Students enrolled in the HCDE PhD program complete at least 90 credits to earn their degree, including:

• 22 credits of HCDE core courses
• 4 credits of additional Theory course
• 4 credits of additional Methods course
• 12 credits within a concentration
• 11 credits of free electives
• 10 credits of Directed Research Groups (DRGs)
• Minimum 27 credits of dissertation research

Students who enter the PhD program with a previous graduate degree relevant to HCDE can petition to have up to 30 credits transferred toward the doctoral program upon approval of Jennifer Turns, the Graduate Program Coordinator.

For questions about the appropriate course sequence, course planning and other academic advising related issues, contact Pat Reilly, the Director of Student Services, for assistance.

PhD Course of Study Form

For details on sequencing of required coursework, critical information for first-year students regarding their year one curriculum, and electives, please see below.

Required Foundational Core Courses

• HCDE 541: Introduction to PhD Studies in HCDE (2 credits) - Foundations 1
• HCDE 542: Theoretical Foundations (4 credits) - Theory 1
• HCDE 543: Empirical Traditions (4 credits) - Foundations 2
• HCDE 544: Methods I experimental/quasi-experimental (4 credits) - Methods 1
• HCDE 545: Methods II verbal data/naturalistic observation (4 credits) - Methods 2
• HCDE 546: Design Thinking (4 credits) - Theory 2

Additional Requirements

• HCDE 596: Directed Research (minimum total 10 credits)
• HCDE 800: Doctoral Dissertation (minimum 27 credits)
• Electives: minimum of 31 credits, including:
  • ​1 additional 4-credit Theory course
  • 1 additional 4-credit Methods course
  • 3 additional 4-credit Concentration courses, to be developed collaboratively by the student and the advisor
  • 11 credits of free electives