Current Students

Planning a Program of Study

It is expected that a provisional program of studies will be planned jointly by each student and supervisor, and filed by the supervisor during the first term of studies. This may be revised in accordance with regulations as the students’ research interests develop or circumstances change. Changes will be filed by the supervisor. Programs deviating from requirements should be approved by the Department Head.

PhD Program

The PhD degree program in Language & Literacy Education is designed for students engaging in advanced basic and applied research in language education, language study, literacy, and the teaching of literature. The program consists of course work, comprehensive examinations, and a dissertation. Examples of research areas in the Department are: bilingual education, second language acquisition, socio-cultural dimensions of literacy acquisition, 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.

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

LLED PhD Handbook


The PhD in Language & Literacy Education is governed by the policies of the Faculty of Graduate Studies which are described, in part, in The University of British Columbia Calendar and on the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies website.

MA Program

The MA degree program in Language & Literacy Education is designed for students engaging in advanced basic and applied research in language education, language study, literacy, and the teaching of literature. The Program consists of course work and a thesis. The MA degree is intended for students interested in conducting 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).

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
  • Program must be completed within 5 years

LLED MA Handbook

MEd Program

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.

Requirements:

  • Consists of 30 credits, 3 credits may be graduating project (LLED 590), but not required.
  • Program consists of the following:
    • 24 credits must be at 500-level
    • EDUC 500
    • 12 credits must be level 500 in the specialization area of LLED
    • 9 credits may be any 500-level course in LLED or any other department
    • 6 credits may be at the 300/400 level
    • Program must be completed in 5 years

Students may take all 30 credits at the 500-level, but must be done in coordinator with the supervisor.

LLED MEd Handbook


Readmission

Any student who does not maintain continuous registration by making fee payments through all years until graduation is presumed to have withdrawn. The Department may request that a student in good academic standing be reinstated. If this is granted, all fees and charges must be paid. The time limit for completion of the degree is not affected. If more than two years have elapsed since last registration, G+PS may impose additional requirements to ensure that the student is current in the field.

Program Transfer

Requests for transfer from one program to another (M.Ed. to M.A.; M.A. to PhD.) are treated as new admissions. M.Ed. students or students who have not completed a Master’s program elsewhere are normally not eligible for transfer to a Ph.D. Those who wish to be transferred to the M.A. or Ph.D. program must apply to the program coordinator (with a cover letter, a research proposal, and a transcript) at the end of the second term of their first year of study. For more details about transferring from an MEd to MA program, please visit visit our FAQs page. Decisions will be made based on the consensus or recommendations of the student’s supervisor, the program coordinator, the grad advisor, and the student’s research committee or two faculty members who are potential members for the research committee. For more information, please see the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies transfer policy.

Time limit/Leave of absence

Since master’s graduate programs are limited to five years from date of official admission (that is, the date of first registration in courses), students should not apply until they are ready to begin. Students who require long-term absences from the program may apply for a leave of absence for a maximum period of up to one year. Students on such leaves pay a reduced registration fee.

Graduating Projects

MEd students have the option of completing a graduating project (LLED 590) in accordance with the guidelines. Students may choose however to take a 3-credit graduate level course instead of the graduate project. Students who opt the course-only option for the MEd degree should consult with their advisors concerning appropriate coursework. Requirements concerning time limits, residency, registration, and leaves are the same for this option.

Graduation

The following conditions must be met before a student is awarded a degree.

May Graduation

  1. The student must be registered.
  2. All fees must be paid in full.
  3. The student must apply online to graduate before the end of February (current deadline dates). Application to Graduate Forms can also be accessed through your student services account
  4. The thesis must be filed in Faculty of Graduate Studies or in the case of a non-thesis degree, the Major Paper must be filed with the department by April deadline date

November Graduation

  1. The student must be registered.
  2. All fees must be paid in full.
  3. The student must apply online to graduate before the end of August (current deadline dates). Application to Graduate Forms can also be accessed through your student services account.
  4. The thesis must be filed in Faculty of Graduate Studies or in the case of a non-thesis degree, the Major Paper must be filed with the department by October deadline date.
It is the department’s responsibility to confirm that all program requirements (courses, comprehensive examinations, language requirements, and other departmental requirements) have been satisfied. Click here for Copyright Clearance Form (Word document). Required when submitting your graduating project.