Our programs in Literacy Education engage teachers and other professional educators in the study of rich language and literacy practices from early childhood through adolescence and adulthood. Literacy studies have expanded dramatically in recent years and our internationally known Faculty draw on many disciplines that inform the study of language and literacy education, including cognitive, linguistic, anthropological, cultural, literary, critical and post-structural perspectives. In our courses we invite students to reflect critically on contemporary language and literacy practices in and out of schools, spanning local, national and global contexts. Our focus is on the many rich, multiethnic and multilingual contexts of language and literacy learning in our schools and communities.
We are also offering a part-time and online Masters cohort program in Literacy. The primary focus of this MEd program is to connect research to practice. Learn more about the program here.
Diploma in Literacy Education
The Diploma in Language and Literacy Education is an in-service program for teachers and administrators who wish to deepen and extend their knowledge of curriculum, instruction, assessment and evaluation for diverse types of school populations. It encompasses the various aspects of Language and Literacy Education, including: oral and written communication, reading, children’s and adolescent’s literature, drama, English education, French education, and modern languages education. Students may choose either to focus on a particular aspect of language and literacy education, to select a variety of courses from among the various areas of language arts, or a combination of the two.
A minimum of one year’s teaching experience is strongly recommended.
Courses (21- 24 credits)
| Focus area | Courses |
|---|---|
| Reading/Literacy/Language Arts | LLED 391, 438, 439, 450, 451, 452, 454, 456, 459, 479, 480, 481, 482, 486 |
| Materials and Resources of Literacy Instruction | LIBE 463, LLED 453, 462, 469, 481 |
| Children’s Literature | LLED 440, 441, 442, 443, 444, 445, 446, 449 |
| Drama | LLED 313, 333, 334, 335, 435 |
| French | LLED 323, 324, 325, 420, 426, 428, 429 |
Electives (6-9 credits)
Courses at the 300 – 400 level in Language and Literacy Education, other Departments in the Faculty of Education or the Faculty of Arts.
Application
Admissions for Diplomas and Certificate programs are handled by the Professional Development and Community Engagement office. See the PDCE website for application procedures. For program advice and other questions, please consult with the admissions office.
Application deadline: Applications are accepted throughout the year. It is recommended that students submit their application at least one month prior to their anticipated start date. Please refer to the application form for the deadlines to apply.
MEd in Literacy Education
The MEd degree is designed as a practitioner’s degree, for students who wish to acquire the knowledge, skills and experience necessary to work in a professional field. As a professional degree, the MEd is intended for students who wish, upon graduation, to assume positions of leadership in a practical setting or positions requiring more advanced study than that available at the bachelor’s level. Although MEd students are not required to carry out and defend an independent research project, the program is nevertheless research-based in that consideration of educationally-relevant research constitutes a major focus of study.
The Master of Education program in Language and Literacy Education is designed for students engaging in applied research in language education, language study, literacy, and the teaching of literature. The program consists of course work and includes the option of completing a graduating project. Examples of research areas in the Department are: bilingual education, second language education, socio-cultural dimensions of literacy learning, early reading and writing development, early language development, oral language in the classroom, drama in education, literacy across cultures, multi-modal and digital literacies, post-structuralist critical theory, written composition, language assessment, the role of children’s literature in language and literacy, and educational linguistics.
A small number of M.Ed students each year who demonstrate outstanding performance and whose research interests align with those of an available supervisor may be allowed to switch to the MA program after their second semester.
In addition to our traditional program, we also offer a part-time and online cohort program in Literacy. The primary focus of this online Master of Education program is to connect research to practice. Our graduate students will have opportunities to read and engage with the latest research. More information regarding the online program can be found here: Professional Development & Community Engagement: MEd in Literacy. For complete application details, please refer to How to Apply on the PDCE website.
Admissions Requirements
Basic program admissions requirements include:
- an approved Bachelor’s degree and, for K-12 teachers, one year of teacher education;* OR
- a 5-year Bachelor’s degree in Education; OR
- a 4-year Bachelor’s degree in Education or other appropriate area provided the applicant has completed all the necessary prerequisites listed on the detailed admissions information page linked below.
Holders of 3-year Canadian degrees require a fourth or honours year.
Note: Students applying for an MEd or MA in TESL and MLED are not required to have one year of teacher education, although two years of formal teaching experience is required.
Focal Areas
The LLED MEd is a course-based degree. Students normally take 10 courses fulfilling the following guidelines:
M.Ed Program Requirements
- 30 credits in total are required for graduation
- 24 credits must be comprised of 500-level courses
- No more than 6 credits may be 300- or 400-level courses
- EDUC 500 is required
- Minimum of 12 credits are normally taken from across the range of LLED course offerings
- Remaining credits may be comprised of 500-level courses in LLED or other departments
- A graduating project (LLED 590) (Note: this is not required)
- The program must be completed in 5 years
The Department takes a critical and social justice approach to theory and research. Faculty members in the Literacy program have expertise in the following areas:
- Indigenous languages and literacies
- Literature and cultural texts for children and youth
- Drama and theatre education in schools and communities
- Literary and literacy practices in families, schools, and communities
- Digital cultures, multimodality, and communication ecologies/studies
Application
The applications page gives details on deadlines, the online application process, application requirements and English language requirements.
