Graduate Program

Student Information Contact
Lorena Rodriguez Vazquez
Hokona Hall 144 B
(505) 277-6997
lrodriguezvazquez@unm.edu 


Degrees and Certificate Offered

  • Master of Arts in Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies (M.A.)
    Concentrations: American Indian Education; Bilingual Education; Educational Thought and Sociocultural Studies; Literacy and Language Arts; Social Studies; Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies (Ph.D.)
  • Graduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (GCERT)

Dual Degree Program

Master of Arts in Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies and Master of Arts in Latin American StudiesThe Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies department and the Latin American Studies program in the College of Arts and Sciences offer a Dual Degree Program leading to the M.A. in Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies and the M.A. in Latin American Studies. See the Graduate and Professional Dual Degree Programs section of this Catalog.


Admission Information

Master of Arts: The deadlines for the M.A. are September 15 for admittance the following Spring semester, and February 1 for admittance the following Summer and Fall semesters. M.A. applications are reviewed shortly after these deadlines. 

Doctor of Philosophy: The deadline for Ph.D. candidates is December 1, for admittance the following Fall semester. Applications to the doctoral program are reviewed shortly after December 1.

Documents describing the programs and guidelines for application are available from the Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies program Web site, or from the appropriate Student Information Contact email above. Applicants should review these documents before applying for admission to the programs.

Application Deadlines
M.A. Spring semester: September 15
  Summer and Fall semester: February 1
Ph.D. Fall semester: December 1

Master of Arts in Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies

All Master of Arts (M.A.) students must fulfill the general admission requirements and the Plan I (thesis) or Plan II (without thesis) requirements set forth in the Graduate Program and College of Education and Human Sciences sections of this Catalog. The M.A. in Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies may be pursued in one of the following concentrations:

  • American Indian Education
  • Bilingual Education
  • Educational Thought and Sociocultural Studies
  • Literacy and Language Arts
  • Social Studies
  • Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

Rigorous coursework culminates in either a comprehensive examination or a thesis. Some M.A. programs with embedded New Mexico State endorsements may only permit the comprehensive examination.

A core seminar (taken in the first year of the program) provides a set of foundational perspectives on practice. The purpose of the Master of Arts program is to contribute to the development of professionals in education and related fields.


Concentration in American Indian Education

Credit 
Hours
Core Requirements
LLSS 500 Issues in Language/Literacy/Sociocultural Studies 3
LLSS 590 Seminar 3
Subtotal 6
  Research
Choose two from: 
EDPY 502 Survey of Statistics in Education 3
EDUC 500 Research Applications to Education 3
LLSS 501 Practitioner Research 3
LLSS 502 Introduction to Qualitative Research 3
Subtotal 6
  Concentration
  Choose three from:
LLSS 551 History of American Indian Education 3
LLSS 554 Teaching the Native American Child 3
LLSS 564 Issues in American Indian Education 3
LLSS 583 Education Across Cultures in the Southwest 3
Subtotal 9
  Curriculum
LLSS 560 Language and Education in Southwest Native American Communities  
LLSS 570 Science and Native American Education  
LING 515 Native American Languages  
Subtotal 9
  Finally, in consultation with an advisor in the program, students also select an additional 6 credit hours related to the program concentration. 6
Plan I Total
(30 + 6 thesis hrs.)
30
  Plan II Total 36

Concentration in Bilingual Education (English and Spanish)

Admission requirement: 9 credit hours of college coursework in a second language or fluency in a second language.

NOTE: This concentration includes Plan II only in order to meet very specific requirements of state endorsement.

