The Developmental and Psychological Sciences (DAPS) program emphasizes disciplined inquiry aimed at understanding human psychological functioning in relation to issues in learning and teaching. Faculty and student research is concerned with the psychology of learning and motivation, teaching, measurement, and developmental processes. The program prepares students for careers in scholarly research and in teaching, with the goal of developing theory and research for the improvement of practice in education.
All students are expected to achieve knowledge and expertise in several substantive domains of developmental and psychological theory and research methodology and to embrace the highest scientific, professional, and ethical standards. Students and faculty in DAPS work collaboratively throughout the program. In the first two years of doctoral studies, students develop their program of study in close collaboration with their advisors. The program ranges across the major domains of psychology relevant to education while developing an individual specialization for each student.
In addition, two cross-area specializations are available to DAPS doctoral students: Learning Sciences and Technology Design (LSTD) and Race, Inequality, and Language in Education (RILE).
Students in the Learning Sciences and Technology Design (LSTD) program complete foundational research on learning and design innovative learning technologies. As a cross-area specialization, the LSTD program links its content to one of the three academic areas: Curriculum Studies and Teacher Education (CTE), Developmental and Psychological Sciences (DAPS), or Social Sciences, Humanities, and Interdisciplinary Policy Studies in Education (SHIPS).
The cross-area specialization in Race, Inequality, and Language in Education (RILE) brings an interdisciplinary scholarly focus to the major factors that influence educational attainment, especially for underserved children. Students ground their RILE studies within the context of one of the three academic areas: Curriculum Studies and Teacher Education (CTE), Developmental and Psychological Sciences (DAPS), Social Sciences, Humanities, and Interdisciplinary Policy Studies in Education (SHIPS).
The majority of our PhD graduates in the Developmental and Psychological Sciences area express an interest in pursuing a university career in teaching and research. Other graduates seek employment in educational research and policy settings at both public and private research organizations. Some of our recent graduates are employed at the following locations:
