School of Education

Overview

We explicitly recognize that individuals are dynamic beings in dynamic environments. Studying development in context is an important component of our program, leading to research that contributes to the understanding of human behavior while addressing the practical concerns of educators, parents, and others interested in the developing person.

Our faculty are guided in these endeavors by the following objectives:

• To give students a strong grounding in concepts, theories and empirical studies of individuals' biological, cognitive, social, and emotional development across the life span
• To help students build an expertise in one or more specific aspects of human development
• To involve students in faculty-guided and independent research experiences that promote the development of strong research skills
• To help students attain other experiences (e.g., teaching, program development) that help them meet their particular career objectives
• To allow flexibility in course work and other program requirements in order to meet the specific needs and interests of individual students
• To help students place their specific interests within the larger contexts of human development, with an emphasis on implications of developmental processes for educational programs and practice

Degrees

The IU School of Education offers the following degrees in Human Development:

Ph.D. in Learning and Developmental Sciences (Human Development Program)

Why are certain subjects easier for young people to learn, and what effect does this have on curriculum development? As more individuals live longer and experience mental and physical changes associated with aging, what implications does this have for society?

The study of human development has practical implications for everything from preschool curriculum development to geriatric care. At Indiana University, you’ll study human development to understand how individuals develop biologically, cognitively, socially, and emotionally and the impact this has throughout their entire life span. You’ll also conduct independent research, develop your teaching skills, and prepare for a career as a faculty member, institutional researcher, or education consultant.

This 90-credit hour program includes a strong grounding in all of the concepts and theories of human development, plus the opportunity to become an expert in one or more aspects of human development that specifically interest you.

Human Development Major (36 cr. minimum)

Courses that are part of the major form the heart of the student's doctoral program and are planned by the student with the advisory committee.

Besides course work in Human Development, an Early Inquiry Experience in the form of an independent research project (3 cr.) must be carried out prior to qualifying for writing the Ph.D. dissertation. This requirement can be met through a Masters thesis (P599), Independent Research (Y590, P690), or some other experience agreed to by the student and the faculty advisor. The research report resulting from this project must be read and approved by the student’s advisory committee.

In addition, all doctoral students are required to take the following course:

• P526 Theory and Method in Educational Psychology (3 cr.)
• Students are also expected to acquire basic knowledge in the Core Areas of Learning and Developmental Sciences listed below by taking at least one 3 credit course from each area. Basic knowledge in these spheres is tested in qualifying examinations:
  • Human Development
  • Learning and Cognition
  • Educational Inquiry Methodology

Foundations in Education (9 cr. minimum)

Doctoral students are required to take courses outside their major and minor areas to obtain alternative theoretical perspectives to their studies. These courses may be taken in areas such as the history, philosophy or sociology of education, curriculum theory and other social sciences. Students are allowed to take no more than 6 hours in the same area.

Inquiry Core (15 cr. minimum)

The Inquiry component emphasizes methodological skills which provide a basis for conducting original research.

Required Inquiry Courses (9 cr.):

• Y520 Strategies for Educational Inquiry (3 cr.)
• Y502 Intermediate Statistics Applied to Education (3 cr.) (must be taken concurrently with Y500)
• Y527 Educational Assessment and Psychological Assessment (3 cr.)

In addition, two of the following courses (three credits each) are required:

• H510 Methodology of Educational Inquiry
• Y535 Evaluation Models and Techniques
• H601 Historical Inquiry in Education
• Y603 Statistical Design of Educational Research (must be taken concurrently with Y500)
• Y604 Multivariate Analysis in Educational Research (must be taken concurrently with Y500)
• Y611 Qualitative Inquiry in Education
• Y617 Psychometric Theory
• Y627 Seminar in Educational and Psychological Measurement
• Y635 Methodology of Educational Evaluation
• Y750 Topical Seminar in Educational Inquiry Methodology
• Y612/Y613 Critical Qualitative Inquiry I and II
• Y630 Narrative Inquiry
• Y631 Discourse Theory and Analysis
• Y671 Knowledge, Reflection & Critique in Methodological Theory
• Y672 Communicative Action Theory
• Y500 Computer Laboratory for Educational Statistics
• Y502 Intermediate Inferential Statistics (must be taken concurrently with Y500)
• Y527 Educational Assessment and Psychological Measurement
• Y637 Categorical Data Analysis
• Y639 Multilevel Models
• Y645 Covariance Structure Analysis
• Y655 Longitudinal Data Analysis
• Y515/H510 Foundations of Educational Inquiry
• Y521 Methodological Approaches to Educational Inquiry
• Y600 Methodological Implications of Social and Psychological Theories
• Y510 Action Research I
• Y525 Survey Research Methodology
• Y650 Topics in Inquiry Methodology: Variable Title
• Y660 Affinity Research Group
• Y590 Independent Study in Inquiry Methodology
• Y690 Independent Study in Inquiry Methodology

Minor (12 cr. minimum)

Students are required to take a minor outside the Learning and Developmental Sciences program in an area which complements their major field and provides additional depth and breadth to their program. Typical minors include Psychology, Special Education, Inquiry, Sociology, Linguistics, Language Education, Higher Education, Instructional Systems Technology, Counseling and Philosophy of Education. The specification of courses to be taken in the minor is under the direction of the student's minor faculty representative and the program advisory committee.

Electives

Elective courses are chosen to fill out the major and to contribute to the integrity of the student's program. These courses are taken in the student's areas of interest, within or outside the department, in order to fulfill the total program requirement of 90 credit hours.

Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination is given towards the end of the student's course work. It has two parts--a written examination, followed by an oral one. The written examination, has three sections covering (a) a general exam in Human Development, Inquiry, and Learning and Cognition, (b) the Major exam in Human Development, and (c) the Minor exam. Minor qualifying examination requirements are under the direction of the minor department.

Dissertation (15 cr.)

After passing the written and oral qualifying examinations, the student is admitted to candidacy and begins formal work on the dissertation.

• P795 Dissertation Proposal Preparation (3 cr.)
• P799 Doctoral Thesis in Human Development (3 cr.)

A final oral examination of the dissertation completes the doctoral program.

Faculty

Our curriculum is built around strong one-on-one relationships between students and faculty, who share their ideas, offer feedback, and collaborate as research partners. Our research interests include creativity, informal learning environments, gaming and virtual environments, aggression and bullying in school settings, adolescent substance abuse, motivation, geriatric education, and many other topics.

• Joyce Alexander, Professor
• David Estell, Associate Professor
• Gary Ingersoll, Professor Emeritus
• Mary Waldron, Assistant Professor

Careers

From educational consulting and instructional software companies to Fortune 500 companies seeking research specialists, your career opportunities as a Learning Sciences graduate are numerous and exciting.

Graduates of these programs secure positions as university faculty members, as psychological and educational researchers, and as program evaluators in research and consulting firms, foundations, public schools, industry, state and federal departments of education, and the military.

Contact

For detailed program information, please contact:

Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology
201 North Rose Avenue, Suite 4000
Bloomington, Indiana 47405-1006
Phone: (812) 856-8300
Email: cep@indiana.edu