  Credit
Hours
Core Requirements  
LLSS 500 Issues in Language/Literacy/Sociocultural Studies 3
LLSS 503 Research in Bilingual and Second Language Classrooms and Communities 3
LLSS 555 Language Study for Educators 3
LLSS 556 First and Second Language Development within Cultural Contexts 3
LLSS 580 Seminar in the Education of the Bilingual Student 3
LLSS 590 Seminar
Subtotal 18
  Research  
Choose one from:
LLSS 501 Practitioner Research 3
LLSS 502 Introduction to Qualitative Research
EDPY 502 Survey of Statistics in Education 3
EDUC 500 Research Applications to Education
Subtotal 3
Concentration
A. Language, Literacy and Culture
LLSS 554
-or-
LLSS 560
Teaching the Native American Child

Language and Education in Southwest Native American Communities
3
Choose one from:  
LLSS 557 Language, Culture, and Mathematics
LLSS 558 Literacy Across Cultures
LLSS 579 The Teaching of Reading in the Bilingual Classroom
LLSS 593 T: Folklore en el Aula
SPAN 547 Seminar in Southwest Spanish 3
Subtotal 6
B. Sociocultural Studies
LLSS 564 Issues in American Indian Education 3
  Choose one from:  
LLSS 521 Proseminar: Sociology of Education
LLSS 523 Education and Anthropology
LLSS 575 Exploring Third Spaces in Education 3
LLSS 583 Education Across Cultures in the Southwest
CCS 520  Cine Chicano y Mundial 3
SPCD 511 Social Construction of Disabilities
SPCD 560 Introduction to Bilingual-Multicultural Special Education
  Subtotal 6
C. Curriculum and Pedagogy  
  Choose one from:  
LLSS *455 Teaching Spanish for Bilingual Classroom 3
LLSS 568 Alternative Assessment Practices for English Language Learners
LLSS 569 ESL Across the Content Areas 3
LLSS 581 Teaching English as a Second Language 3
LLSS 582 Curriculum Development in Multicultural Education
LLSS 593 T: Bilingual Teaching Methods, Materials and Techniques 3
SPCD 559 Teaching Bilingual-Multicultural Special Education 3
Subtotal 3
  Total 36

Concentration in Educational Thought and Sociocultural Studies (ETSS)

  Credit
Hours
Core Requirement
LLSS 500 Issues in Language/Literacy/Sociocultural Studies 3
Subtotal 3
Research Courses
Select two from:
LLSS 501 Practitioner Research 3
LLSS 502 Introduction to Qualitative Research 3
EDPY 502 Survey of Statistics in Education 3
EDUC 500 Research Applications to Education 3
Subtotal 6
Concentration
Select four from:
LLSS 510 Paulo Freire 3
LLSS 511 History of U.S. Education 3
LLSS 513 Globalization and Education 3
LLSS 515 Philosophy of Education 3
LLSS 521 Proseminar: Sociology of Education 3
LLSS 523 Education and Anthropology 3
LLSS 530 Whiteness Studies 3
LLSS 553 Education and African American Children 3
LLSS 587 Education and Gender Equity 3
Subtotal 12
Support Area Electives
  Graduate-level courses offered by LLSS or any other UNM department. Consult advisor.  
Subtotal 9
Degree Completion Option
Plan I
 
LLSS 599 Master's Thesis 6
Plan II  
Professional Paper
LLSS 590 Seminar 3
-or-
Master's Exam  
LLSS 598 Directed Readings 3-6
  Subtotal
3-6
  Plan I Total 36
  Plan II (Professional Paper) Total 33
  Plan II (Master's Exam) Total 33-36 

Concentration in Literacy and Language Arts

Credit
Hours
  Core Requirements  
LLSS 500 Issues in Language/Literacy/Sociocultural Studies 3
LLSS 590 Seminar 3
Subtotal 6
  Research
  Choose two from:
LLSS 501 Practitioner Research 3
LLSS 502 Introduction to Qualitative Research 3
EDPY 502 Survey of Statistics in Education 3
EDUC 500 Research Applications to Education 3
Subtotal 6
  Concentration  
LLSS 532 The Reading Process 3
LLSS 595 Advanced Field Experiences 3
Two additional courses focusing on second language learning and/or cultural diversity in education, selected with advisement. 6
Subtotal 12
  Support Area Elective  
  Plan I 3
  Plan II 12
Plan I Total
(27 + 6 thesis hrs.)
33
  Plan II Total 36

