Program Requirements
The Doctor of Philosophy degree in Learning Sciences is a research degree intended to advance the understanding of how people learn by examining the culture, approaches and attributes of learners in a variety of learning environments. The program is designed for individuals who seek practical and theoretical training as tenure-track faculty, research scientists, developers, instructional designers and practitioners in professional, non-profit, and academic settings. Students within the Learning Sciences program may seek answers to questions regarding best strategies for ensuring that learners excel across a variety of subject domains. They may explore the underlying processes that support learning, the multiple contextual and social influences on learners, the use of digital media to accomplish cognitive tasks or create innovative environments for learning, and the diversity of methods for systematically studying complex learning in a variety of settings.
Graduates may pursue employment in higher education, Fortune 500 companies, school settings, the military or a host of other industries, working in research and development, school administration, curriculum design, program evaluation, assessment design, or digital media and game development. The Learning Sciences program is purposefully interdisciplinary, offering students flexibility to customize a program of study within their 18-hour cognate area tailored to meet their learning or career goals.
Admission Requirements
A complete application package submitted online must include recent GRE scores (within five years), unofficial transcripts, a two-three page Letter of Intent that communicates the applicant’s professional philosophy and goals, research interests and purpose for seeking the doctorate, two letters of reference, and a current résumé/vita. Direct admission from a bachelors program is allowed, however a master’s degree is preferred. Students whose native language is not English must submit acceptable scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL or IELTS or PTE), unless an undergraduate degree was completed in the United States. In addition to the application packet, students may be required to participate in an on-campus or online interview.
Course Requirements
Applicants to the Learning Sciences complete a minimum of 60 credit hours, including:
Notes:
Programs include, but are not limited to: Architecture (AAH); Communication Studies (AAH); Computer Science (ECAS); Digital Production Arts (ECAS); Education (COE); Early Childhood Education (COE); Elementary Education (COE); Educational Foundations (COE); Educational Leadership (COE); Literacy (COE); Middle Level Education (COE); Secondary Education (COE); Special Education (COE); Family and Community Studies (BSHS); Graphic Communications (COB); Health, Education, and Human Development (HEHD); Human-Centered Computing (ECAS); Psychology (BSHS); Rhetoric, Communication, and Information Design (AAH); and Sociology (BSHS).
All students are required to teach or design the equivalent of one semester-long course; courses may be designed or taught online with advisor approval.
A passing score on a preliminary exam is required prior to the dissertation; the format of the exam varies and must be approved by the advisor.
A minimum of 18 hours of dissertation credit is required with the dissertation proposal and oral defense as directed by the student’s advisory committee.
