Cognitive Science in Education | Human Development

Back to Human Development

Cognitive Science in Education

Department of Human Development

Visit Program Website


Program Description

In the Cognitive Science in Education Program, students examine the cognitive mechanisms that underlie learning and thinking in school and non-school settings. The program trains students in basic theories of human cognition, the practice and interpretation of empirical cognitive and developmental research, as well as how to use research to improve educational practices and develop innovative methods built around new technologies. Studies in cognitive, developmental and educational psychology, and computer science provide students with a valuable perspective on cognition and learning.

The curriculum and degree program requirements are designed to prepare graduates for careers in several possible settings. For the master's degree programs, these settings include

  • school systems seeking instructional technology coordinators and teachers who are knowledgeable about cognitive and developmental theories and research.
  • publishers and software companies looking for people with knowledge of cognition and development, and experience in instructional design.
  • research organizations seeking people to conduct basic research and work on instructional applications of computers and related technologies.

For the doctoral programs, work settings after graduation might include research organizations or universities seeking faculty in cognitive psychology, educational psychology, educational technology, reading, and learning analytics.

Students in the Cognitive Science in Education Program begin by taking a set of core background courses, then pursue one of three areas of focus: Foundations of Cognition and Learning, Applications, and Intelligent Technologies.

Degrees

  • Master of Education

    • Points/Credits: 60

      Entry Terms: Spring/Summer/Fall

      Degree Requirements

      Core Courses (9 points):

      Three courses selected from the following:

      • HUDK 4015 Psychology of thinking (3)

      • HUDK 4029 Human cognition and learning (3)

      • HUDK 4080 Educational psychology (3)

      • HUDK 5023 Cognitive development (3)

      • HUDK 5042 Motivation in education (3)

      • HUDK 5125 Cross-Cultural psychology (3)

      Statistics/Research Design (12 points):

      • HUDM 4120 Basic concepts in statistics (3)

      • HUDM 4122 Probability and statistical inference (3)

      • HUDM 5122 Applied regression analysis (3)

      • HUDM 5123 Linear models and experimental design (3)

      Research Practicum (6 points):

      • HUDK 5324 Research work practicum (3) by permission,

      • HUD 6500 Proseminar in Human Development (1), and

      • HUDK 5324 Research work practicum (2) by permission

      (The Integrative Project is done in conjunction with these courses)

      Specialized Courses (24-27 points):

      Selected in consultation with an advisor and focusing on one of the following areas of focus: 

      1. Foundations of Cognition and Learning

        • HUDK 4015 Psychology of thinking (3)

        • HUDK 4027 Development of mathematical thinking (3)

        • HUDK 4050 Core methods in educational data mining (3)

        • HUDK 4051 Learning analytics: process and theory (3)

        • HUDK 4052 Data, Learning, and Society (3)

        • HUDK 4054 Managing education data (3)

        • HUDK 5020 Development of creativity (3)

        • HUDK 5024 Language development (2-3)

        • HUDK 5025 Spatial thinking (3)

        • HUDK 5029 Personality development and socialization across the lifespan (3)

        • HUDK 5030 Visual explanations (3)

        • HUDM 5058 Choice and decision making (3)

        • HBSK 5096 Psychology of memory (3)

        • HUDK 5042 Motivation in education (3)

        • HUDK 5053 Feature engineering studio (3)

        • HUDK 5063 Cognitive development beyond childhood (3)

        • HUDK 5120 Development of creativity: the case study method (3)

        • HUDK 5125 Cross-cultural psychology (3)

      2. Applications

        • HUDK 4015 Psychology of thinking (3)

        • HUDK 4027 Development of mathematical thinking (3)

        • HUDK 4035 Technology and human development (3)

        • HUDK 5024 Language development (3)

        • HUDK 5035 Psychology of media (3)

        • HUDK 5042 Motivation in education (3)

        • HUDK 5063 Cognitive development beyond childhood (3)

        • HUDK 5090 Psychology of language and reading (3)

        • HUDK 5100 Supervised research and practice (1-6)