Concentration in Social Studies

Credit 
Hours
  Core Requirements
LLSS 500 Issues in Language/Literacy/Sociocultural Studies 3
LLSS 590 Seminar 3
Subtotal 6
  Research
  Select two from:  
LLSS 501 Practitioner Research 3
LLSS 502 Introduction to Qualitative Research 3
EDPY 511 Introductory Educational Statistics 3
EDUC 500 Research Applications to Education 3
Subtotal 6
  Sociocultural Studies
  Select two from: 3
LLSS 511 History of U.S. Education 3
LLSS 515 Philosophy of Education 3
LLSS 521 Proseminar: Sociology of Education 3
LLSS 523 Education and Anthropology 3
LLSS 582 Curriculum Development in Multicultural Education 3
LLSS 583 Education Across Cultures in the Southwest 3
LLSS 587 Education and Gender Equity 3
Subtotal 6
  Social Studies Education
  Select one from:  
LLSS 520 Seminar in Social Studies  
LLSS 540 Instructional Trends in the Social Studies  
LLSS 549 History Education  
Subtotal 3
  Supporting Curriculum and Instruction
  Select one from:  
LLSS 538 Teaching Reading Through the Content Field
LLSS 550 Books and Related Materials for Young Adults
EDUC 516 Integrating Curriculum and Inquiry in the Classroom  
EDUC 542 Principles of Curriculum Development
Subtotal 3
  Supporting Area Electives  
The support area should focus on some aspect(s) of social studies including content from the various disciplines. In consultation with a faculty advisor, students may select from the previous list of courses as well as courses from other departments in the College of Education and Human Sciences and/or other Colleges within the University.
  Plan I 9
  Plan II 12
Plan I Total
(30 + 6 thesis hrs.)
30
  Plan II Total 36

Concentration in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

Admission requirement: 9 credit hours of college coursework in a second language or fluency in a second language.

  Credit
Hours
Core Requirements
LLSS 500 Issues in Language/Literacy/Sociocultural Studies 3
LLSS 503 Research in Bilingual and Second Language Classrooms and Communities 3
LLSS 555 Language Study for Educators 3
LLSS 556 First and Second Language Development within Cultural Contexts 3
LLSS 580 Seminar in the Education of the Bilingual Student 3
Subtotal 15
Research
Select one from:
LLSS 501 Practitioner Research 3
LLSS 502 Introduction to Qualitative Research 3
EDPY 502 Survey of Statistics in Education 3
EDUC 500 Research Applications to Education 3
Subtotal 3
Concentration
A. Language, Literacy and Culture
 
Plan I  
  Select one or two from: LLSS 554, 557, 558, 559, 560.
3-6
Plan II  
LLSS 554
-or-
LLSS 560
Teaching the Native American Child

Language and Education in Southwest Native American Communities
3
Select one from: LLSS 557, 558, 559. 3
B. Sociocultural Studies  
Plan I  
LLSS 564 Issues in American Indian Education 3
  (Optional) Select one from: LLSS 521, 523, 564, 575, 583; SPCD 511. 3
Plan II  
LLSS 564 Issues in American Indian Education 3
  Select one from: LLSS 521, 523, 564, 575, 583; SPCD 511. 3
C. Curriculum and Pedagogy  
Select one from: LLSS 568, 569, 578, 581, 582; SPCD 559; other courses selected with advisement. 3
Plan I Subtotal 12
Plan II Subtotal 15
Degree Completion Option
Plan I
LLSS 599 Master's Thesis 6
Plan II
LLSS 590 Seminar 3
  Total 36


Doctor of Philosophy in Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree program in Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies is a rigorous but flexible course of studies that can be tailored to meet a wide range of interests and needs, including: language and literacy education; educational diversities such as American Indian education, bilingual education, second language development, and global education; qualitative research methodologies; critical theory and education for social justice; and the social and cultural study of educational theories, institutions and practices. All students are expected to develop a program of studies combining coursework in the Department with coursework in related disciplines in the College of Education and Human Sciences and other colleges. The program places special emphasis on helping students develop qualitative and/or mixed methods research and inquiry skills needed for the advanced study and analysis of education in its many social, cultural, economic and political contexts.

