Ph.D. in Learning and Developmental Science – Specialization in Learning Sciences
Residential Program—This program must be completed with a majority of non-online credit hours.
Degree Requirements (90 cr.)
Major Requirements (36 cr.)
Required Courses (6 cr.)
- EDUC-I 540 Learning and Cognition in Education (3 cr.)
One of the Following:
- EDUC-I 711 Current Readings in the Learning Sciences (3 cr.)
- EDUC-I 640 Thinking and Learning in Social Contexts (3 cr.)
Any other 600 level Learning Sciences Course approved by Advisor (3cr)
LS Core requirement (9 cr.)
- EDUC-I 631 Theorizing Learning in Context (3 cr.)
- EDUC-I 632 Designing for Learning in Context (3 cr.)
- EDUC-I 633 Methods for Studying Learning in Context (3 cr.)
Other Learning Sciences Courses (6 cr.)
Any 6 credits of Learning Sciences courses with advisor's approval
Methodological Explorations (3 cr.)
Select one additional course with a methodological focus, with advisor's approval. This can be from any program area.
Dossier (12 cr.)
- EDUC-I 695 Topical Inquiry Seminar in Learning Sciences (3 cr.) (taken 4 times)
Inquiry Requirements (12 cr.)
- EDUC-Y 520 Strategies for Educational Inquiry or EDUC-Y 521 Methodological Approaches to Educational Inquiry (3 cr.)
Select 3 courses from the Qualitative and Quantitative Methodology Program (9 cr.)
Minor Requirements (12 cr.)
The minor must have integrity in its own right and must complement the major. The minor field must demonstrate wholeness within itself and contribute to the student's overall doctoral program. Minors are normally formulated within a single program area. However, an interdisciplinary or individualized minor is also possible. Interdisciplinary or individualized minors require a written description of the minor's underlying theme along with a rationale for each course's contribution to that theme on the e-POS and a Request for Individualized Minor e-Doc. This eDoc should be submitted and approved by the Graduate School Bloomington prior to enrolling in the minor courses. Major area courses may not be used in the minor.
Elective Requirements (15 cr.)
Electives may be taken in fields inside or outside the School of Education. Students may take electives in any area of interest to complement their plan of studies.
Early Inquiry Experience Requirement
To satisfy the program requirements, the student must carry out an independent research project as an early inquiry experience. The resulting research report must be read and approved by the major members of the program of studies committee. This project must be completed before advancing to candidacy and is expected to be completed in the first three years. A master’s thesis can be considered but must meet the same approval process.
Dissertation Requirements (15 cr.)
- EDUC-I 795 Dissertation Proposal Preparation (3 cr.)
- EDUC-I 799 Doctoral Thesis in Educational Psychology (12 cr.)
I courses previously taught under the P prefix before 2024 may still be used for requirements.