        • HBSK 4074 Development of reading comprehension strategies and study skills (3)

        • EDPS 4021 Sociology of education (3)

        • HBSK 4074 Reading comprehension strategies and study skills (3)

        • ORL 5522 Evaluation methods I (3)

      3. Intelligent Technologies:

        • HUDK 4015 Psychology of thinking (3)

        • HUDK 4021 Developmental psychology – infancy (2-3)

        • HUDK 4022 Developmental psychology – childhood (2-3)

        • HUDK 4023 Developmental psychology – adolescence (2-3)

        • HUDK 4025 Cognition of handheld devices (3)

        • HUDK 4029 Cognition and learning (3)

        • HUDK 4035 Technology and human development (3)

        • HUDK 4040 Social media and users (3 )

        • HUDK 4050 Core methods in educational data mining (3)

        • HUDK 4051 Learning analytics: Process and theory (3)

        • HUDK 5025 Spatial thinking (3)

        • HUDK 5030 Visual explanations (3)

        • HUDK 5035 Psychology of media (3)

        • HUDK 5036 Psychology of children’s television (3)

        • HUDK 5063 Cognitive development beyond childhood (3)

        • HUDK 5120 Development of creativity: the case study method (3)

        • HUDK 5197 Psychology of eLearning in business and industry (3)

        • HUDK 5037 Psychology of children’s television (3)

        • HUDK 5063 Cognitive development beyond childhood (3)

        • MSTU 4039 Video games in education (3)

        • MSTU 5000 Possibility of virtual worlds (3)

        • ORLD 4015 How adults learn (3)

        • ORLJ 4005 Organizational psychology (3)

      Non-departmental Courses (minimum of 6 points):

      At least 2 Teachers College courses outside the Department selected in consultation with an advisor.

      Integrative Project: 

      One of the following

      • Empirical Research Paper

      • Design (and perhaps Implementation) Project Paper

      • Research Literature Review Paper

      Program of Study

      Thirty points must be completed under the auspices of Teachers College, including 18 points in Teachers College courses. A maximum of 30 points of graduate credit may be transferred from other accredited institutions. Candidates who have completed an M.A. or M.S. degree through Teachers College must register for a minimum of 45 points of the required 60 through Teachers College.

      Satisfactory Progress

      Students are expected to make satisfactory progress toward the completion of degree requirements.  If satisfactory progress is not maintained, a student may be dismissed from the program.  Program faculty annually review each student’s progress. Where there are concerns about satisfactory progress, students will be informed by the program faculty. If a student is performing below expectations, remedial work within an appropriate timeline may be required. If satisfactory progress is not maintained, a student may be dismissed from the program.

Faculty

  • Faculty

    • John B Black Cleveland E. Dodge Professor of Telecommunications & Ed.
    • James E Corter Professor of Statistics and Education
    • Karen Froud Associate Professor of Neuroscience and Education
    • Peter Gordon Associate Professor of Neuroscience and Education
    • Xiaodong D Lin Professor of Cognitive Studies
    • Gary J Natriello Ruth L. Gottesman Professor in Educational Research
    • Robert Stuart Siegler Jacob H. Schiff Foundations Professor of Psychology and Education
    • Renzhe Yu Assistant Professor, Learning Analytics / Educational Data Mining
  • Emeriti

    • Deanna Kuhn Research Professor Emerita of Psychology and Education
  • Adjunct Faculty