All Ph.D. students must fulfill the general admission requirements for both the University and the College of Education and Human Sciences, as described in the Graduate Program and the College of Education and Human Sciences sections of this Catalog.

The doctoral program consists of a set of core courses focusing on Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies; a set of research courses and a research internship/field experience focusing on research methodology; an area of focus constructed by the student in consultation with an advisor and a program of studies committee; and a 24 credit hour minor or supporting area.

Multidisciplinary study is fundamental to the mission of Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies. The specific elements of students’ areas of focus are individualized to meet students’ needs and can be drawn from, but are not limited to, the following areas: educational thought, critical theory, bilingual education, teaching English as a second language (both K-12 and Adult), American Indian education, and literacy/language arts. 

The Language, Literacy and Sociocultural Studies department also administers the transdisciplinary Ph.D. in Educational Linguistics.

Doctoral Program

(72–75 credit hours, plus dissertation)

Credit
Hours
Core (24-27 credit hours, plus dissertation) 
  Seminars 6
LLSS 640 Seminar in Language/Literacy
LLSS 645 Seminar in Educational Studies  
Research Choose from: 12
LLSS 501 Practitioner Research  
LLSS 502 Introduction to Qualitative Research  
LLSS 605 Advanced Qualitative Research Methods  
LLSS 623 Ethnographic Research  
EDPY 502 Survey of Statistics in Education  
EDPY 505 Conducting Quantitative Educational Research  
EDPY 511 Introductory Educational Statistics  
  (Must include at least one quantitative and one qualitative course. Appropriate research methods courses from outside COE may be substituted.)  
  Research Internship / Field Experience 3-6
LLSS 595
-and/or-
LLSS 696
Advanced Field Experiences

Internship
 
  Dissertation Seminar 3
LLSS 650 Dissertation Seminar  
  Area of Focus (24 credit hours) 24
  Selected from the Catalog by candidates in consultation with their committee.  
  Support Area (24 credit hours) 24
  The support area may consist of credit hours in a single field, usually within the College of Education and Human Sciences, or may be an interdisciplinary support area, selected in consultation with their committee. At least 12 credit hours must come from outside the department. The support area is to be supportive of the focus.  
  Total 72-75
  Dissertation 18
  (Maximum transfer/applied credit: 36)

Graduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

The graduate certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) is designed to help teachers add a TESOL endorsement to their teaching license, and to prepare other graduate and non-degree graduate students to teach English as a second or foreign language to adults in this country or abroad. For information on the TESOL endorsement and application procedures, visit the New Mexico Public Education Department Web site.

In the TESOL certificate program, students gain an understanding of the theoretical and cultural foundations for the teaching and learning of English language and literacy across the curriculum and across K-16 teaching contexts. They learn methods to appropriately apply this understanding in different cultural contexts.

Application Process

Send to:
Graduate Admissions
University of New Mexico
P.O. Box 4849
Albuquerque, NM 87196-4849

  • Online Graduate Application
  • A non-refundable application fee (credit card payment as part of online Graduate Application)
  • One official transcript from each college previously attended (exception: UNM transcript)

Send to:
College of Education and Human Sciences
Department of Language, Literacy, and Sociocultural Studies
MSC05 3040
Hokona Hall Zuni 140
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001

  • Department Application available on the departmental Web site
  • One official transcript from each college previously attended (exception: UNM transcript)

Requirements

Credit
Hours
LLSS 556 First and Second Language Development within Cultural Contexts 3
LLSS 558 Literacy Across Cultures 3
LLSS 559 Second Language Literacy 3
LLSS 580 Seminar in the Education of the Bilingual Student 3
LLSS 581 Teaching English as a Second Language 3
Total 15

Minor Study

The Department offers a graduate minor in Literacy with a focus on either elementary language arts or on middle school/secondary language arts. Courses are designed to help practicing teachers improve their language arts instruction.

