PhD in Education: Human Development

Up to 30 credits in entry-level or advanced courses in human development or related fields. (NOTE. Often these courses are transferred from previous graduate programs.)

A minimum of 18 credit hours is required within the HD Program core across the three categories below. Students may swap one core course (across all three categories) for a transferred-in class with their advisor's and the program director's approval. Please note that the HD Program Core requirements are different for students who matriculated (A) BEFORE SUMMER 2026 and (B) AFTER SUMMER 2026.

BEFORE SUMMER 2026. At least one 500-LEVEL Social Context Core Course; eligible HD courses include. ED 415, ED418, ED419, ED425, EDU455, EDU557, and EDU572, plus other courses identified with your advisor.

AFTER SUMMER 2026. Three Theory and Methods Core Courses are set. ED509. Proseminar in Human Development, ED556. Designing Research in Human Development across Contexts, and EDU565. Research in Life Course Studies. BEFORE SUMMER 2026. Additional Advanced Level courses in human development. EDE509 (required for students who started program in Fall 2021 or later), EDU557, EDU563, EDU564 & EDU572, plus other courses identified with your advisor.

AFTER SUMMER 2026. One Life Stage Core Course required from the following choices. ED510. Research in Adolescent and Emerging Adult Development, EDU494. Adult Development and Aging, or another University of Rochester course focused on a specific developmental period identified with your advisor. BEFORE SUMMER 2026. At least one 500-LEVEL Psychological Context Core Course; eligible HD courses include. ED407, ED425, ED429, ED453, ED457, ED510, ED510, EDE422, EDE475, EDE493, EDE545, EDU455, EDU464, EDU467, EDU476, EDU479, and EDU494, plus other courses identified with your advisor.

AFTER SUMMER 2026. Two Developmental Domains Core Courses are set. EDU560. Research in Cognitive Development and EDE565. Social and Emotional Development.

A maximum of 6 credits in EDE555 comprehensive exam registrations. At least one advanced research methods course, as most appropriate to support the chosen dissertation topic; eligible courses include, but are not limited to. Choose a combination of ED 595. Ph.D. Research (Dissertation) (at least 15 credits recommended), ED 596. Research Apprenticeship (0-12 credits), ED 591. Independent Study, and/or other courses related to your dissertation, for a total of 27 credits.

In consultation with your advisor, select electives to reach a total of 90 credit hours.

Examples of available courses include ED425, EDU479, ED419, EDU494, ED481, EDU439, EDU467, EDU464, ED418, EDU455, EDU465, ED429, ED457, ED415, ED412, EDU446, EDU447, ED521, EDU498.

Please note, courses may also be chosen from among the program core courses not taken to fulfill the program core requirements.