Program Overview

Doctor of Philosophy - Learning Sciences

About

The Ph.D. program in the Learning Sciences is designed to enable students to conduct research and evaluation of learning environments, including but not limited to technology-based environments. The focus of the program is on the design, assessment and understanding of learning environments and of the organizational and educational systems in which they are embedded. Data analytics and psychological process are also addressed in the program.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

• Understand and be able to analyze key theories related to learning, cognition, and development.
• Understand how to design and modify technological and other types of learning environments to promote more effective learning.
• Critically evaluate research studies based on each study’s methodology, literature support, and significance.
• Understand and use advanced statistical research methods (including computer technology for the analysis of data); understand the role of causation in science and the threats to causal inference posed by invalid research design and methodology.
• Understand (a) qualitative approaches to exploring phenomena related to educational and other social contexts, (b) the theoretical and practical considerations of conducting and interpreting case studies, ethnographies, participant observations, narrative reports, and design-based research, and (c) criteria for establishing goodness of qualitative studies.
• Develop plans for test construction, item and test specification, item writing and selection, test preparation and administration, test and item analysis, item and test revision to enhance reliability and validity, and various methods for validating tests, such as factor analysis, item response theory, and current issues in measurement.
• Serve as independent scholars who can design, implement, and prepare reports of research studies, and make significant contributions to the learning sciences.
• Develop an identity relative to some aspect of the learning sciences, actively contribute to the profession, and understand aspects of ethical and professional functioning in the chosen domain.

Career Possibilities

• University and college faculty.
• Community college faculty.
• Instructional designer for school districts, textbook publishers, educational gaming companies, museums and other informal learning environments.
• Curriculum or professional development specialist.
• Educational technology director for school districts, human services agencies, hospitals, businesses etc.
• Education program evaluator.
• Organizational consultant for schools.
• Policy position in government or nonprofit sector related to educational reform and accountability.

Requirements

Plan Description

The Learning Sciences Ph.D. is an academic program with an emphasis on the design and evaluation of learning environments, including but not limited to technology-rich environments. Students take core courses in: 1) the learning sciences, 2) research methods and statistics, and 3) advanced studies in a specialization area. The specialization areas are: (a) learning technology, (b) educational data science and statistics, (c) learning policy and organizational change, and (d) cognitive and developmental sciences. All students will be actively involved in research and research-related activities throughout their program of study. Students in the Post-Bachelor Learning Sciences strand may be eligible to earn a Master of Science in Educational Psychology.

The program will prepare students for a variety of professional careers related to teaching and learning in both academic and nonacademic settings. Graduates of the program will be prepared for a variety of professional positions (e.g., university and community college faculty, curriculum specialists, learning and technology specialists, employee training specialists, program evaluators, and instructional technology coordinators).

Plan Admission Requirements

• Application Deadlines: Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.
• All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.
• Bachelor's Degree: You must hold a four-year baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution or an approved equivalent.
• Post-Master's tracks require a regionally accredited Master's degree.
• Grade Point Average: You must have a minimum overall grade point average of 2.75 (4.00=A) for the bachelor's degree or a minimum 3.00 (4.00=A) for the last two years (60 semester credits).
• All applicants are required to submit an unofficial transcript from each postsecondary institution attended, showing all degrees and coursework, the dates awarded, and grades received. Official transcripts required upon admission.
• Credentials not in English must be accompanied by an English translation certified as true by a university official, an official representative of a United States embassy or consulate, the United States Information Service, the United States Education Foundation, or an approved professional translating service. Notarized copies of originals or translations are not considered official.

Department Admission Requirements

Admission to the Post-Master's Subplan will be limited to the most qualified applicants based on a combination of the following:

• An undergraduate grade point average of 3.00 or above.
• If graduate course work has been completed, a graduate grade point average of 3.00 or above.
• Three letters of reference from university faculty or other individuals qualified to judge the applicant's academic potential.
• The applicant's statement of professional interests and goals.
• A scholarly or professional writing sample.
• Students must have a master's degree to be considered for admission.
• Submission of Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores is optional. Applicants may submit GRE scores or other relevant materials for consideration.

Admission to the Post-Bachelor's Subplan will be limited to the most qualified applicants based on a combination of the following:

• An undergraduate grade point average of 3.25 or above.
• If graduate course work has been completed, a graduate grade point average of 3.25 or above.
• Three letters of reference from university faculty or other individuals qualified to judge the applicant's academic potential.
• The applicant's statement of professional interests and goals.
• A scholarly or professional writing sample.
• Students must have a bachelor's degree to be considered for admission.
• Submission of Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores is optional. Applicants may submit GRE scores or other relevant materials for consideration.

