Ph.D. Program Information

Concentration in Arts and Child Development

The Ph.D. concentration in the Arts and Child Development prepares students for leadership in careers working with children and youth in applied and research and evaluation settings focused on forms of creative expression such as visual art, music, drama, movement and dance. Courses include the study of the expressive arts and creativity and include opportunities for research and practice in studying and promoting children’s development through the arts. Practica and research in arts-related settings such as visual arts programs, schools, museums, or curriculum development centers designed to offer and develop programs in the arts for children are important elements of the program.

The 14-course program requirements for the M.A. with a concentration in the Arts and Child Development are:

1. Core developmental courses: Two courses selected from the following. The two selected courses need to be in different domains or special consent of the advisor is required.

   CD 151 Advanced Intellectual Development
   CD 161 Advanced Personal-Social Development
   CD 155 The Young Child’s Development of Language
   CD 261 Advanced Seminar in Personal-Social Development
   CD 251 Advanced Seminar Intellectual Development
   CD 243BN Contemporary Perspectives on Child Development
   or other approved developmental course

2. Research Statistics:

   CD 140 Statistics or other approved advanced course in statistics

3. Research Methods: Two courses selected from the following:

   CD 142 Problems of Research: Methods and Design
   CD 144 Qualitative and Ethnographic Methods
   CD 247 Program Evaluation
   CD 285 Advanced Research Methods in Applied Dev. Science

4. Required: CD 243 Seminar on the Arts and Child Development*
   

5. Required: CD 158 Psychological Study of Creativity
   

6. Required: Studio: Two semesters of private or group lessons in one of the arts areas, e.g., instruction in voice or instrument, visual arts studio classes, movement and dance, creative writing, acting or directing. The studio experience may be taken for one-half credit for each semester, but course credit is not required. Students may continue their development in an area in which they have already achieved expertise or may select a new area for development.

   * Course to be developed
   

7. Electives: Five courses selected from the following:

   CD 143/DR193 Story Theater
   CD 166 Children’s Play
   CD 175/MU 175 Children’s Musical Development and Learning
   CD 176 Children’s Literature
   CD 178 Creative Movement and Body Language
   CD 179 Child Art
   CD/DR/ED187 Teaching Through Drama and Improvisation
   CD 240/241 Directed Research (in the arts and child development)
   CD 199 Community Field Placement (arts-related)

   One of the four concentration electives may also include the following:

   CD 143 Technologies of the Self
   CD 145 Technological Tools for Thinking and Learning

8. Two Open Electives

   Students may select additional courses listed above or other approved courses in child development in the Departments of Child Development, Music, and Drama and Dance. Credit for studio experience may be one of the open electives.
   

9. Internship
   

10. Two Qualifying Papers
    

11. Doctoral Dissertation
    

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