Requirements

Credit
Hours
Elementary Language Arts Focus
LLSS 532 The Reading Process 3
LLSS 537L Assessment of Reading and Language Arts 3
LLSS 567 Home Literacy and Schooling Research 3
Choose one from the following:
LLSS 534 Seminar in Teaching Reading 3
LLSS 541 Seminar in Children’s Literature 3
Total 12
Middle School/Secondary Language Arts Focus
LLSS 522 Seminar in English Curriculum and Instruction 3
LLSS 527 Advanced Teaching Writing 3
LLSS 528 Studies in Reading and Literature for Teachers 3
Choose one from the following:
LLSS 538 Teaching Reading Through the Content Field 3
LLSS 550 Books and Related Materials for Young Adults 3
LLSS 558 Literacy Across Cultures 3
LLSS 559 Second Language Literacy 3
Total 12

Courses

LLSS 1110. Foundations of American Indian Education. (3)



LLSS 1996. Topics. (1-6, no limit Δ)



LLSS 2996. Topics. (1-6, no limit Δ)



LLSS 300. Bilingual Teaching Methods, Materials and Techniques. (3)



LLSS 315. Educating Linguistically and Culturally Diverse Students. (3)



LLSS 321. School and Society. (3)



LLSS 391 / 591. Problems. (1-3 to a maximum of 9 Δ)



LLSS 393 / 493 / 593. Topics. (1-6, no limit Δ)



LLSS 430. Teaching Writing to Children and Adolescents. (3)



LLSS 432. Teaching of Social Studies. (3)



LLSS 436. Teaching of English. (3)



LLSS 443. Children's Literature (Literatura Infantil). (3)



LLSS *449. Teaching the Native Language to the Native Speaker. (3)



LLSS 450 / 550. Books and Related Materials for Young Adults. (3)



LLSS *453. Theoretical and Cultural Foundations of Bilingual Education. (3)



LLSS *455. Teaching Spanish for Bilingual Classroom. (3)



LLSS 456 / 556. First and Second Language Development within Cultural Contexts. (3)



LLSS 457 / 557. Language, Culture, and Mathematics. (3)



LLSS 458 / 558. Literacy Across Cultures. (3)



LLSS 459 / 559. Second Language Literacy. (3)



LLSS 460 / 560. Language and Education in Southwest Native American Communities. (3)



LLSS 469 / 569. ESL Across the Content Areas. (3)



LLSS 479 / 579. The Teaching of Reading in the Bilingual Classroom (La Ensenanza de la Lectura). (3)



LLSS *480. Second Language Pedagogy. (3)



LLSS 482 / 581. Teaching English as a Second Language. (3)



LLSS 493 / 393 / 593. Topics. (1-3, no limit Δ)



LLSS 495. Field Experience. (3-6 to a maximum of 12 Δ)



LLSS 500. Issues in Language/Literacy/Sociocultural Studies. (3)



LLSS 501. Practitioner Research. (3)



LLSS 502. Introduction to Qualitative Research. (3)



LLSS 503. Research in Bilingual and Second Language Classrooms and Communities. (3)



LLSS 510. Paulo Freire. (3)



LLSS 511. History of U.S. Education. (3)



LLSS 513. Globalization and Education. (3)



LLSS 514. Decolonial Thinking. (3)



LLSS 515. Philosophy of Education. (3)



LLSS 521. Proseminar: Sociology of Education. (3)



LLSS 523. Education and Anthropology. (3)



LLSS 524. Critical Race Theory. (3)



LLSS 527. Advanced Teaching Writing [Studies in Rhetoric for Teachers]. (3, no limit Δ)



LLSS 528. Studies in Reading and Literature for Teachers. (3)