Plan Requirements

Subplan 1 Requirements: Post-Master's

Total Credits: 66

• Course Requirements:
  • Proseminar Course - Credits: 3
    • EDH 707 - Designing & Critiquing Research In Education
  • Learning Sciences Core – Credits: 15
    • EPY 690 - Introduction to the Learning Sciences
    • EPY 717 - Analysis of Applied Learning Principles and Educational Media
    • EPY 767 - Human Learning and Cognition
    • EPY 770 - Cognition and Instruction
    • CIT 778 - Instructional Design
  • Core Research Courses – Credits: 15
    • EPY 718 - Qualitative Research Methodologies
    • EPY 722 - Inferential Statistics and Experimental Design
    • EPY 723 - Psychometrics I
    • EPY 730 - Advanced Research Methods
    • EPY 732 - Multiple Regression
  • Additional Research Courses – Credits: 6
    • Complete two of the following courses:
      • EPY 716 - Evaluation Research Methods
      • EPY 719 - Advanced Qualitative Research
      • EPY 724 - Psychometrics II
      • EPY 726 - Advanced Evaluation Research Methods
      • EPY 729 - Qualitative Case Study Research
      • EPY 731 - Mixed Methods Research
      • EPY 733 - Multivariate Statistics
      • EPY 734 - Structural Equation Modeling
      • EPY 738 - Discourse Analysis
      • EPY 745 - Categorical/Nonparametric Data Analysis
      • EPY 746 - Multilevel Statistical Models: Theory and Application
  • Specialization Courses – Credits: 9
    • Complete 9 credits of advisor-approved coursework within one of the following specialization areas: (a) Learning Technologies, (b) Educational Data Science and Statistics, (c) Learning Policy and Organizational Change, or (d) Cognitive and Developmental Sciences.
  • Elective Courses – Credits: 6
    • Student must take a minimum of 6 credits of advisor-approved elective courses that fall within any of the other program specialization areas or their own specialization courses.
  • Dissertation – Credits: 12
    • EPY 799 - Dissertation

Subplan 2 Requirements: Post-Bachelor's

Total Credits: 96

• Course Requirements:
  • Learning and Development Courses - Credits: 6
    • EPY 711 - Human Growth and Development
    • EPY 712 - Foundations of Learning and Cognition
  • Research Courses - Credits: 9
    • EPY 702 - Research Methods
    • EPY 721 - Descriptive and Inferential Statistics: An Introduction
    • EPY 723 - Psychometrics I
  • Elective Courses - Credits: 12
    • Students must complete a minimum of 12 credits of advisor-approved electives.
  • Thesis - Credits: 6
    • EPY 749 - Thesis
  • Proseminar Course - Credits: 3
    • EDH 707 - Designing & Critiquing Research In Education
  • Learning Sciences Core - Credits: 15
    • CIT 778 - Instructional Design
    • EPY 690 - Introduction to the Learning Sciences
    • EPY 717 - Analysis of Applied Learning Principles and Educational Media
    • EPY 767 - Human Learning and Cognition
    • EPY 770 - Cognition and Instruction
  • Core Research Courses - Credits: 12
    • EPY 718 - Qualitative Research Methodologies
    • EPY 722 - Inferential Statistics and Experimental Design
    • EPY 730 - Advanced Research Methods
    • EPY 732 - Multiple Regression
  • Additional Research Courses - Credits: 6
    • Complete two of the following courses:
      • EPY 716 - Evaluation Research Methods
      • EPY 719 - Advanced Qualitative Research
      • EPY 724 - Psychometrics II
      • EPY 726 - Advanced Evaluation Research Methods
      • EPY 729 - Qualitative Case Study Research
      • EPY 731 - Mixed Methods Research
      • EPY 733 - Multivariate Statistics
      • EPY 734 - Structural Equation Modeling
      • EPY 738 - Discourse Analysis
      • EPY 745 - Categorical/Nonparametric Data Analysis
      • EPY 746 - Multilevel Statistical Models: Theory and Application
  • Specialization Courses - Credits: 9
    • Complete 9 credits of advisor-approved coursework within one of the following specialization areas: (a) Learning Technologies, (b) Educational Data Science and Statistics, (c) Learning Policy and Organizational Change, or (d) Cognitive and Developmental Sciences.
  • Elective Courses - Credits: 6
    • Student must take a minimum of 6 credits of advisor-approved elective courses that fall within any of the other program specialization areas or their own specialization courses.
  • Dissertation - Credits: 12
    • EPY 799 - Dissertation

Degree Requirements

• Students must maintain a GPA of 3.00 or higher for all course work taken at the doctoral level, and a B or better in core courses.
• Residence Credit Requirement: A minimum of 50 percent of the total credits required to complete the doctoral degree not including transferred and dissertation credits must be earned at UNLV after admission to the doctoral degree program.
• Each student must satisfy a scholarly paper requirement by the time he or she has completed 36 credits (Review I). The student must be primarily responsible for carrying out and reporting a study under the supervision of a program faculty member.
• Students must successfully complete a preliminary examination. This formal assessment will focus on areas of knowledge that are most relevant to the student's dissertation topic.
• After successfully completing Review I (i.e., satisfying the scholarly product requirement) and Review II (i.e., passing the preliminary examination), students can then submit a formal dissertation proposal to their doctoral committee and submit the accompanying "Advancement to Candidacy" form to the Graduate College.
• The student must submit and successfully defend their dissertation after a minimum of 54 credits of initial coursework and a minimum of 12 credits of dissertation coursework and have it completed by the posted deadline to be eligible to earn the Doctor of Philosophy - Learning Sciences.

Graduation Requirements

• The student must submit and successfully defend their dissertation by the posted deadline. The defense must be advertised and is open to the public.
• After the dissertation defense, the student must electronically submit a properly formatted pdf copy of their dissertation to the Graduate College for format check. Once the dissertation format has been approved by the Graduate College, the student will submit the approved electronic version to ProQuest. Deadlines for dissertation defenses, format check submissions, and the final ProQuest submission can be found here.
• Students may apply for graduation up to two semesters prior to completing their degree requirements. All required forms must be submitted to the graduate college via the Grad Rebel Gateway.