Texas Tech University

Language, Diversity & Literacy Studies

Doctoral applications for Fall 2024 are currently closed as of January 8th. The doctoral application portal will open again October 1st for Fall 2025.

LDLS Promo card

Program Description

The Language, Diversity & Literacy Studies track is designed to create scholars who are critically committed to empowering and advocating for linguistically and culturally diverse individuals and communities. Graduates of this program will experience collaborative, participative, and innovative research that leads to knowledge and understanding of language and literacy studies from multiple perspectives (cultural, historical, linguistical, and literary). 

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Degrees Offered

Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction with a track in Language, Diversity & Literacy Studies

Offered: online

Online / Synchronous Expectations of the Ph.D. in C&I program

The Ph.D. in C&I program can be completed completely online, but there are courses and degree milestones that require mandatory synchronous meetings via virtual meetings and video conferencing software.

  • Coursework: Most C&I doctoral online classes have synchronous meetings via Zoom to maximize the effectiveness of teaching and learning; those classes may or may not require attendance at synchronous sessions as a part of the course grade. If such courses have mandatory synchronous meetings, they are noted at the time of registration (so you will know before signing up).
  • Degree Milestones: Applicants should be aware that live, synchronous interaction is not only part of the coursework but also required to complete their qualifying exam (oral), proposal defense, and final dissertation defense. These milestones may be completed remotely and online, but not asynchronously.

Career Opportunities With This Degree

A Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction may prepare you to work as a teacher, trainer, or education researcher. The degree can also lead to work in academia, government and business. It can also lead to a teaching career at the university level. If you are an EC-12 teacher, a Ph.D. in Curriculum and Instruction may provide opportunities for leadership roles as curriculum and instructional leaders in your school or district. This degree will provide coursework in research methods, statistics, and policy. These areas are highly valued in government agencies and businesses. Large corporations often have their own education departments and have needs for curriculum designers and trainers.

LDLS faculty and staff at SERA

LDLS faculty and students attending and presenting at the Southwest Educational Research Association (SERA) conference in 2020.

Video Library

From Theory To Practice: Learning how to Write, Collaborate, Edit, and Publish a Book with Friends, Peers and Faculty - a webinar presented by students and graduates of the Language, Diversity & Literacy Studies program.

I SING : THE BODY, A Poetry Celebration featuring Nikki Grimes

Author of Lubbock ISD textbook visits Whiteside Elementary for read-aloud

Application Materials

The Ph.D. program in Curriculum and Instruction requires a completed master's degree in the field of education or cognate areas of study from an accredited higher education institution in the United States or equivalent higher education institution in another country.

College Transcripts – Unofficial transcripts can be uploaded to the Graduate School application. Information on submitting official transcripts will be provided to you by the Graduate School. Grade reports or unofficial transcripts from university web portals will not be accepted. Please redact the Social Security Number anywhere it appears on your transcript. If documents are written in a language other than English, a copy of a complete and official English translation must be provided with the original language records.

Required Supplemental Application Materials

Curriculum Vitae (CV), Research Statement, Three Letters of Recommendation. Download the list of required supplemental application materials.

Application Process

Please visit the Graduate Application Process for more information on how to apply.

  • Doctoral applications for Fall 2024 are currently closed as of January 8th. The doctoral application portal will open again October 1st for Fall 2025.

Dr. Saldana writing at the LEWA Summer Intensive 2022

Semester in which the program can be started

Fall enrollment only.

Estimated Hours to Completion

63 hours of coursework post-master's.

Coupon Code Request

  • Current applicants may request a coupon code to help defer the costs of the application fee.
    1. To make a coupon code request, an in-progress application is needed.
    2. The coupon code request must be sent, via email, to Mr. Chance Webb.
  • You may only request one coupon code (to only one track) per application cycle.
  • Coupon code requests are on a first-come, first-served basis; not all requests can be accommodated.

Financial Aid

Scholarships, fellowships, and assistantships for doctoral students are available through the office of graduate education and research in the College of Education.

Tuition & Fees

Use the Student Business Services Tuition Estimator to estimate your costs.

Ph.D. Admissions Process

  • Ph.D. applications are in fall only. Application portals open in October and close in December.
  • Applicants may only apply to one track for consideration of admission; please refer to track website for information on each track.
  • All application materials considered for review MUST be submitted to the portal; any materials sent outside of the application portal (via email) cannot be considered.
  • Applications are only reviewed when complete; required application materials are provided on the website for each track.
  • Applications are reviewed in a holistic manner; GRE scores are not mandatory but may be optionally supplied; then they are included in the holistic review of applications. GRE scores may play an important role should there be deficiencies and/or gaps in other areas of the application. However, applicants will not be penalized if they do not submit GRE scores.
  • The department informs the Graduate School of admission decisions in January.
  • The Graduate School issues letters of admission in February; the C&I department does NOT communicate to applicants about admission status until AFTER the official letter is issued.
  • The C&I department does NOT provide applicants reasons for non-admission; refer queries to the Graduate School graduate.admissions@ttu.edu.
  • If an applicant is denied admission to the track, that is a denial of admission to the entire program. You may reapply the following year with revised application materials to the same or a different track.

Contacts

Chance WebbAcademic Advisor / AdmissionsOffice of Graduate Admissions & Enrollmentgradadmissions.educ@ttu.edu 806-834-6768

Faculty

Fast Facts

  • Delivery: Online
  • Hours to Completion: 63
  • Maximum allowable transfer hours from Master's program: 30
  • Llano Estacado Writers Alliance: 1 week on-campus writing intensive available
  • Doctoral applications for Fall 2024 are currently closed as of January 8th. The doctoral application portal will open again October 1st for Fall 2025.

LEWA Summer 2022

Llano Estacado Writers Alliance Summer 2022

Llano Estacado Writers Alliance, Summer 2022

Llano Estacado Writers Alliance Summer 2022