    • Jie Gao Adjunct Assistant Professor

Courses

  • HUDK 4011 - Networked and Online Learning
    The course explores the social dimensions of online learning. The course begins by reviewing the uniquely social dimensions of learning in general and then turns to an examination of the transition to the information age that has made online or networked learning possible. The course next covers how traditional social forms such as classrooms, schools, professions, and libraries have been represented in online learning venues followed by consideration of new and emerging social forms such as digital publishing, social networks and social media, adaptive learning technologies, and immersive and interactive environments. The course concludes by examining macro-level factors that shape the opportunities for online learning.
  • HUDK 4015 - Psychology of thinking
    Examines cognitive psychology theories and research about various kinds of thinking, what each kind is best suited for, and problems people have with it. Also examines the best ways of learning from each kind of thinking. Critically examines the various thinking skills curricula that have been proposed.
  • HUDK 4027 - How Children Learn Math
    The development of informal and formal mathematical thinking from infancy through childhood with implications for education.
  • HUDK 4029 - Human cognition and learning
    Cognitive and information-processing approaches to attention, learning, language, memory, and reasoning.
  • HUDK 4035 - Technology and human development
    Examines the use and design of various educational technologies (computer software, multimedia shareware, TV, World Wide Web sites, etc.) from the perspective of basic research and theory in human cognitive and social development. Provides a framework for reasoning about the most developmentally appropriate uses of technology for people at different ages.
  • HUDK 4080 - Educational psychology
    Examines landmark issues in educational psychology, highlighting philosophical underpinnings and empirical evidence, tracing each issue from its roots to contemporary debates and evaluating current educational practice.
  • HUDK 4902 - Research and independent study
    Permission required.
  • HUDK 5020 - The development of creativity
    Major theories and contemporary research in creative work, emphasizing case studies of exceptional and historically influential individuals.
  • HUDK 5023 - Cognitive development
    Theory and research on the development of cognitive processes across the lifespan.
  • HUDK 5025 - Spatial thinking
    Analyzes research on how people learn, mentally represent, mentally transform, describe, and act on the spaces they encounter. Mental models of and transformations of space underlie the way people think about abstract domains, so thought about space has implications for thought in general. Implications for education and HCI are considered.
  • HUDK 5030 - Visual explanations
    Surveys production and comprehension of visualizations ranging from ancient cave paintings and petroglyphs to diagrams, charts, graphs, comics, picture books, photographs, gesture, and film to extract and apply techniques for conveying objects, actions, forces relations, and emotions, meanings that are both inherently visible and non-visible. Implications for education, art, media, and HCI are drawn.
  • HUDK 5035 - Psychology of media
    Covers psychological theories and research that relate to various media and what people learn directly and indirectly from them.
  • HUDK 5063 - Cognitive development beyond childhood
    Examination of all aspects of cognitive functioning over the major portion of the life cycle that occurs beyond childhood, addressing both common patterns and individual and cultural variations. A particular focus will be critical examination of the research methods by which such knowledge is gained.
  • HUDK 5090 - Psychology of language and reading
    Basic theories, empirical findings, and educational applications in the psychology of language and reading: the cognitive processes involved in the perception and production of oral and written language.
  • HUDK 5197 - The Psychology of E-learning in Business and Industry
    This course will focus on the design of online learning experiences in workplace environments, from a perspective that looks to put academic research into practice. Real-world cases, including numerous demonstrations of real-life courses and systems, will be used to explore uses of online learning in the workplace for both training and “just-in-time” performance support purposes. This course will cover a variety of online learning methods, including simulations, games, mobile learning, social learning, uses of artificial intelligence, and learning in virtual reality environments. The methods and case studies will be examined with an eye toward relevant research in the areas of education, software usability, and cognitive psychology. Potential career paths for someone interested in the field of workplace e-learning will also be discussed. This course does not have a pre-requisite.
  • HUDK 5324 - Research Practicum
    Students learn research skills by participating actively in an ongoing faculty research project.
  • HUDK 6523 - Seminar in cognitive development
    Permission required. Advanced topics in research and theory in cognitive development.
  • HUDK 6539 - Research practicum in educational psychology, cognition, and learning
    Permission required. Limited to doctoral candidates in psychology.
  • HUDK 6902 - Advanced research and independent study
    Permission required.
  • HUDK 7502 - Dissertation seminar
    Permission required. Development of doctoral dissertation and presentation of plans for approval. Registration limited to two terms.
  • HUDK 8901 - Dissertation Advisement - Human Cognition/Learning
    Individual advisement on doctoral dissertation. Fee to equal 3 points at current tuition rate for each term. See catalog section on Continuous Registration for Ed.D./Ph.D. degrees.
Back to skip to quick links