CLAIR - Contemporary Literacies Strand

The goal of this specialization is to prepare candidates for careers as instructional leaders and researchers in a variety of educational settings. While in the program, students will consider multiple perspectives on what it means to be literate in the contemporary world by exploring print and traditional literacies, new literacies, digital literacies, multimodal literacies, media literacy, critical literacy, and language study (e.g. sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics).

By making connections between theory and practice and engaging in research in this dynamic and emerging field, students will gain and contribute knowledge on the phenomena that is literacy in the 21st century.

Admissions Pre requisites

Students in the Literacy Specialization must provide evidence of completing at least two courses in language education, linguistics, reading or writing prior to matriculation in the program. Students also must have at least three years of satisfactory, full time teaching experience or the equivalent professional experience.

Specialization Requirement

Students who specialize in Contemporary Literacies will be required to take the following:

Contemporary Learning Core (4-6 credits)

• Sociopolitical Dimensions of Education (3 credits)
• Internship in Contemporary Learning (1-3 credits)

Research Core (21 credits)
Read more about the research core.

Specialization Core (6 credits)

• Understanding Contemporary Literacies (required, 3 credits)
• Learning Through Language (required, 3 credits)
• Students in the Literacy Specialization must provide evidence of completing at least two courses in language education, linguistics, reading or writing prior to matriculation in the program. Students also must have at least three years of satisfactory, full time teaching experience or the equivalent professional experience.

Specialization Electives (Select 6 credits)

• Psycholinguistics (3 credits)
• Cognitive Bases of Language (3 credits)
• Language Development (3 credits)
• Sociolinguistics (3 credits)
• Teaching Composition in the 21st Century: Theory & Practice (3 credits)

Cognates & Electives (Minimum 6 credits from other areas of specialization)