LLSS 529. Race, Ethnicity, and Education. (3)



LLSS 530. Whiteness Studies. (3)



LLSS 532. The Reading Process. (3)



LLSS 533. Studies in Comics: Considering and Supporting Literacy Practices. (3)



LLSS 534. Seminar in Teaching Reading. (3)



LLSS 535. Critical Literacy. (3)



LLSS 536. Reading and Writing Digital Texts. (3)



LLSS 537. International Literature for Young People. (3)



LLSS 537L. Assessment of Literacies [Assessment of Reading and Language Arts]. (3)



LLSS 538. Teaching Reading Through the Content Field. (3)



LLSS 539. Cross Cultural Literature for Young People. (3)



LLSS 541. Seminar in Children's Literature. (3-12 to a maximum of 12 Δ)



LLSS 543. Classroom Drama: Teaching and Learning to Support Literacy Practices. (3)



LLSS 546. Advanced English Language Arts Teaching Methods. (3)



LLSS 548. Literacy Leadership. (3)



LLSS 550 / 450. Books and Related Materials for Young Adults. (3)



LLSS 551. History of American Indian Education. (3)



LLSS 553. Education and African American Children. (3)



LLSS 554. Teaching the Native American Child. (3)



LLSS 555. Language Study for Educators. (3)



LLSS 556 / 456. First and Second Language Development within Cultural Contexts. (3)



LLSS 557 / 457. Language, Culture, and Mathematics. (3)



LLSS 558 / 458. Literacy Across Cultures. (3)



LLSS 559 / 459. Second Language Literacy. (3)



LLSS 560 / 460. Language and Education in Southwest Native American Communities. (3)



LLSS 561. Reading, Writing, and Diversities. (3)



LLSS 564. Issues in American Indian Education. (3)



LLSS 567. Home Literacy and Schooling Research. (3)



LLSS 568. Alternative Assessment Practices for English Language Learners. (3)



LLSS 569 / 469. ESL Across the Content Areas. (3)



LLSS 570. Science and Native American Education. (3)



LLSS 575. Exploring Third Spaces in Education. (3)



LLSS 578. Adult ESL Pedagogy. (3)



LLSS 579 / 479. The Teaching of Reading in the Bilingual Classroom (La Ensenanza de la Lectura). (3)



LLSS 580. Seminar in the Education of the Bilingual Student. (3)



LLSS 581 / 482. Teaching English as a Second Language. (3)



LLSS 582. Curriculum Development in Multicultural Education. (3)



LLSS 583. Education Across Cultures in the Southwest. (3)



LLSS 587. Education and Gender Equity. (3)



LLSS 588. Feminist Epistemologies and Pedagogies. (3)



LLSS 590. Seminar. (3)



LLSS 591 / 391. Problems. (1-3 to a maximum of 9 Δ)



LLSS 593 / 393 / 493. Topics. (1-3, no limit Δ)



LLSS 595. Advanced Field Experiences. (3-6 to a maximum of 12 Δ)



LLSS 596. Internship. (3-6 to a maximum of 12 Δ)



LLSS 598. Directed Readings. (3-6 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



LLSS 599. Master's Thesis. (1-6, no limit Δ)



LLSS 605. Advanced Qualitative Research Methods. (3)



LLSS 606. Case Study Research Methods. (3)



LLSS 610. Seminar in Academic Writing in Education and Related Fields. (3)



LLSS 614. Vygotsky Seminar. (3)



LLSS 640. Seminar in Language/Literacy. (3)



LLSS 645. Seminar in Educational Studies. (3)



LLSS 650. Dissertation Seminar. (1-3)



LLSS 696. Internship. (3-6 to a maximum of 12 Δ)



LLSS 698. Directed Readings. (3-6 to a maximum of 12 Δ)



LLSS 699. Dissertation. (3-12, no limit Δ)



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Office of the Registrar

MSC11 6325
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131

Phone: (505) 277-8900
Fax: (505) 277-6809