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Learning Sciences Certification
Graduate Academic Certificate (G.A.C.)
Program type:
Graduate Academic Certificate
Format:
On Campus
Est. time to complete:
2-3 semesters
Credit Hours:
18
Understand the critical aspects of learning and explore the theories and methodologies
of study and design of education.
Help educators use the learning sciences to make learning more effective, efficient
and inclusive.
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Request More InfoWhy Earn a Learning Sciences Certification?
The Learning Sciences (LS) as a field has been growing over the past 30+ years. LS is still new to UNT, first launching in the Fall of 2023. Our LS community in the College of Education is both similar and unique from the broader field. Like the broader field, we are dedicated to understanding how sociocultural systems impact learning and designing innovative and transformative opportunities for learning through collaborative partnerships.
Students may focus on many issues surrounding learning including analysis of:
- Learning across scales
- particular learning moments
- collaborative learning sequences over time
- learning systems including learners embedded within classrooms embedded within schools embedded within districts and states
- Design and implementation of learning environments
- design and implementation of learning reforms
- STEM learning and education
- participatory designs, including Research-Practice Partnerships, Social Design Experiments, Community-Based Design, Family Co-Observation Partnerships
- Research collaborations with
- young children (ages 2-8)
- youth (ages 12-18)
- families (children and caregivers)
- teachers (elementary, middle, high school)
- district- and state-level administration and support for teaching
- out-of-school learning spaces (e.g., museums)
Finally, as part of the broader Hispanic-Serving and Minority-Serving Institution at UNT, our program is positioned particularly well to serve the needs of these communities both in supporting doctoral students to develop their research expertise and in serving the learners within these communities across the DFW area and beyond.
Learning Sciences Certification Highlights
Close, intentional mentoring.
Opportunities to work on established grant-supported projects within STEM, science,
and learning design.
Teaching opportunities with pre-service teachers focused on course design and equity.
Faculty members have significant expertise in multiple qualitative, design and collaborative-based
research approaches and collaborate with other LS scholars across the U.S. including
at universities (e.g., Vanderbilt University, the Ohio State University) and research
institutes (e.g., SRI International).
The LS concentration in Educational Psychology allows students to take courses exclusively
in the evenings so that they can continue to work in districts, museums and other
settings where they can implement their developing expertise in consequential ways
and supports full-time students as well.
Pursuing equity in education through the study and design of learning environments.
What Can You do With a Learning Sciences Certification?
Graduates of the Learning Sciences program will be positioned to take positions in universities, non-profit research institutes, school district offices, informal learning spaces (e.g. museums, after-school programs), or consulting. Upon acceptance to the program, faculty will meet with students to understand their goals and career considerations.
Learning Sciences Certification Courses You Could Take
Learning Sciences Seminar 1 (3 hrs)
This course provides an overview of theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches
to the study and design of learning. This course will consider the role of social
context and culture in shaping learning processes; the various ways learning is demonstrated;
and the implications of these processes for the design and study of learning environments.
Learning Sciences Seminar 2 (3 hrs)
This advanced Learning Sciences course provides a context for deepening students’
professional identities as Learning Sciences scholars by articulating and developing
their own theoretical perspectives and methodological approaches to the study and
design of learning in preparation for their dissertation work. This course supports
students to deepen their understanding of the role of social context and culture in
shaping learning processes, the various ways learning is demonstrated, and the implications
of these processes for their design and study of learning environments.
Design-Based and Participatory Research Methods (DBPR) (3hrs)
Design-based research (DBR) is a methodology that involves the orchestration and empirical
study of innovative and equity-focused learning environments, organizations, and social
movements. In contrast to strictly observational methods, DBR transforms and theoretically
analyzes learning environments “in the wild.”
Research Methodologies as Contexts for Learning (3 hrs)
Explore multiple approaches to analysis of learning contexts and the iterative qualitative
exploration of data that supports the learning of researchers and the iterative design
of learning environments. Students will engage in a small sample-project using a corpus
of data to explore a phenomenon of interest, recording their iterative analysis process
through analytical memos and presenting their methodological justifications for method
choices throughout the semester.
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