Why Choose the Department of Human Development at Maryland for Doctoral Study

Our department is an excellent choice for doctoral study for many reasons. We highlight here a number of them; the links will provide you with more details. Other general questions about the department are answered in the FAQs part of our website.

Faculty Quality and Research Activities

  • Faculty members are internationally known scholars, research scientists, and eductors who are leaders in the fields of human development, developmental science, and educational psychology. The unique combination of human development and educational psychology in one department provides students with opportunities to learn about development and learning in different contexts- families, schools, and different cultures.
  • Faculty research topics range from basic neural processes to broad social and contextual factors that influence learning and development. Students acquire statistical and research design expertise from leading statisticians and faculty with expertise in cutting edge statistical techniques and approaches to design and measurement.

Research and Teaching Opportunities

  • The mentorship model of doctoral study, referred to as the "culture of scholars" model, is the hallmark of our doctoral program. Students have opportunities to be involved in research throughout their entire program and begin to do research as soon as they begin the program. All students publish journal articles, write book chapters, and collaborate with the faculty on various types of publications as part of the mentorship process. Students attend national and international conferences, give presentations at these conferences, and network with members of the research community there. Many students write grant proposals collaboratively with their mentors, often to receive additional support for their doctoral studies. For example, students have been funded on National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, American Educational Research Association, and Spencer Foundation Fellowships.
  • Most students teach at the undergraduate level, and receive mentorship and training in how to become effective college teachers through a formalized course experience called "Apprenticeship in College Teaching."

Department Intellectual Environment

  • The Department hosts many research colloquia and talks given by internationally known scholars in different fields. Students have the opportunity to interact with these scholars while they are on campus, in both formal and informal ways, such as dinners, coffee hours, and lunches.
  • Other campus units that connect to the Department of Human Development include the Developmental Science Field Committee, Neuroscience and Cognitive Science (NACS), Maryland Population Center, other departments in the College of Education (Counseling and Personnel Services; Measurement, Statistics, and Evaluation) and other colleges on campus (Psychology, Family Sciences, Linguistics, Philosophy, Biology, Sociology, Criminology).

Student Quality and Camaraderie

  • Stellar, highly qualified, research-oriented students join our program, creating a cohesive cohort each year which serves as an important aspect of graduate education and experiences.
  • The Human Development Graduate Student Organization hosts professional development activities, such as "How to give a talk," "How to juggle a personal life and work," "How to write a grant application," and other activities to support students during their time in the program.

University Environment

  • Students take courses and conduct research with faculty members in a variety of other departments, and participate in colloquia across campus.
  • Many students get involved with the University's Center for Teaching Excellence, which helps them become stronger teachers and provides various means of support.
  • There are University and College of Education Graduate Research Days.
  • The University provides travel support and other kinds of financial support to graduate students across campus, and many students in the department receive this support
  • Convenient and affordable housing is available on or near campus.

Washington DC area

  • The University of Maryland is 25 minutes from the White House! Close proximity to Washingon, D.C. and Baltimore provide students with many cultural and academic opportunities. The National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland (20 minutes), National Science Foundation (30 minutes), Smithsonian Institution (25 minutes), National Research Council (25 minutes), Johns Hopkins University (30 minutes), Georgetown University (25 minutes) and George Washington University (30 minutes) are all within the metropolitan area. The area has a rich and diverse set of social and cultural activities, and many are free.
  • The Washington Metro system and other forms of public transportation provide easy access to Washington DC and Baltimore.

Funding and Admissions

  • Most doctoral students are full time, and most receive funding packages (fellowships, graduate assistantships, and teaching assistantships) that support them during their time in graduate school. Instructions on how to apply to the graduate program and for financial aid can be found in the Admissions part of the website.
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