Learning, Developmental and Family Sciences

Learning, Developmental and Family Sciences MA

Office: Lawrence Street Center, 701
Telephone: 303-315-6300
Fax: 303-315-6311
E-mail: academicservices@ucdenver.edu
Website: www.ucdenver.edu/education

Faculty

Faculty information is available online at https://education.ucdenver.edu/about-us/faculty-directory

Master’s Degree

The MA program in Learning, Developmental and Family Sciences (LDFS) prepares students to facilitate the teaching/learning process and to lead and work in community-based environments. Thus, many students pursue the degree to enhance their skills as professional classroom teachers or lead in the community. The degree also provides skills necessary for a variety of roles in educational and teaching settings or community environments where knowledge of learning, development, understanding family and community systems, motivation, and research is essential such as teaching at the community college and teaching-based colleges and universities levels, teaching adults, consulting, developing assessments, community-based leadership, and conducting program development and evaluation. Other students seek the MA as preparation for advanced study in educational psychology, family science and human development, research, or related fields.

Areas of Study

Two major areas of concentration are available- learning and human development and family relations:

Regardless of the concentration area selected, all students must demonstrate competence in Learning, Developmental and Family Sciences by successfully completing 30 semester hours of relevant course work;
Students complete a capstone experience, either an applied project or a master’s thesis in consultation with their faculty advisor based on the students’ professional and academic goals. Please see final capstone section for more details.

Learning

The concentration is committed to the systematic study of psychological, social, and cultural processes of learning and development, and design of environments that support learning and development, drawing upon multidisciplinary nature of work. The concentration examines learning in various formal and informal contexts (e.g., learning in classrooms, schools, centers, communities, homes) from multiple perspectives (e.g., psychological, sociocultural, design-based, neuroscience). Within the networks of professional and academic communities, students will engage in designing adaptive learning environments that facilitate optimal learning and developmental opportunities for participants in diverse educational and community contexts, including our unique urban context. The Learning concentration offers courses such as: Human Learning; Human Development Over the Life Span; Designing Environments for Learning and Development; Cognition and Instruction; Motivation in Contexts; Mind, Brain and Education; Advanced Child Growth and Development; and Social Contexts of Adolescence.

Human Development and Family Relations (HDFR)

Students will engage in developing their skills to work in and lead community-based organizations including, but not limited to secular, faith-based, for profit, nonprofit, school-based, and local, state, federal and international organizations. The importance of family diversity and social justice is stressed throughout the HDFR curriculum through its courses and experiences. Students can also develop their knowledge in family relations in preparation for doctorate studies in family science and human development or related areas.

The LDFS program does provide a pathway for MA students (HDFR and Learning areas) to pursue their PhD in Education and Human Development with a Family Science and Human Development concentration. For more information, please visit our School of Education and Human Development.

The HDFR area also provides classes to all School of Education and Human Development (SEHD) graduate programs, offering courses in family theories, family dynamics, and diverse family systems, Latino family, school and community systems, family resource management, leadership and organizations, grant writing and fundraising, program development and other family relations based courses.

Final Capstone Culminating Applied Project/Thesis

All LDFS MA students (D1–Downtown Campus) will complete a Capstone Applied Project or Thesis to be able to graduate from the LDFS MA regardless of concentration area. Students who are graduating in the Fall, Spring or Summer of their last year of studies will register for LDFS 6950 Culminating Capstone Experience. LDFS 6950 will only be offered in the Fall semester of each academic year. There will be no Spring or Summer LDFS 6950 sections offered. LDFS 6950 has two focuses, the Applied Project and the second focus the Thesis. The Applied Project is generally completed in one semester during the Fall LDFS 6950 class. However, if a student requires an additional semester that student would have to receive permission from the LDFS 6950 faculty teaching that course section during the Fall semester and their faculty advisor for the additional time. The second focus the Thesis will require 2 semesters to complete or 1 semester and a Summer Session. Please keep in mind the Thesis often requires university approval and IRB approval for Human Subjects research. Students will receive a letter grade upon completion of their Capstone. Students are expected to attend one of the required LDFS MA Capstone Orientation provide by the LDFS faculty during the Fall and Spring semester of each academic year. For more specific details concerning the Capstone please contact your faculty advisor.