|
Interdisciplinary Studies in Human Development
This program combines the study of social, emotional, cognitive, and physical aspects of human development that are focused on urban populations, considered within eco-cultural contexts, and relevant to social policies. Given Penn GSE’s commitment to urban education and our West Philadelphia setting, students are encouraged to create a specialized program of study that leads to an enriched understanding of the diverse perspectives of human development across the lifespan. Specialized options may represent one of the following career interests: traditional academic appointment; youth programming and services; urban and ethnic studies; adult development and learning; corporate human resources development; international programming (e.g., work with NGOs); foundation administration and program development; and collaborative efforts in health care facilities.
Conceptually and methodologically, ISHD students are expected to integrate established psychological approaches with perspectives from other social and biological sciences. Students are encouraged to select courses from such disciplines as anthropology, psychology, sociology, philosophy, linguistics, communications, nursing, medicine, social work, and business. Visiting scholars and researchers share their perspectives and experiences in the ISHD Proseminar. The focus of the Proseminar, which every ISHD student attends, is to demonstrate how research is conceptualized, designed, and implemented. Also stressed is how developmental data are collected, analyzed, and communicated.
Working with faculty, students have many options for conducting their own research using state-of-the-art facilities. Penn GSE’s affiliation with Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia allows students to generate their own scientific research. There are three ISHD faculty–affiliated research centers:
- CHANGES (Center for Health, Achievement, Neighborhood Growth, and Ethnic Studies), directed by Dr. Margaret Beale Spencer, pursues an understanding of resiliency for multi-ethnic youths and their families. The theoretically driven program of research stresses a culturally informed and context-linked life-course development approach.
- The W.E.B. DuBois Collective Research Institute, also directed by Dr. Spencer, affords research opportunities and collaborations throughout the University.
- The Literacy Research Center, directed Dr. Daniel A. Wagner, provides a comprehensive, intergenerational approach to the problems of literacy. It houses three organizational units: the National Center on Adult Literacy, which seeks to improve literacy levels for all Americans by improving the quality of research and development in the field of literacy and ensuring strong channels of communication between researchers and practitioners; the National Technology Laboratory, where the effects of technology in education are studied; and the International Literacy Institute, co-sponsored by UNESCO and Penn GSE, which provides scientific and technical leadership in training and development in literacy with a special emphasis on literacy programs in developing countries.
Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.)
The M.S.Ed. in ISHD program can be completed full-time in one-calendar-year, or part-time, and requires a minimum of 10 course units, including core courses in lifespan human development, cultural studies, and research methodologies. The program is both a pre-professional training program and a program that prepares students to advance within their careers by gaining a better understanding of human development issues. Students are required to either pass a comprehensive examination or write a master’s thesis as their capstone experience. Because there is minimum of 10 courses, students are strongly encouraged to begin their studies in the summer. The M.S.Ed. in ISHD prepares graduates for careers as writers, researchers, community youth workers, and consultants to corporations, foundations, governmental agencies, community colleges, and school districts. Joint dual specialties with programs such as bioethics and secondary education afford innovative opportunities to create one’s own course of study. Many students choose to continue their studies in a doctoral degree program.
- EDUC 514 Human Development and Basic Education in Developing Countries
- EDUC 522 Psychology of the African American
- EDUC 561 Adolescent Development
- EDUC 562 Personality and Social Development
- EDUC 568 Cognitive Development
- EDUC 574 Race/Ethnicity in Human Development
- EDUC 610 Cultural Perspectives on Human Development
- EDUC 614 Child Development and Social Policy
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) and Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
The Ph.D. degree requires a minimum of 20 courses. The program prepares graduates for careers as university professors, researchers, writers, consultants, and program officers for foundations or governmental agencies. Students usually have significant graduate-level preparation in human development prior to admission to the program, and a master’s degree is recommended. Core areas of study include cultural, developmental, biological, and research design and analysis courses. In addition, students are encouraged to choose appropriate courses with affiliated faculty in departments such as Sociology, Psychology, Pediatrics, or others in accordance with the students’ own emerging research interests and suggestions from faculty advisors.
The Ph.D. Program of Study includes the following Core Courses:
- EDUC 667 Introductory Statistics for Educational Research
- EDUC 672 Intro to Ethnography and Quantitative Research in Education
- EDUC 680 Evaluation of Policies, Programs, and Projects
- EDUC 747 Biological Psychology
- EDUC 764 Cognitive Processes
- EDUC 767 Regression and Analysis of Variance
- EDUC 860 Proseminar in ISHD
- EDUC 880 Complex Multilevel & Longitudinal Research Models
- EDUC 881 Applied Multivariate Statistics
- EDUC 960 Advanced Research in Human Learning and Development
- Penn GSE Application
- Application fee
- Curriculum Vitae or resume
- Score report from the Graduate Records Examination (as reported by ETS)
- Statement of purpose
- Three letters of recommendation
- Academic transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions
- International applicants must also supply the score report from the TOEFL or IELTS examinations
Application Deadline
Applications for the M.S.Ed. degree are reviewed on a rolling basis until the degree program is full. Admission is for the fall term only. Both full-time and part-time study may be accommodated. The Ph.D. program accepts applications for full-time study for the fall semester only. Completed applications are due by December 15, 2007.
Program Faculty
Douglas A. Frye, Ph.D., Yale University
Diana Slaughter-Defoe, Ph.D., University of Chicago
Margaret Beale Spencer, Ph.D., University of Chicago
Duane E. Thomas, Ph.D., Pennsylvania State University
Howard C. Stevenson, Ph.D., Fuller Graduate School of Psychology
Daniel A. Wagner, Ph.D., University of Michigan
Program Contact
Evelyn A. Jordan, Division Coordinator
University of Pennsylvania
Graduate School of Education
Applied Psychology-Human Development Programs
3700 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6216
evelynj@gse.upenn.edu
For more information please contact us or call 1-877-PENNGSE (736-6473).
|
