• Human Development & Social Policy
• Learning Sciences

The School of Education and Social Policy (SESP) offers graduate training at the doctoral level in two program areas: human development and social policy and learning sciences.

The School of Education and Social Policy also offers a master of science in education and social policy, with six different content areas. For information regarding the Program in Learning and Organizational Change, phone 847-491-7376 or e-mail cloc@northwestern.edu. For information regarding the Programs in Elementary Teaching, Middle School Teaching, Secondary Teaching, Advanced Teaching, or Higher Education Administration and Policy, phone 847-467-1458 or e-mail msedprog@mail.sesp.northwestern.edu.

General MA Degree Requirements

Admission Qualifications
See specific SESP department qualifications.

Coursework Requirements
Students must take a minimum of nine to fifteen courses, depending on the program. This includes specified core courses or their equivalents, as well as at least one course in research design and quantitative methods. See specific SESP department qualifications.

Other General MA Degree Requirements
See specific SESP department requirements.

General PhD Degree Requirements

Admission Qualifications
See specific SESP departmental requirements.

Coursework Requirements
Students must participate in supervised instructional activities as part of their degree program and take a minimum of nine full-time quarters of graduate work (or the equivalent) beyond the bachelor's degree. See specific SESP departmental qualifications. For further information, consult the program offices.

Other General PhD Degree Requirements
In addition to the requirements below, see specific requirements of the individual SESP departments.

• Annual Reviews: annual review of student's progress by program faculty; progress reports based on review determine student's eligibility to request appointment of preliminary advisory committee and to take preliminary examination
• Preliminary Advisory Committee: requests for appointment of preliminary advisory committee should be made no later than quarter in which student is registered for ninth course; committee guides student in coursework and other academic preparation and designs preliminary examination
• Preliminary Examinations: after passing preliminary examination, student requests formation of dissertation committee to guide preparation of dissertation proposal and its oral defense; this committee may be same as, or different from, preliminary advisory committee
• Research/Projects: see specific SESP department requirements
• Ph.D. Dissertation: based on independent research
• Final Evaluations: final oral defense of dissertation conducted by appointed committee  

Information Contact
Assistant Dean for Student Affairs
School of Education and Social Policy
Annenberg Hall, Room 120
2120 Campus Drive
Evanston, Illinois 60208-2610
phone: 847-491-3790
fax: 847-491-4664
http://www.sesp.northwestern.edu/
See specific departments for department information contacts.