Each student in the Ph.D. program will select a specialization. Working with their advisor, students will select a cluster of course work in their specialization and conduct their dissertation research in this area as well. The three specializations are as follows:

Draws upon cognitive science and developmental psychology to analyze the processes shaping teaching and learning.

Considers issues of the changing social, cultural, and organizational context of learning to connect policy development and implementation.

Draws upon applied linguistics and media theory to bridge our understanding of discourse, literacy development, and technology use among students learning in a first or second language.