Learning Sciences, PhD

Program Description

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.

For more information, please visit https://www.clemson.edu/education/academics/doctoral-programs/phd-doctorate-learning-sciences/index.html.

Summary of Degree Requirements

The program requires completion of a minimum of 61 hours of coursework (core courses, research courses, cognate courses, doctoral dissertation hours) along with the completion of other program requirements (e.g., comprehensive exam, dissertation proposal and defense). The completion of and demonstration of other academic and professional competencies (e.g., teaching, scholarly presentation, scholarly writing) are required as well. Only a student’s doctoral advisory committee can certify that they have earned this degree.

Coursework

Research Courses-13 Credits

• EDF 9270 - Quantitative Research Designs and Statistics for Educational Contexts 4 Credits  
• EDF 9770 - Multiple Regression / General Linear Model in Educational Research 3 Credits  
• EDF 9790 - Qualitative Research in Education 3 Credits  
• An advanced methods research course (note: as with all courses comprising a student’s program of study, the advanced methods research course is subject to approval by the student’s advisory committee). Example courses that may meet this requirement include: EDF 9080 , EDF 9710 , EDF 9720 , EDF 9730 , EDF 9740 , EDF 9750 , EDF 9780 , EDF 9810  

Learning Sciences Seminars-6 Credits

• EDF 9010 - Seminar in the Learning Sciences I 3 Credits  
• EDF 9020 - Seminar in the Learning Sciences II 3 Credits  

Note: Learning Science Seminars must be taken during a student’s first (EDF 9010) and second (EDF 9020) year in the program.

Learning Theory Courses-6 Credits

• EDLT 9000 - Sociocultural Theories of Learning 3 Credits  
• EDF 9300 - Bioecological Perspectives on Development and Learning 3 Credits  
• EDF 9550 - Theoretical Bases of Instruction 3 Credits  

Cognate Courses-18 Credits

• All doctoral students are required to take 18 credit hours (six courses) for a cognate.

Dissertation-18 Credits

• EDF (ED, EDSP) 9910 - Doctoral Dissertation Research 1-18 Credits  

Outcomes, Learning Objectives, and Graduation Requirements

The Doctor of Philosophy in learning sciences teaches students to be able to: (1) develop, deliver, revise and evaluate effective learning experiences; (2) conduct rigorous quantitative, qualitative and mixed method research; (3) design and implement rigorous research studies in areas related to the learning sciences; (4) analyze existing research and participate in scholarly discourse in the field; and (5) apply leadership skills in areas such as academia, business, government or health care.