Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership - Literacy Education, M.A.
Master of Arts
Program Overview
The Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership - Literacy Education Specialization, Master of Arts (M.A.) program offers an interdisciplinary curriculum designed to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of language, literacy and social contexts. You will be able to choose from four focus areas: adolescent, post-Secondary, and community literacies; English education; language, education, and society; and literature for children and young adults.
Throughout the program, you'll participate in a research apprenticeship, work closely with faculty on current research projects and develop your own scholarly inquiries. This specialization is ideal if you are looking to develop expertise in literacy education, conduct impactful research and pursue a career in diverse educational settings.
Key Features
- Interdisciplinary Approach: Flexibility to take relevant coursework in departments such as American Studies, Anthropology, Communication, English Language and Literature, Linguistics, Psychology, Theatre, and more.
- Tailored Specializations: The program offers three areas of emphasis, allowing you to focus your studies based on your interests and career goals.
- Pathway to Doctoral Program: Students have the option to apply for transfer into the doctoral program at any point, offering a seamless transition for those looking to further their studies and pursue advanced research in education.
#14
Best Education Policy Program, According to U.S. News & World Report
#16
Best Curriculum and Instruction Program, According to U.S. News & World Report
Literacy Programs
Literacy Programs
Our program faculty brings diverse research interests and expertise in literacy education with young children, youth and adults. Our scholarship reflects a range of perspectives, approaches and contexts, providing opportunities for you to engage with research that aligns with your interests and prepares you to address complex literacy challenges in four key domains:
- Critically theorize literacy as socially situated, multimodal, and cultural. You will develop sophisticated understandings of literacy as more than acquisition of print-based skills, examining how meaning is constructed across linguistic, visual, digital, embodied and other modes. You will also critically engage theories of multimodality, language, culture and identity and apply these perspectives to literacy research, literacy teaching and learning, and literacy teacher education and professional development.
- Interrogate children’s and adolescent literature as a site for inquiry, identity, and social transformation. You will critically analyze children’s and adolescent literature as complex texts that shape how young people understand themselves, others, and the world. You will examine representation, voice, power, and access within literature and explore how literary texts can support critical literacy, multimodal meaning-making, identity development, and equitable learning opportunities.
- Examine emerging technologies as sites of literacy, opportunity, identity, and equity. You will investigate how AI, digital and multimodal technologies, and other emerging literacy practices shape the literacy development, identities, agency, and educational opportunities for all learners, but especially for learners from diverse backgrounds.
- Examine culturally responsive approaches to literacy teaching and professional learning. You will develop the knowledge and expertise to support teachers in creating literacy learning environments that recognize and build upon students’ cultural, linguistic and community assets. You will examine how professional development and teacher education can foster responsive, reflective, and transformative learning practices.
Learning Goals
Learning Goals
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of the theories, concepts, and specialized knowledge relevant to your chosen specialization.
- Develop proficiency in research methodologies and practices specific to your specialization, enabling you to conduct rigorous research and contribute to the advancement of knowledge in the field.
- Demonstrate professional competencies necessary for effective leadership in education, including the ability to apply theoretical knowledge, critically evaluate research findings, and provide leadership within educational contexts.
Careers
Career Options
Graduates of this program are prepared for a number of careers, including:
- Curriculum Developer
- Department Chair
- Literacy Coach
- Program Coordinator
How to Apply
How to Apply
Preparing Your Application: What We're Looking For
While all application materials are carefully reviewed, the Statement of Purpose (SOP) is a critical component of your application. Your SOP should describe your academic and professional journey, explain how your interests in literacy education have developed and articulate the research questions or topics you hope to pursue.
We encourage applicants to discuss relevant professional experiences, lived experiences, and intellectual influences that have shaped their interests. You should also explain how your research interests align with the Literacy Education program and identify one or more faculty members whose work connects to your goals. Additionally, describe how earning a Ph.D. will support your long-term academic and professional aspirations.
Relevant experiences, such as teaching literacy in schools, literacy tutoring, or engaging in literacy-related research, may help provide context for your interests and preparation.
The recommended length for the Statement of Purpose is 1,500–2,000 words.
Applicants must also submit a Statement of Personal Experiences (100–300 words). This statement provides an opportunity to reflect on how your lived experiences, including those beyond academic or professional settings, have shaped your personal growth and prepared you for doctoral study.
For guidance on preparing your statement, please review the Statement of Purpose and Personal Experience prompts provided by the University of Maryland.
Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation. We recommend that most letters come from faculty members who can speak to your academic abilities, research potential and readiness for doctoral study. You may also include a letter from a professional supervisor or colleague, such as a school principal or educational leader, who can provide insight into your professional experience and qualifications.
“The College of Education stood out to me because of the core values it promotes such as leadership, responsibility and integrity. These are essential to set the example and spread a message of equity and inclusion in the classroom. I chose the college of education because it provides opportunities to transform the world of education.”
Requirements
Program Requirements
Courses in this program are carefully selected to give you a strong foundation and provide maximum flexibility for your interests. The program can be completed with a thesis or with a seminar paper.
TLPL 704: Research Methodologies and Educational Practice (3 credits)
Approximately 4 courses within one of the six specializations.
Select one or more research methods courses suitable for your capstone research project and/or your career goals.
Students must select the seminar paper course (3 credits) or thesis option (6 credits).
Students must complete the remainder of their course of study by choosing from a wide range of courses in the Department of Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership and other departments across the university.
Our Faculty
Our Faculty
- Kerry Alexander, Assistant Professor
- Ayanna Baccus, Associate Clinical Professor
- Reka Barton, Assistant Professor
- Shannon Kane, Assistant Clinical Professor
- Wayne Slater, Associate Professor
- Jennifer Turner, Professor
- Peggy Wilson, Associate Clinical Professor
Contact
Contact
