Full Description

The Master of Arts degree in Human Development and Family Science provides students with advanced knowledge in the fields of family sciences and human development and the opportunity to develop multidisciplinary research and community outreach skills.

Coursework enables students to apply to become Certified Family Life Educators. Courses focus on current research and practice in human development and family science with an emphasis on family theories and processes; family life education; the reciprocal influences of family, school, work and community contexts; development across the lifespan; and the strengths and needs of diverse populations.

The program emphasizes both basic and applied research. Student participation in interdisciplinary research and community outreach projects is encouraged. Graduates are prepared for leadership and teaching positions in the social services, junior and community colleges and cooperative extension and/or for pursuing doctoral-level study.

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000 point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Goal statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning one of the following:
  • Minimum 550 TOEFL PBT score (paper-based version)
  • Minimum 79 TOEFL IBT score (Internet-based version)
  • Minimum 77 MELAB score
  • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
  • Minimum 58 PTE score
  • Minimum 110 Duolingo English test score

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Rolling admissions
• Spring Semester
  • Rolling admissions
• Summer Term
  • Rolling admissions

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Identify physical, intellectual, emotional, and social dimensions of human life within their respective disciplines; recognize the unique strengths and needs of individuals and families; and apply knowledge of human development and family relationships through involvement with and study of diverse populations. 
2. Communicate their ideas in oral presentations and written papers; demonstrate an understanding of theories, methods, and principles of research pertaining to human development and family relationships; and access scholarly sources of information and critically evaluate the quality of empirical research pertaining to human development and family relationships.
3. Demonstrate proficiency in developmental and family research methods and relevant statistical analyses; and an understanding of program development, delivery and evaluation pertaining to human development and family relationships.
4. Independently complete a master's thesis or master's project that reflects an understanding of the interrelationship between theory, research, and practice.

Program Requirements

¹

The master's project is intended for students who do not plan to continue graduate work beyond the master's degree, and provides the opportunity to approach research and theory in a more applied manner. The presentation and interpretation of original research is not required. However, approval of the intended project by the student's master's project committee is required, as is the successful completion of an oral final examination conducted by the master's project committee.

²

The thesis is intended for research-oriented students and is designed to provide the opportunity to conduct original research. Approval of a thesis proposal by the student's thesis committee is required, as is the successful completion of an oral final examination conducted by the thesis committee.

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Full Description

The Ph.D. degree in Learning Science provides an advanced and interdisciplinary study in the principles of human cognition, learning and development. The program provides rigorous training in the theoretical foundations of cognition, learning and development, as well as research design, instrumentation, quantitative analysis and research application.

Graduates are qualified to become faculty at the university level and are also prepared for careers in a variety of industry and government settings conducting research and guiding the application of evidence-based practices.

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2.750 undergraduate and graduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Minimum 18 credit hours of courses in psychology, education or related fields (including a course in statistics)
• Official transcript(s)
• Research experience and broad background in educational psychology, psychology or related fields
• Goal statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• Interview
• Effective with spring 2024 admission term, a curriculum vitae will be required
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning one of the following:
  • Minimum 550 TOEFL PBT score
  • Minimum 79 TOEFL IBT score
  • Minimum 77 MELAB score
  • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
  • Minimum 58 PTE score
  • Minimum 110 Duolingo English score

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Priority deadline: January 1
    Applications submitted by this deadline will receive the strongest consideration for admission.

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Inform and enhance practice based on deep knowledge of research, theories and principles of cognition, learning and development.
2. Synthesize and critically evaluate scholarly articles and texts.
3. Apply principles of research design to create rigorous experiments and studies.
4. Analyze and interpret quantitative data using appropriate cutting-edge methodologies and tools.
5. Develop scientific writing skills in order to effectively communicate research findings to the scientific community and practitioners.
6. Design and conduct empirical research to investigate the cognitive and developmental basis for effective teaching and learning practices.
7. Disseminate original, empirical research through scholarly presentations, conferences and publications.

Program Requirements

¹

Post-baccalaureate students may use additional program electives to fulfill requirements for the M.A. degree. These courses may be taken at either the doctoral or master's level.

²

Upon admission to candidacy, each doctoral candidate must register for LRNS 80199. It is expected that a doctoral candidate will continuously register for Dissertation I for a total of 30 credit hours, and thereafter LRNS 80299 each semester until all requirements for the degree have been met.

Candidacy

Students who have been admitted into the doctoral program will be considered for Ph.D. candidacy after they have met all requirements for the master's degree. In addition, the department reserves the right to separate from the program a student who, in the opinion of a duly constituted departmental committee, is not likely to succeed professionally despite earning acceptable grades.

Graduation Requirements

• The doctoral program requires a minimum of four years of full-time attendance for holders of the bachelor's degree.
• All doctoral students complete a
  • program of basic core courses,
  • select additional courses and seminars with the aid of a faculty advisor and
  • master's thesis and a doctoral dissertation.
• A limited number of graduate courses outside the department may be credited toward graduation.
• Doctoral program aspirants who do not hold a master's degree upon starting the program must complete all the requirements for the M.A. degree in Learning Science.

• Delivery:
  • In person
• Location:
  • Kent Campus

Full Description

The Master of Education degree in Educational Psychology provides advanced study for students interested in the application of psychological principles to learning and instruction. It encompasses a variety of different disciplines, including cognitive psychology, human development and learning theory. Students are exposed to the latest research findings regarding how people learn most effectively and efficiently. They also apply these principles to the design of instruction, and study how to most accurately assess different types of learning.

The M.Ed. degree program is appropriate for classroom teachers, professionals in a variety of settings and students wishing to pursue graduate-level training in educational psychology.

The Educational Psychology major includes the following optional concentration:

• The Gifted Education concentration focuses on gifted learners, their unique needs and the application of educational psychological principles to the education of gifted learners.

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2.750 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000 point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Goal statement
• Two letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions) by earning one of the following:
  • Minimum 550 TOEFL PBT score (paper-based version)
  • Minimum 79 TOEFL IBT score (Internet-based version)
  • Minimum 77 MELAB score
  • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
  • Minimum 58 PTE score
  • Minimum 110 Duolingo English Test score

Additional admission requirements for the Gifted Education optional concentration:

• A valid standard teaching certificate or provisional or professional teaching license from the State of Ohio

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Application Deadlines

• Fall Semester
  • Priority deadline: January 1
    Applications submitted by this deadline will receive the strongest consideration for admission.
  • Spring Semester
    • Rolling admissions
  • Summer Term
    • Rolling admissions

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Describe the various schools of learning theory that have informed educators.
2. Conduct literature reviews and design empirical research to examine issues associated with how individuals learn.
3. Apply principles of human development and learning when developing and selecting educational approaches.
4. Identify best practices for maximizing student learning.
5. Demonstrate knowledge of theories and principles of learner motivation.

Program Requirements

Additional Requirements for Students Not Declaring a Concentration

Gifted Education Concentration Requirements

Graduation Requirements

• The M.Ed. degree requires a minimum of 30 credit hours of graduate coursework.
• No more than one-half of a graduate student's coursework may be taken in 50000 level courses.
• Students have six years from the term of first enrollment to complete the program.

• Delivery:
  • Fully online