About Us
The core mission of the Department of Human Development, Learning and Quantitative Methodology (HDQM) is to advance knowledge and practice through teaching and research related to human development and learning, and to quantitative methodologies critical to measurement, statistics, and evaluation in the educational, social, and behavioral sciences. The Department’s graduate programs prepare students for careers in research and industry settings, as well as teaching in academic and non–academic environments.
The Department offers an undergraduate major in early childhood education, an undergraduate major and minor in human development, and courses in development across the lifespan, learning, and educational psychology and quantitative methods. This mission is evidenced in specific goals pertaining to research and teaching, as follows:
- To engage in research that advances the knowledge base in human development and learning, psychometrics, and applied statistical theories and practices in the educational, social, and behavioral sciences.
- To prepare new scholars and researchers through its graduate programs.
- To offer courses and programs of study that encompass the current and critical knowledge and methods relevant to research and practice in human development and learning, psychometrics, and applied statistical theories and practices in the educational, social, and behavioral sciences.
- To utilize the Center for Young Children as a laboratory for conducting research and developing innovative and effective educational programs for children aged 3-5 years.
- To utilize the Maryland Assessment Research Center (MARC) and the Center for Integrated Latent Variable Research (CILVR) for conducting research and providing psychometric and statistical services.
- To provide programs of study as outreach to particular educational, administrative, and research communities.
- To contribute to the professional development of practitioners at all academic levels.
The Department is comprised of two programs:
Within the Human Development Program there are two specializations:
The Department is extremely committed to teaching/mentorship. Graduate students have a high success rate in securing external funding, and we are developing an excellent track record for placing graduates in top research and industry positions. Highlights of research productivity of the faculty include a large percentage of fellows in prestigious societies, having received an external career award, and having held editor or associate editor positions. Finally, our faculty and students publish in the most prestigious scientific journals. As a sign of recognition of our research productivity, several programs are routinely ranked in the Top in their disciplines.
Green Office
The Business Office team has achieved Bronze-level certification and we are currently working towards Silver! True sustainability happens when it is embedded into our core operation. The Green Office Program engages staff, faculty and students in a dynamic initiative that promotes best environmental practices at the University of Maryland. The program supports and promotes offices/units taking steps toward reducing their environmental footprint. It seeks to motivate environmentally-friendly behaviors by providing definitive guidelines and reducing confusion about best practices. The program operates through a network of representatives (GO Reps) in schools, centers and administrative units.
- Engage the campus community in activities that will strengthen the University of Maryland’s position as a national leader in sustainability
- Recognize and reward leadership in sustainability
- Educate participants about how and why to take action
- Support the University’s Climate Action Plan and Strategic Plan
- Further integrate sustainability into campus culture
- Conserve water, save energy, minimize waste, and save money
- Promote campus policies that support sustainability