Human Development (EDHD)

Graduate Degree Program
College: Education

Abstract

The purposes of the Human Development graduate programs are to contribute to basic knowledge about human development and learning and apply this knowledge in various settings. The general areas of human development covered in courses and research include infant and early childhood development, child development, and adolescent development.  Specific faculty areas of expertise and research include achievement motivation, cognitive development, developmental neuroscience, early childhood policy, intergroup attitudes and relationships, language development, literacy development, peer relationships, moral development, social development, temperament, parenting, prejudice and discrimination, and the role of culture on many aspects of development.

Graduate programs in Human Development lead to the Master of Education, Master of Arts (with or without thesis), and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. The research-oriented M. A. (with thesis) and the Ph.D. degree programs in human development are designed to develop students' scientific knowledge of human development and ability to carry out original empirical research projects. The M.Ed. and M.A. without thesis programs are designed to develop competencies in identifying implications of the scientific knowledge of human development for specific situations and contexts, particularly elementary and secondary schools.

Human Development offers two specialization areas of study at the doctoral level, Developmental Science and Educational Psychology. The graduate programs and specializations prepare graduates for faculty positions at universities or research positions at institutions where research in developmental science and educational psychology is conducted. Graduates of our program have obtained positions as university professors, research scientists, program analysts, and other research-oriented occupations, including research-oriented professionals in private, policy, or advocacy organizations.

Financial Assistance

Students requesting consideration for Financial Aid, in addition to completing the financial aid form found in the Graduate Admissions application, must submit their application by the priority deadline. All students who submit their application by December 1, 2026 will automatically be reviewed for any departmental aid. University fellowships and Departmental assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis -- more students are admitted than can be awarded funding. In recent years, only students with undergraduate GPA’s of 3.6 or higher, outstanding research experience, and strong letters of recommendation from academic references have been successful in obtaining Recruitment Fellowships sponsored by the Graduate School and graduate assistantships in the Department.

First priority for Departmental assistantships goes to students already admitted to the Department who have been assured financial assistance for the full course of their study. Almost all awards of fellowships and assistantships are based on previous academic performance, with little attention to need. In addition, some faculty have external grants that support graduate students. Students who do not receive a fellowship or assistantship from the Department may contact the Office of Student Financial Aid for information about other sources of financial support.

Contact

Department of Human Development and Quantitative Methodology
3304 Benjamin Building
3942 Campus Drive
University of Maryland
College Park, MD 20742
Telephone: 301.405.8432
Fax: 301.405.2891
Email: hdqm-gradinfo@umd.edu

Website: http://www.education.umd.edu/HDQM/ for the HDQM department. For the Human Development program: https://education.umd.edu/human-development-program. 
 
Courses: EDHD, QMMS

Relationships: Neurosciences and Cognitive Science (NACS)

ON-CAMPUS ADMISSIONS INFORMATION

General Requirements

• Statement of Purpose
• Transcript(s): EDHD requires all applicants to submit official transcripts (hard copies) to: University of Maryland, College Park, Enrollment Services Operation/Graduate Admissions, Room 0130 Mitchell Building, College Park, MD 20742
• TOEFL/IELTS/PTE (international graduate students)

Program-Specific Requirements

• Letters of Recommendation (3)
• CV/Resume
• Description of Research/Work Experience (M.A. only)
• Writing Sample (required for M.A. and Ph.D., not required for M.Ed.)
• Supplementary Application (required for M.A. and Ph.D., optional for M.Ed.)
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE)* (optional)
  • *Note: Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores are not considered as a criterion for admission into the program. GRE scores that are submitted are made available to potential faculty advisors.

The College of Education and Graduate School require a minimum GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) at the undergraduate level. At the master’s level, a minimum GPA of 3.5 is required by the College of Education. Three letters of recommendation, including evidence of academic potential from university faculty references, are required. In addition, students must write a statement of purpose which indicates a match between student research interests and faculty expertise. Students should indicate their research interests, describe any relevant research experience, and explain how their interests can be met by our program.

For more admissions information or to apply to the program, please visit our Graduate School website: www.gradschool.umd.edu/admissions

Application Deadlines

RESOURCES AND LINKS:

Program Website: education.umd.edu/HDQM
Application Process: gradschool.umd.edu/admissions/application-process 

The Washington, D.C. area and the University of Maryland are rich in resources for graduate study in human development. The faculty of the Department is multi-disciplinary, representing the broad range of developmental sciences, educational psychology, and related fields. There are programs of funded research, field service programs, and internship experiences available in cooperation with agencies and schools. The Department manages the on-campus Center for Young Children (CYC). Faculty in the department make use of the research facilities at the Maryland Neuroimaging Center and Maryland Language Science Center. Students in the College of Education have access to the latest technology through Educational Technology Services.