Reading Education

Doctoral Degree Program

Opportunities for graduate studies

The Department of Teacher Education and Administration offers graduate programs to develop highly competent teachers, school administrators and other professionals who provide educational leadership in public and private schools and other organizations. Effective instruction, curriculum development and evaluation are emphasized in all programs.

Students use current theory and research to make decisions about effective practice. The department also strives to improve practice through generation of new knowledge and through service to educational institutions, governmental agencies and practitioners at all levels.

The department offers programs leading to doctor of education and doctor of philosophy degrees in curriculum and instruction, educational administration, and reading education.

Doctoral programs in reading education

The Ph.D. and Ed.D. programs in reading education are a cooperative effort between the University of North Texas and Texas Woman's University in Denton under guidelines established by the Federation of North Texas Area Universities. The federated approach allows you to use the combined faculties, libraries, computer facilities and research opportunities available at both universities.

These doctoral degrees prepare you for specialized work in reading education at all levels of education. The program responds to the recognition of the value of literacy and contributes to its development in diverse social contexts, from local school districts to universities in the United States and abroad. At all levels of study, the interrelationships of theory and practice are valued in preparing you to develop theory and new knowledge leading to a transactional integration of research and teaching.

Admission requirements

In addition to the following program requirements, you must meet the admission requirements of the university that you apply before being considered for admission into the federation program. You must apply to the Graduate School of TWU or the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies at UNT. Call 940-565-2383 or toll free 888-UNT-GRAD for more information.

The federation committee for the reading education doctoral program admits qualified students into the Ph.D. or Ed.D. program. Admission is based on your career goals, work experience and other pertinent factors. Final acceptance into the federation doctoral program in reading education is contingent upon the following common program admission standards:

• GRE scores
• completion of a master's degree with a minimum 3.5 GPA (There is an appeals process if you do not meet this requirement.)
• three letters of recommendation
• goals statement for doctoral study
• on-site writing sample
• three years of successful teaching experience (If you do not have the full three years of teaching experience, the federation admissions committee may recommend that you participate in extensive practical or internship work.)
• interview with program faculty

Degree requirements

A minimum of 60 semester hours beyond the master's degree is required for the doctoral programs in reading education. Requirements include 12 hours of common core courses in reading education, 6 hours of selected courses in reading education, 6 hours of research courses, 12 to 15 hours in a minor, electives (subject to approval) and 12 hours of dissertation.

For Ph.D. students, 9 hours in a tool subject is required, which can be met by taking 9 hours of advanced research or 6 hours of advanced research and 3 hours of computer science. Ph.D. students are expected to take a minimum of 12 hours outside the College of Education.

For Ph.D. and Ed.D. students, a minimum of 12 hours must be taken at a federation institution other than the student's home institution.

Integrated Core in Reading (12 Hours)

• EDRE 6070 Politics of Literacy (UNT)
• EDRE 6080 Evolution of Literacy Research (UNT)
• READ 6533 Foundations for Reading: Physiological and Psychological Dimensions (TWU)
• READ 6573 Reading as Related to Linguistics (TWU)

Other Reading Courses

• EDRE 6030 Practicum, Field Problem or Internship (UNT)
• EDRE 6040 Research in Literacy Assessment and Evaluation (UNT)
• EDRE 6060 Research in the Language Arts (UNT)
• EDRE 6090 Cognition and Reading (UNT)
• EDRE 6100 Seminar in Reading (UNT)
• EDRE 6900-6910 Special Problems, 3 hours each (UNT)
• READ 6513 Observing and Responding to Young Readers (TWU)
• READ 6523 Early Literacy Intervention (TWU)
• READ 6553 College and Adult Reading (TWU)
• READ 6583 Research in Reading (TWU)
• READ 6593 Advanced Reading Research Design: Analysis and Evaluation (TWU)
• READ 6663 Practicum (TWU)
• READ 6903 Special Topics (TWU)
• READ 6911-6913 Independent Study, 3 hours each (TWU)

Financial assistance

A limited number of teaching fellowships and assistantships are available for graduate students. These opportunities include working with professors on research grants and projects or serving as a teaching assistant, working with undergraduate students in advising and degree plans, or teaching undergraduate classes and supervising student teaching. You may apply by submitting a letter of application and a resume to the department chair. The letter should address particular strengths and interests.

Annual campaigns are held in each program area to raise funds for the following forms of financial assistance:

• graduate scholarships
• assistantships
• fellowships
• travel to professional conferences
• dissertation/special project research

A limited number of doctoral fellowships are available through the Toulouse School of Graduate Studies. Applications may be obtained through the office.