PhD in Learning Sciences and Policy

Our training follows a professional mentorship model where students work closely with a faculty advisor. Most students are supported by faculty research grants and most work as part of dynamic and collaborative research groups that include multiple faculty, graduate students, post-docs, undergraduates, and research staff. LSAP students are immersed in the fundamentals of being a research scholar, including presenting their work at national research conferences, publishing peer-reviewed research articles, developing and testing educational innovations, participating in writing research grants, and peer reviewing. Our students go on to pursue research careers in both university and non-university settings.

Dynamic Learning Experiences

Key features of the LSAP student experience include:

• Immersion in rigorous interdisciplinary research and training experiences from their first day in the program
• Integrated coursework that covers the fields of learning sciences, policy and organizations, and learning in the disciplines (e.g., mathematics, science or literacy)
• Full funding through research assistantships that will allow students to work alongside active researchers on funded research programs.
• Rigorous training in quantitative, qualitative, and mixed research methods
• Access to Pittsburgh’s rich talent pool of analysts and research in education policy and learning including research scientists at Learning Research and Development Center (LRDC), policy specialists at the RAND Corporation, scholars at Carnegie Mellon University, and education reform specialists at the Institute for Learning

Collaborate with Faculty

Our program brings together three kinds of faculty expertise into a collaborative research and training environment:

1. Learning sciences across PreK-16 and informal learning environments
2. Learning in the disciplines (e.g., mathematics, science or literacy)
3. Education policy and organizational change.