This certificate is designed to enhance graduate students’ understanding of contemporary issues in the study of language and literacy. This certificate will be of value to students who plan to pursue careers in research, academic and applied settings. The certificate incorporates courses from the College of Education, College of Health and Human Sciences, and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences in order provide a broad perspective on this area of study. Students who complete this certificate will gain the necessary theoretical and methodological knowledge to effectively conduct and interpret research studies concerning language and literacy. Students will also develop a broad, interdisciplinary understanding of language and literacy theory, research, and practice, which will enable them to engage in cutting-edge research and practical applications in educational and community contexts.
The Certificate of Graduate Study in Interdisciplinary Study of Language and Literacy is open to all students admitted to NIU. Students must maintain good academic standing, achieve a minimum grade of B in each course applied toward the certificate, and complete all certificate work within a period of six calendar years. All course requirements for the certificate must be completed at NIU. Some courses may have prerequisites that are not part of the certificate curriculum. Students are strongly encouraged to complete the core courses early in the certificate curriculum. Students pursuing the Certificate of Graduate Study in Interdisciplinary Study of Language and Literacy should meet with the certificate coordinator early in their academic program of study to ensure adequate time for planning and scheduling of courses.
Participants will take 18 credit hours to complete the Certificate. They will take six credit hours of IDSP 596, at least one three-credit hour course in the methods strand, and at least one course from three of the other strands listed below. Courses must be taken from at least three different program areas (e.g., PSYC, ETR, and LTIC).
Requirements (18)
Seminar Course (6 semester hours required, ideally completed in the same academic year)
The following special topics courses may be used to fulfill a requirement in place of a course from the Acquisitions and Transitions, Processes, Influences, or Assessment strand, depending on topic and approval of the certificate coordinator.
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