Masters+

Certificates+

Why Study Language, Literacy, and Culture?

The Language, Literacy, and Culture Doctoral Program is a stand-alone doctoral-only program with affiliations with nine departments across the humanities and social sciences.

The nine partnering departments are Africana Studies; American Studies; Education; English; Gender, Women’s, + Sexuality Studies; History; Media and Communication Studies; Modern Languages, Linguistics, and Intercultural Communication; and Sociology, Anthropology, and Public Health. The LLC Doctoral Program, located in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (CAHSS). The program’s curriculum focuses on language and literacy as culturally embedded phenomena that affect, and are affected by, systems of human interactions, social institutions, and modes of communication. It is a very high research-intensive doctoral program.

At a Glance

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What Are My Career Options Studying Language, Literacy, and Culture?

Our graduates with the Ph.D. have gone on to jobs in higher education, including a university president, an associate provost, a state representative, a school superintendent, and professors, and many other jobs in industry, including employees for the US State Department, running NGOs, and working internationally.

Tuition, Scholarships & Financial Aid

UMBC works to provide students with adequate need-based funding.

2025–2026 Graduate Cost Calculator Financial Aid Scholarships

Ready to Apply?

Review Doctor of Philosophy in Language, Literacy, and Culture Requirements

Master’s degree; research paper; statement of proposed research in the LLC program; resume or curriculum vitae. The GRE required if applicant has a Master’s degree from a foreign institution.

Start Your Graduate Admissions Application

Please note that application decisions can take 6-8 weeks after the program’s deadline, and depend on how many applications a department receives. You will receive an email once the department processes your decision letter. You will be able to see your decision letter by logging in to the application website. Your decision letter will be where the application checklist was. You may also check your recommendation statuses to send reminders or update contact information from the user page. If you are having trouble logging back in, you can recover your account.

Have Questions?

Please contact the appropriate Graduate School staff member for assistance, or contact our Main Office at gradschool@umbc.edu or 410-455-2537.

Application Deadlines

Fall Semester

All Students:
Apply by January 15

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Contact Information

Language, Literacy, and Culture Program Contacts

Main Contact

410-455-2376
llc@umbc.edu

Program Director

Craig Saper
csaper@umbc.edu

Program Coordinator

Catherine Myers
410-455-2376
catmyers@umbc.edu

UMBC Graduate School Admissions Office Contact Information

Mailing Address

UMBC Graduate School
1000 Hilltop Circle Baltimore, MD 21250

Admissions Staff

Staff are available from Mon - Fri, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 410-455-2537

Request Help

Email Graduate Admissions at gradschool@umbc.edu.

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