CASExamOverview

Upon completion of a minimum of 50 credit hours applicable to the certificate program, the student must satisfactorily complete a capstone experience. This requirement can be met in one of two ways.

The student may complete the comprehensive examination (Part A) for the PhD program. This examination remains the same as it is presently constituted, focused on the three domains (literacy and society, literacy and schooling, nature and acquisition of literacy).

The second way would be to undertake an inquiry project. Examples of inquiry projects would include empirical investigations, or analytic literature reviews, related to issues in literacy. For example, one student might undertake an investigation of the new Response to Intervention (RTI) legislation, examining the research that undergirds it, and how a sample of schools in the area are implementing RTI. Another might conduct an extensive meta-analysis of research studies related to grouping practices for literacy instruction, and suggest implications for classroom practices. These projects would be the equivalent in length and rigor of the essay option for the PhD Comprehensive Examination, but on topics chosen by the student in consultation with his/her advisor.

The CAS inquiry project counts as the final examination for the CAS program, and cannot be used to satisfy the requirements of the PhD Comprehensive Examination.

Click here for details of the Inquiry Project; click here for details of the Comprehensive Examination.