Learning Science - Ph.D.

Program Overview

The Learning Science Ph.D. program at Kent State University provides advanced training in cognition, learning, and development, equipping graduates for leadership roles in education, research, and industry. The program offers flexible course options and includes electives in quantitative research, learning science, and educational and psychological foundations. Students utilize specialized labs and engage in dissertation research to advance knowledge in the field. The program prepares graduates for careers in academia, research, government, and industry, including positions as university professors, human behavior researchers, and curriculum specialists.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Learning Science Ph.D. program provides advanced training in research and theory to prepare you for a leadership role in education. 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.

Outline:

Program Requirements:

• LRNS 76511: STATISTICAL PROGRAMMING IN R FOR LEARNING SCIENCE
• RMS 78716: STATISTICS II: ANOVA AND NONPARAMETRIC TESTS
• RMS 78728: MULTIPLE REGRESSION
• RMS 78735: STRUCTURAL EQUATION MODELING
• RMS 78745: HIERARCHICAL LINEAR MODELING
• Learning Science Electives (6 credit hours):
• EPSY 75520: CHILD AND ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT
• EPSY 75523: LIFE SPAN DEVELOPMENT
• EPSY 75524: LEARNING THEORIES
• EPSY 87450: PSYCHOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES OF EDUCATION
• EPSY 75520: CHILD AND ADOLESCENT DEVELOPMENT
• EPSY 75523: LIFE SPAN DEVELOPMENT
• EPSY 75524: LEARNING THEORIES
• EPSY 87450: PSYCHOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES OF EDUCATION
• EPSY 89095: SPECIAL TOPICS IN LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT
• LRNS 75525: INFORMAL LEARNING
• PSYC 70413: COGNITIVE NEUROPSYCHOLOGY
• PSYC 70453: INTRODUCTION TO COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
• PSYC 70604: COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
• PSYC 70895: ADVANCED TOPICS IN EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
• Additional Program Electives (12-60 credit hours):
• LRNS 89096: INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION IN LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT
• LRNS 89098: RESEARCH IN LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT
• Other courses from categories above, or with advisor approval
• Culminating Requirement:
• LRNS 80199: DISSERTATION I (230 credit hours)
• Minimum Total Credit Hours:
• Post-Baccalaureate Students: 108 credit hours
• Post-Master's Students: 75 credit hours

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 (1) program of basic core courses, (2) select additional courses and seminars with the aid of a faculty advisor and (3) 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.

Careers:

• University professor
• Human behavior researcher
• K-12 teacher
• Data analyst
• Curriculum specialist
• Academic counseling
• Assessment specialist
• Educational research
• Program evaluation
• Data scientist
• Researcher for business/industry
• Marketing
• Advertising

Other:

• The program is delivered in person on the Kent Campus.
• The Educational Psychology Lab uses a variety of experimental and computational methods including eye tracking, electrodermal analysis, and computational models to investigate cognition and learning over time.
• The Division of Graduate Studies sponsors affinity groups for graduate students who are parents and for first-generation graduate students.