Ph.D. in Learning Sciences

Ph.D. in Learning and Developmental Sciences

If you are interested in becoming part of new cutting-edge investigation and research and to push the envelope of learning you might consider the Ph.D. in Learning Sciences. Learning Sciences is a program track within Learning and Developmental Sciences. As an interdisciplinary field, your undergraduate degree (a master’s degree is not required to pursue the Ph.D.) might be in mathematics, computer technology, psychology, education, science, or anthropology. With a doctoral degree in Learning Sciences from the Indiana University, one of the leading research universities in the country you can launch a rewarding career in various industries or academia.

Program components for doctoral degree:

I. Competencies

Develop a well-rounded skill set through course work, research in lab and field, and with your faculty mentor.

Take an interdisciplinary perspective on important issues, applying relevant educational psychology, social science theory, cognitive sciences, and educational design theory and research.
Establish and defend a personal research agenda that is grounded in the foundational assumptions of the learning sciences.
Prepare a research grant proposal that responds to the research agendas of governmental agencies and foundations that advances the learning sciences.
Apply research methods to critically inquire into claims about teaching and learning.
Present research in written and oral form to effectively communicate to various publics the rigor, merit, and usefulness of the research.
Design and develop learning environments to reflect and advance theory.
Integrate the principles of the learning sciences within authentic instructional contexts.
Effectively participate as a member of an interdisciplinary, collaborative research team.
Adopt an action orientation or disposition that treats service work as an important component of one's professional agenda.

II. Characteristics

Community of Practice: The Learning Sciences program is committed to fostering a sense of community as you participate in numerous formal and informal collaborations. Join and participate...
- ...in a pro-seminar where faculty and student colleagues present their work
- ...in research groups for extended periods of time, moving from novice apprentice to core member
- ...in an annual cross-departmental conference, critiquing colleagues and over time presenting your own work
- ...in working circles, being responsible for critiquing articles from colleagues annually and contributing your own work at least twice during matriculation
- ...with cognitive science faculty, real-world practitioners, context experts, and other students to understand, implement, and advance learning science principles with respect to real-world problems
Mentorship Learning: Starting the first semester you will participate in a primary research group with your mentor continuing through the first three years of your program:
- Where you will gain an appreciation for the work of the group and engage in cutting-edge research experiences.
- You will develop your knowledge and skills within the group to become a core participant with the outcomes of building a portfolio of your contributions, collaborating on grant proposals, and serving as a co-author and finally lead author on submitted manuscripts.
Interdisciplinary Inquiry: Our program is part of a larger university effort in cognitive science. It is our belief that learning science problems are often solved through such interdisciplinary collaborations. Therefore, we actively seek association with scholars in disciplines with concerns similar to our own; we are active in adjacent literature, looking for conceptual and methodological inspiration; we seek organizational liaisons for cross disciplinary dialogue and we improve our research potential through criticism of our work in an atmosphere of constructive criticism by talented multidisciplinary scholars. In addition to becoming part of and contributing to this interdisciplinary research and development, you will complete foundations courses designed to help you gain the knowledge and skills associated with being a successful learning scientist.

III. Benchmarks

As a student in the Learning Sciences Program you will be presented with outstanding academic opportunities that will help you develop as an independent thinker, be remarkably competitive in academic and other research environments. You will leave the program with substantial research experience and related published work. The following are program benchmarks in support of these goals and program competencies.

Entry: High GRE's, excellent undergrad record, some research experience (more so if the student holds a master's degree), a personal essay that reflects a sincere and articulate interest in the learning sciences, references that provide thoughtful evidence for our criteria, and a successful personal interview.
First year review: You will prepare an individual professional development plan describing degree, research, and other professional activities key to your growth as a learning scientist. This, in conjunction with a sample of work, will be used to review your progress. A program of studies will be filed with the Graduate Studies Office at this time.
Master's Degree: By the end of the second year, you will write your thesis. The written and public defense of the thesis will be evaluated by a program advisory committee that includes faculty and peers.
Third-Year Review: You will take a comprehensive examination on conceptual issues related to design, research and theory. You will also have a brief oral defense in which you defend your research agenda and theoretical perspective in front of an interdisciplinary committee. Qualifying exam procedures for the minor will be designed and under the discretion of the minor advisor.
Nomination to candidacy: Nomination to candidacy must occur before your dissertation commences. You must pass a review of a portfolio and a public presentation in the pro seminar. You will also complete one multiple-authored publication and one other first-authored publication submitted to a peer-reviewed journal. You will also pass the qualifying examination which assesses your master of a core body of knowledge expected from students in the Learning Sciences.
Dissertation: A dissertation proposal must be submitted to the research committee and approved before data collection can begin. Dissertations can be either the standard dissertation or a collection of articles that taken together make a comprehensive argument that contributes meaningfully to the field. The dissertation cannot simply be a collection of unrelated published papers. "There must be a logical connection between all components of the dissertation, and these must be integrated in a rational and coherent fashion" (p. 13 of the 1998-2000 Graduate School Bulletin). For a multi-article dissertation, approval must be received before data for the last piece is collected.

IV. Requirements

The PhD program requires 90 credit hours of work in addition to meeting the benchmarks described above. The requirements fall into five core areas of work:

Foundations (theory, philosophy) (12 credits)
Inquiry (research methods, inquiry) (12 credits)
Major (research apprenticeship, topical seminars, pro-seminars) (36 credits)
Minor (minor) (12 credits)
Dissertation Credits (dissertation) (15 credits)
Additional Electives (3 credits)

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