This graduate-level program emphasizes the perspective of the developing learner. Graduates from this program have insight into the cognitive, emotional, and social changes in children, adolescents, and adults. Students should apply if they have an interest in:

• Learning about social, cultural, and contextual influences on children, adolescents, and emerging adults,
• Investigating core aspects of human development and cognition,
• Understanding the connections between parents, peers, and youth over the course of development,
• Understanding how people think and reason about the world around them,
• Engaging with, or independently conducting cutting-edge research applied to a broad range of learning contexts from schools to museums to home throughout the human lifespan.

The MS degree requires 30 credits, which may include up to 6 thesis credits: 9 credits of required core courses, 15 credits (5 courses) within the CDS program chosen in consultation with your advisor, and 6 elective credits that can be taken from a program other than Cognitive & Developmental Sciences. Courses are typically selected in consultation with the advisor to meet the student’s career or academic interests. In the final semester of coursework, MS students must pass a milestone for degree completion consisting of either a Master’s thesis (an independent research study) or Portfolio (students entering the program starting Fall 2019).