Curriculum

The coursework includes a graduate major (a student’s major department is the one from which they plan to earn their Ph.D.) and a graduate minor.

Graduate minors

Students majoring in subjects other than education must complete the Education Sciences Minor, including

• Two graduate professional socialization courses (introduction to educational research and experimental methods);
• Two advanced courses on cognitive approaches to learning; and
• Two advanced courses on experimental research design and statistical methods.

Students majoring in education must complete the above courses, but may do so as part of their major. Education majors must also complete a minor in a discipline outside of education.

Research experience

All students must successfully complete one to three years of research experience on an education related topic at a research or field site before embarking on their dissertation. Research experiences will assist the student in synthesizing their major and minor disciplines. For these research experiences, the following university research centers and off-campus field sites have been selected for their ability to provide fellows with experience that will make them attractive to potential employers. The University research centers include:

• The Brain Sciences Center
• The Center for Cognitive Sciences
• The Roy Wilkins Center for Human Relations and Social Justice

Participating field sites include the American Guidance Service, Inc. (AGS Publishing), the Anoka-Hennepin, Minneapolis, and St. Paul Public School Districts, and the Minnesota Department of Education. Other research sites may be proposed by the student, and must be approved by the MITER Program Director before the student begins research work at the proposed site.

Teaching

To prepare for careers in higher education, MITER fellows typically spend at least one year in teaching, first assisting a regular faculty member for a one-semester course, and then independently teaching a second one-semester course. Fellows also participate in a weekly seminar, present at professional conferences, publish in journals, and participate in a journal club and campus research day.

Education sciences minor: Coursework requirements

Revised March 2006