This program leads to a Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership with a specialization in Language, Literacy, and Social Inquiry (LLSI). Students and faculty in this Ph.D. specialization investigate issues related to language and literacy education using a wide range of research methodologies. Our work values multiple perspectives that center cultural and linguistic diversity. We analyze classroom and societal conditions of power and privilege that influence literacy and language practices in schools, families and communities. The LLSI Ph.D. includes two areas of focus within the program: Applied Linguistics and Language Education and Literacy Education.
Faculty research interests in the Applied Linguistics and Language Education (ALLE) area of focus include bi/multilingualism, bilingual/dual language education, discourse analysis, second language teaching and teacher learning, teacher collaboration, language policy, language contact, language diversity, peer interaction, sociocultural and critical approaches, codeswitching, and translanguaging.
Faculty research interests in the Literacy Education area of focus include culturally responsive approaches to elementary reading instruction, emergent literacy, family literacy, preparing teachers for diversity, learning with text, literacy teaching and learning, new literacies, reading assessment, reading comprehension strategies, stasis theory, and vocabulary for literacy learning.
The doctoral program is primarily focused on the study of language and literacy learning in pre-kindergarten through high school settings in the US. It is designed to prepare students as researchers, curriculum specialists, teacher educators, and educational leaders who work effectively with children, families, and communities engaged in diverse language, literacy and social practices. Students take a doctoral core designed to provide an overview of the field and engage in research apprenticeship experiences with faculty, then develop a tailored program of study fitting their specific research interests through a selection of elective courses offered within our department, or from other departments and programs within the University.
For information on graduate admission please see the Graduate School's Admissions page for the Department of Teaching, Learning, Policy and Leadership at . We accept both full-time and part-time doctoral students.
Select an area of interest from the various offerings in the College of Education to determine the admission requirements and deadlines. If you are unsure of your area of interest you may request information by submitting an Inquiry Form.
Applicants who wish to apply to the Ph.D. program with specialization in Language, Literacy and Social Inquiry should select Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership (TLPL) as their “Intended Program of Study."
Please refer to the for instructions on how to apply for graduate admission. If you have questions or concerns, we ask you to first review our list of . International applicants should visit the webpage for additional information.
INFORMATION SESSION about our Ph.D. and M.A. programs will be held on October 13, 2023, by zoom.
For questions related to the admissions process, prospective students may contact Kay Moon, TLPL Graduate Coordinator, at (301) 405-3118 or kmoon@umd.edu.
For academic advising on the Ph.D. in Language, Literacy, and Social Inquiry, please contact Dr. Melinda Martin-Beltran at memb@umd.edu.
Financial assistance for graduate study is generally divided into two categories:
- Merit-Based Assistance Need-Based Assistance
- Fellowships and Scholarships Loans
- Graduate Assistantships
For more details about the various types of financial assistance offered by the campus please visit the
There are also a number of fellowships and scholarships offered through the College of Education, the University, and through external sources which may provide tuition support and/or living allowance. Students must apply for these awards on their own, but the links that follow provide valuable information on searching for fellowships and scholarships.
For more information concerning fellowships and scholarships, please visit:
, and
If you have questions about our admissions process, contact TLPL Graduate Coordinator Kay Moon at kmoon@umd.edu.
If you have questions about the program specifically, contact Dr. Wayne Slater at wslater@umd.edu.
If you have questions about each program, contact:
- Applied Linguistics and Language Education (ALLE), Dr. Melinda Martin-Beltran at memb@umd.edu.
- English Literacy Education, Dr. Wayne Slater at wslater@umd.edu.
-Reading Education, Dr. Jennifer Turner at jdturner@umd.edu.