formats. The online Candidate Information Bulletin lists different locations. You will need to call each location for their testing schedule. The cost for this test varies. Scores are available in about three weeks from the test date. Concordia’s score recipient code for the MAT is 2024.
GRE: For information about the GRE General test, visit the website at www.gre.org or call 609-771-7670. Registration information is available at 800-GRE-CALL. The GRE is administered via computer at various locations in the area, and requires about 3.5 hours to complete. Practice exams and other information about the test are available on the website. The fee for the GRE is $130. Unofficial scores are available to the examinee at the conclusion of the test; official scores are reported in about two weeks. Concordia’s score recipient code for the GRE is R1140.
