Learning Sciences
Overview

The School of Education and Social Policy offers two graduate degrees in Learning Sciences, the MA and the PhD. Both degree programs are dedicated to the preparation of researchers, developers and practitioners qualified to advance the scientific understanding and practice of teaching and learning. The goal of research and development efforts of the Learning Sciences is to develop pedagogical, technological and social policy innovations aimed at improving education. Rather than just studying innovation, course work and research, the Learning Sciences programs emphasize both the design and implementation of learning environments with a reform agenda.

For specific information about the Learning Sciences MA program click HERE.

	Interdisciplinary Themes
	The Learning Sciences MA and PhD Programs are interdisciplinary programs in the School of Education and Social Policy drawing from cognitive science, education and computer science research. Through course work and research apprenticeships, students are exposed to the three major themes that permeate the research and theory in the learning sciences: social context, cognition and design.
	Social Context:	examining the social, organizational and cultural dynamics of learning and teaching situations, including classrooms, schools, school districts, museums, corporations and homes
	Cognition:	constructing scientific models of the structures and processes of learning and teaching by which organized knowledge, skills and understanding are acquired
	Design:	building environments for learning and teaching, incorporating multimedia, artificial intelligence, computer networks and innovative curriculum and classroom activity structures
	Students of the Learning Sciences
	The Learning Sciences Programs are designed for individuals with a wide variety of interests including basic and applied research, teaching and training, software development, school administration and the study and reform of learning environments. Learning Sciences students come from diverse educational backgrounds. To date, approximately one third of our students have come from education and social sciences, one third from humanities and one third from computer science and physical sciences. Students at all levels participate in frontier investigations of learning and teaching in schools, workplaces and other settings through their participation in ongoing faculty research programs. MA graduates work as educational designers, human factors engineers and school technologists. They are employed by schools, software companies, consulting firms, financial institutions and training providers. PhD graduates work as researchers in a variety of environments: universities (such as the University of Michigan and MIT), government agencies (such as NASA) and private organizations.
	The Program of Study
	The Learning Sciences PhD program is a research-focused program leading to the Doctor of Philosophy degree. The MA program is a full-time, twelve month, project-centered program leading to the Masters of Arts degree.
	A Focus On Projects
	In addition to extensive course offerings, research projects provide invaluable opportunities for student participation in innovative investigations of learning and teaching in schools, workplaces and other settings. These high-profile projects are funded through major government educational research initiatives, private foundations, corporations and school systems.
	Project-Centered Graduate Training
	Research Apprenticeship	Students join collaborative project teams working on funded research efforts. Students' dissertation work emerges from their research apprenticeship experiences.
	Project-Centered Coursework	Courses have a strong project-based emphasis, typically composed of readings, discussions and project work, which explore and apply principles from current research efforts.
	Interdisciplinary Research Methods	Research teams bring a variety of disciplinary approaches to the design and study of learning and teaching innovations, including: ethnographic studies, cognitive analyses of problem solving, studies of social policy and organizational change, analyses of social interactions, technology design and human-computer interaction studies.
	Projects Focused on Real-World Challenges	Research projects are situated in real settings (schools, workplaces) in collaboration with practitioners to develop, implement and study learning and teaching innovations. Collaborations with Chicago Public Schools and other school districts (local and nationwide) provide challenging opportunities for research focused on school reform.
	Interactive Learning Community	Multiple research projects meet together on a regular basis to foster collaboration and synergy of ideas. Informal seminars and Brown Bag discussions offer frequent opportunities for students to present and discuss work-in-progress.
	The Learning Environment
	Learning Sciences students interact extensively with faculty through advising relationships, project work, informal Brown Bags, reading groups and seminars. Special lecture series bring in outside scholars and educators on a regular basis. Students learn about educational structures through collaborations within classrooms, schools and school systems. Strategic alliances with corporate funders ensure attention to current problems in the workplace. Project work is supported by a state-of-the-art computer and video environment. When not involved in school activities, students enjoy the many coffee houses, restaurants, bookstores and shops in Evanston and the variety of waterfront activities on Lake Michigan. Neighboring Chicago offers endless cultural activities – theater, blues and jazz clubs, sporting events and museums.
	PhD Requirements MA Requirements
	Graduate School Admission
	http://www.tgs.northwestern.edu/admission/