PhD in Human Development and Learning Sciences

Cultivating Researchers

The PhD in Human Development and Learning Sciences is a 72-credit program for scholars wishing to become leaders in child, youth, family, and adult development and learning across diverse settings.

You will learn about:

• Teaching, leading, and facilitation
• Cultural and social contexts
• Developmental trajectories and transitions
• Research designed for change

Studying Interconnected Systems

The program is based on the belief that embarking on an understanding of teaching, facilitating, learning, and development in formal and informal learning environments is best undertaken as an interactive system. This integrated and coordinated interdisciplinary approach is best suited to understand, design and implement change.

Multi-Disciplinary Learning

The program draws from scholarship in education, developmental psychology, and cognitive psychology. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of community and school partnerships to generate knowledge that contributes toward a more just and humane society.

Research Designed for Change

Change and transformation are key elements of the program. You’ll receive training as a next-generation researcher who embraces complexity and collaboration, and who pursues innovative solutions to the world’s most challenging problems.

Strong Partnerships

You will have access to Pittsburgh’s rich talent pool of analysts, researchers and practitioners, including research scientists at Pitt’s Learning Research and Development Center (LRDC) and community-embedded staff and researchers at the School of Education’s Office of Child Development.

Rigorous Scholarship

From your first day in the program, you will be immersed in interdisciplinary research and training experiences. As a student, you will be actively involved in ongoing research projects and receive advanced training in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed research methods.