Literacy education—specialization
in critical literacy and English education (CLEE)
Professors Richard Beach,
Tim Lensmire, and
Cynthia Lewis
The specialization in critical literacy and English education
(CLEE) focuses on “reading the word and the world,” as Paulo
Freire famously put it. By this we mean that our specialization
focuses on how reading and writing practices—in and out of
school—help us to make meaning, connect with others, take
action, contest language ideologies, and transform our worlds. A
critical literacy framework honors the personal and political
nature of language use and language learning in English and
Language Arts classrooms in schools as well as in family, peer,
community and online contexts. We draw on scholarly traditions
in literacy, critical and sociocultural theories, and cultural
studies to consider how reading, writing, and response to
literature and digital media shape and are shaped by race,
culture, identity, and codes of power. We believe that culture
and identity are at the heart of learning and thus that literacy
pedagogies must be responsive to learners’ cultures and
identities to support equity in learning for all students.
Coursework provides both a broad background in relevant
theoretic and research literature and opportunities to conduct
original studies that explore the nature of literacy practices
in a variety of settings.
Course offerings for students in the
CLEE specialization
Major coursework (in addition to 9 department core
credits): minimum of 15 credits
- CI 8470—The
Politics of Race and Literacy in Schools (3 credits)
CI
8461—Sociocultural Theory, Education, and Literacy (3 credits)
3 courses selected from menu below or from other literacy
track courses as approved by adviser (9 credits)
- CI 8470—Literacy and Identity
- CI 8440—Special Topics in Children's and Young Adult
Literature: Transactional Analysis
- 8412 Part 1—Research in Reading: Shifting Paradigms &
Theoretical Perspectives
Educational foundations coursework: 6 credits
- CI 5145—Critical
Pedagogy (3 credits, required)
- Other foundations course (3 credits, determined with
adviser; see dept. list of possible courses)
Research methodology coursework: minimum of 12 credits
- Two or more courses in qualitative methods (6 credits)
- CI 8147—Critical
Discourse Analysis (3 credits, required)
- Other qualitative methodology courses (3-6 credits,
determined with adviser)
- Two courses in quantitative methods (6 credits,
determined with adviser; see dept. guidelines)
Supporting program or minor: determined with adviser
- Courses related to media, race, immigration, English
language learners, teacher education, and research
methodologies would be a few of the possibilities for
coursework that would deepen students’ knowledge and
research base in CLEE. Refer to the
C&I Graduate Studies Handbook for further information on supporting programs and
formal minors.
Sample program plans for the CLEE
specialization
Literacy major: minimum of 15 credits plus 9 credits Ph.D.
core
- CI 8470—Politics
of Race and Literacy in Schools
- CI 8461—Sociocultural Theory, Education, and
Literacy
- CI 8470—Literacy
and Identity
- CI 8400—Special
Topics in Children's and Young Adult Literature:
Transactional Theory
- CI 8412—Research
in Reading: Shifting Paradigms
Foundations: minimum of 6 credits
- CI 5145—Critical
Pedagogy
- CI 8150—Cultural
Studies in Education
Research methodologies: minimum of 12 credits
- CI 8148—Conducting
Qualitative Studies in Educational Contexts
- CI 8149—Qualitative
Research: Coding, Analysis, Interpretation, and Writing
- CI 8147—Critical
Discourse Analysis in Educational Research
- EPSY 5261—Introductory
Statistical Methods
- EPSY 5262—Intermediate
Statistical Methods
Supporting areas: minimum of 12 credits
Supporting program electives draw from many disciplines
within or outside C&I, including culture and teaching, second languages and cultures education,
communication studies, English, art, and cultural studies. The Graduate Studies
handbook provides further information on supporting programs and
formal minors.
Thesis: minimum of 24 credits
Minimum credits required for Ph.D: 78
November 2007
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