The program combines the study of the social, emotional, cognitive, and physical aspects of human development with a particular focus on urban populations, development within cultural contexts, and relevant social policies. Students in ISHD are encouraged to create a specialized program of study that leads to an enriched understanding of the diverse perspectives of human development across the life span. ISHD students are expected to integrate established psychological approaches with perspectives from other social and biological sciences, selecting courses from such disciplines as anthropology, psychology, sociology, philosophy, linguistics, communications, nursing, medicine, and social work. The M.S.Ed. degree in ISHD requires a minimum of ten courses, including core courses in life-span human development, adolescent development, minority child development, cognitive development, social development, program evaluation, and courses in both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. Students are required to pass either a comprehensive examination or to write a master's thesis.
Many students choose to pursue doctoral study.
The Ph.D. degree prepares graduates for careers as university professors, researchers, writers, program officers for foundations or governmental agencies, consultants on developmental issues and public policy initiatives. Students usually have significant graduate level preparation in human development prior to program admission. The theoretically driven program of research stresses an authentic, contextualized, culturally informed and life-course development approach. The research focus includes diverse groups of urban youth and their families, particularly as they struggle with often difficult developmental transitions under conditions of rapid social change and environmental risks. The W.E.B. DuBois Collective Research Institute affords research opportunities across different schools throughout the university.