MA in Literacy Education
The MA degree is intended for students interested in conducting a research study or who wish, upon graduation, to assume a research position or to proceed to doctoral level studies. Accordingly, the MA program is designed specifically as a research degree, with students required to carry out and complete an independent research project (Master’s Thesis). Completion of an MA thesis is viewed as a prerequisite for the pursuit of doctoral studies in most institutions.
The Master of Arts program in Language and Literacy Education is designed for students engaging in applied research in language education, language study, literacy, and the teaching of literature. The program consists of course work and a thesis. Examples of research areas in the Department are: bilingual education, second language education, socio-cultural dimensions of literacy learning, early reading and writing development, early language development, oral language in the classroom, drama in education, literacy across cultures, multi-modal and digital literacies, post-structuralist critical theory, written composition, language assessment, the role of children’s literature in language and literacy, and educational linguistics.
Applicants to the MA program may be accepted to M.Ed. instead if they are not deemed to be sufficiently competitive at this time to undertake original thesis research in our program.
Admissions Requirements
Basic program admissions requirements include:
- an approved Bachelor’s degree and, for K-12 teachers, one year of teacher education;* OR
- a 5-year Bachelor’s degree in Education; OR
- a 4-year Bachelor’s degree in Education or other appropriate area provided the applicant has completed all the necessary prerequisites listed on the detailed admissions information page linked below.
Holders of 3-year Canadian degrees require a fourth or honours year.
Note: Students applying for an MEd or MA in TESL and MLED are not required to have one year of teacher education, although two years of formal teaching experience is required.
Focal Areas
This degree requires a minimum of 30 credits including 24 credits at the 500-level or above. These 30 credits are to be divided as follows:
MA Program Requirements
- Minimum 30 credits, with 24 credits at the 500-level or above.
- EDUC 500
- Master’s Thesis – 9 credits
- 12 credits must be level 500 in the specialization area of LLED
- Research core (in consultation with supervisor) – 6 credits recommended
- Program must be completed within 5 years
The Department takes a critical and social justice approach to theory and research. Faculty members in the Literacy program have expertise in the following areas:
- Indigenous languages and literacies
- Literature and cultural texts for children and youth
- Drama and theatre education in schools and communities
- Literary and literacy practices in families, schools, and communities
- Digital cultures, multimodality, and communication ecologies/studies
Application
The applications page gives details on deadlines, the online application process, application requirements and English language requirements.
PhD in Literacy Education
For admission procedures and document-related queries, please contact lled.gradassistant@ubc.ca
The department Graduate Academic Advisor, Dr. Maureen Kendrick is available to answer any academic-related questions.
Doctoral studies in Language, Literacy and Education focus on critical and contemporary issues at the intersections of literacy learning and cultural and societal transformation. Students in our programs are teachers and other professional educators who engage in courses, conversations and research addressing a broad range of issues and contexts – in and out of schools, nationally and internationally, and across the lifespan.
Students will gain expertise in topics such as identity and literacy, cultural literacy practices, Indigenous literacies, family literacy, literature and new media, digital literacies, poetry, literacy in developing contexts, literacy development across the lifespan, educational linguistics, discourse and multimodal analysis, critical perspectives on children’s and young adult literature, EAL (English as an additional language) literacy, assessment, teacher education and creative/arts-based approaches to literacy learning.
Students in our program engage with critical societal issues that impact these topics, such as equity and inclusion, immigration and globalization, gender, youth culture, relationships among communities and educational institutions, and public policy.
Admissions Requirements
Admission to the doctoral program is highly competitive and we have the capacity to admit only a few of the many qualified applicants each year. We strongly advise you to become familiar with the information posted on the department web page including policy and procedures and the research programs of faculty members. Admissions decisions are made by a committee and, unfortunately, individual professors are unable to assess applications in advance of the committee’s adjudication. The link below details all the admissions requirements for the PhD program.
Focal Areas
The PhD in Language & Literacy Education may be completed in any of our program specializations. It normally consists of a one-year residency in the Department, together with a dissertation.
Students are normally expected to advance to candidacy by the end of their third year (having completed their comprehensive exams and dissertation proposal, and relevant coursework).
PhD Program Requirements
- Doctoral Seminars: LLED 601 and LLED 602 (required)
- Coursework: 18 to 24 credits
- Seminars
- Comprehensive Examinations
- Dissertation Proposal
- Application and Approval to Candidacy
- Proposal Presentation
- PhD Dissertation
- Program must be completed within 6 years.
- Must be approved for candidacy within the first 3 years (complete courses, comprehensive exams, and thesis proposal approved). If not, needs program extension.
- Must be full-time, no part-time option
The Department takes a critical and social justice approach to theory and research. Faculty members in the Literacy program have expertise in the following areas:
- Indigenous languages and literacies
- Literature and cultural texts for children and youth
- Drama and theatre education in schools and communities
- Literary and literacy practices in families, schools, and communities
- Digital cultures, multimodality, and communication ecologies/studies
Application
The PhD program has only one start date for international and domestic students which is September each year.
To read application information and apply online, click the apply button below.
Please forward supporting documents to:
Graduate Program Assistant
Department of Language & Literacy Education
University of British Columbia
6445 University Boulevard
Vancouver, B.C.
Canada V6T 1Z2
Telephone: (604) 822-8259
Facsimile: (604) 822-3154
e-mail: lled.gradassistant@ubc.ca
The department Graduate Academic Advisor, Dr. Maureen Kendrick is available to answer any academic-related questions.
For admission procedures and document-related queries, please contact lled.gradassistant@ubc.ca