School of Arts and Sciences
Eliot-Pearson Department of Child Study & Human Development

PhD in Child Study and Human Development

The doctoral program at Eliot-Pearson helps graduate students integrate developmental research and theory with understanding or modeling effective practice. The program offers opportunities to work in agencies and organizations that serve children, youth and families, and to conduct research. The PhD in Child Study and Human Development provides individually designed programs of study in the context of common milestones and shared training objectives. We subscribe to a primary-mentor-mentee model of doctoral preparation; however, doctoral students are supported by our community of scholars in various ways. Through a rigorous combination of research training, coursework and other mentored experiences, and an applied internship, students develop substantive expertise in an area of scholarship, and develop competencies in ten other areas.

In general, the PhD program is for full-time students only. Tuition scholarships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships are available, on a competitive basis, to full-time PhD candidates.

The doctoral program prepares students to make important contributions to theory, research, policy, and/or practice and to contribute in diverse settings. Alumni of Eliot-Pearson's doctoral program work in a variety of settings/roles, including academia, children's media, high-tech for children, learning environments, congressional policy fellowships, early childhood education, secondary and high education administration, international early childhood consultation, international NGOs (e.g., UNICEF, World Bank), and research firms or organizations. 

Program Requirements and Policies

Each student is required to complete a minimum of 64 credits as part of their fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy degree. These include:

  • 46 credits of course work
  • 12 credits for Internship
  • 6 credits of Dissertation Work

The specific course requirements for each of these are as follows:

  1. A minimum of 48 credits taken from department or university offerings.
  2. Includes 33 credits for required courses:
  3. Graduate Pro-Seminar (1 credit each semester in the first and second years; 4 credits)
    1. Research Methods (3 courses or 9 credits)
      1. CSHD 144: Qualitative Research Methods
      2. CSHD 247: Program Evaluation
      3. CSHD 285: Advanced Research Methods in Applied Developmental Science
      4. Other advanced research methods courses as appropriate  
    2. Statistics (3 courses or 9 credits)
      1. CSHD 146: Intermediate Statistics for Developmental Science
      2. CSHD 249: Applied Regression Analysis for Developmental Science
      3. CSHD 252: Structural Equation Modeling
      4. CSHD 254: Multilevel Modeling
      5. Other advanced statistics courses as appropriate  

  • Theory Courses in Content Areas (3 courses or 9 credits)

    Students must complete 3 courses in core developmental content areas. Potential areas and courses include:

    • Intellectual Development (CSHD 151 or approved alternative)
    • Language Development (CSHD 155 or approved alternative)
    • Personal/Social Development (CSHD 161 or approved alternative)
    • Theories of Human Development (CSHD 211) or Applied Developmental Science: Theoretical, Methodological, and Empirical Foundations (CSHD 248)
       
  • Electives (5 courses or 15 credits)

    The 5 remaining courses 5 courses (or 15 credits) may be selected from a variety of offerings, including directed research courses and independent studies. Students should meet with their Program Advisors to plan their course of study. When available course offerings do not meet students' individual program of study needs, students are encouraged to discuss with their advisors and consider designing courses that meet their needs. These possibilities include: Directed Research, Independent Study, or Community Field Placement and other applied courses.
     
  • Internship (12 credits)
    The duration of the internship may vary, but it typically will extend for two consecutive semesters, and it must total at least 600 hours.
     
  • Dissertation (6 credits)
    • CSHD 297 (3 credits) in Fall of Dissertation Year
    • CSHD 298 (3 credits) in Spring of Dissertation Year