Our research and expertise
We advance research, teaching, and community engagement to increase opportunities for all individuals to have a successful start in life and to foster healthy human development, and will provide programs that meet the demands of the 21st century.
For students, both current and future
Use this list (and filters) to find research topics relevant to your interests and passions. Find faculty working in your topic and connect with people invested in projects you'd like work on.
For members of the media
Find leading experts on specific topics for your upcoming stories and editorials. Contact Sarah Jergenson sarahj@umn.edu to request an interview with any one of our experts.
Recent publications
Visit EXPERTS@MINNESOTA for a list of recent CEHD publications. Search publications by topic, author, and year.
Find a research topic
Access to Education
Examining how to remove barriers so all people can have equal opportunity in education.
Adolescents and Youth
The experiences and development of youth and teenagers in schools, families, and society.
Adoption
How adoption affects development and the family environment.
Art Education
Examining art, theater, and performance education in schools, museums, and community arts organizations.
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Understanding all aspects of ASDs, from neuroscience and interventions to school and community support and integration.
Behavioral and social emotional development
Identifying and defining problems in behavioral and social difficulties to guide instruction, treatments, and assessment.
Behavioral Psychology
Studying the connection between minds and behavior, examining how and why people behave the way they do.
Brain Development
How the developing brain shapes individuals and is synthesized and linked to their daily life.
Career and Technical Education
Researching best practices in preparing teachers in career and technical education at the secondary and post-secondary level.
Child Care
Researching and developing best practices in caring for young children and training providers.
Child Welfare
Child welfare typically including foster care, adoption, and other efforts aimed at protecting children and family stability.
Children's Mental Health
Supporting children and families with research, field work, and resources for understanding and resilience.
Cognitive Development
Development of the brain's cognitive functions, such as perception, memory, attention, motor skills, and language.
Community Engagement
Supporting and developing communities in knowledge, action, and care.
Community Services and Supports
Assisting individuals with disabilities at varying ages in achieving their goals as individuals and in the community.
Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR)
An action research approach involving collaboration among researchers and community members directly affected by an issue.
Cooperative Learning
A teaching strategy where small groups of students work together to help one another in learning.
Counseling
Research and training in the processes and outcomes of advising people in many areas of life and work.
Couple and Family Therapy (CFT)
Researching and training practitioners in therapy and counseling for relationships.
Cultural Competence
Understanding the differences between one's own culture and the cultures of others to effectively connect, teach, and help.
Culture and Education
Examining education across social, cultural, and political contexts, with a focus on equity, democracy, and social justice.
Decision Making
Understanding how the process of making a choice impacts behavior and relationships.
Developmental Psychology
Studying how and why people change over the course of their lives.
Disability
Exploring physical, mental, and emotional impairments and how they affect individuals, families, and communities.
Disability Policy and Services
The scope and best practices in policies and services for people with disabilities.
Distance Education
Understanding how teaching and technology combine to serve students and educators in different locations.
Diversity and Equity
Researching and addressing issues and experiences of diversity, and promoting just and equitable outcomes.
Divorce
Looking at how dissolutions of marriages impact individuals, families, and communities.
Education Policy Higher Ed
Studying legal, regulatory, and enforcement practices of post-secondary education policies.
Education Policy K-12
Policy and governance affecting public, private, and charter schools that serve students from kindergarten to 12th grade.
Education Theory
Investigating how teaching, learning, and educational organization are informed by culture, behavior, and sociology.
Educational Assessment
Holding educators accountable for instructing all students effectively and assessing their learning progress.