Academic Programs Catalog

The Graduate Specialization in Environmental Policy, which is administered by the College of Social Science, provides students with foundational skills and knowledge in environmental law, economics and policy and an opportunity to gain substantive expertise in the fundamental aspects of environmental policy.

The graduate specialization is available as an elective to students who are enrolled in master’s degree programs at Michigan State University.  With the approval of department and college that administer the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the specialization may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the master’s or doctoral degree.

Students who plan to complete the requirements for the graduate specialization must consult the graduate advisor for the specialization in the College of Social Science.

Requirements for the Graduate Specialization in Environmental Policy

Complete a total of 9 credits from the following:

The Interdepartmental Graduate Specialization in Infancy and Early Childhood is available as an elective for students who are enrolled in master’s and doctoral degree programs in the departments of Anthropology,  Communicative Sciences and Disorders; Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education; Food Science and Human Nutrition; Human Development and Family Studies; Kinesiology; Psychology; and Sociology, in the Educational Specialist degree program in the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education; in the Master of Social Work degree programs in the School of Social Work; in the Master of Science in Nursing degree program in the College of Nursing; and in the graduate–professional degree programs in the College of Human Medicine and the College of Osteopathic Medicine. The College of Social Science administers the specialization in collaboration with the School of Social Work,  the cooperating units, an executive committee, and an advisory committee comprised of faculty members from each participating unit.

The quality of life during the first five years of human development provides the foundation upon which all subsequent development is built. As a result of advances in biomedical technology, social–cultural conditions, and legislation, increasing attention is being directed toward the optimal development of infants and their families.

The specialization is designed to prepare practitioners to meet the challenges of service delivery for very young children and their families and is based on the philosophy that a interdisciplinary educational program is the best educational experience for professionals who will work with infants, very young children, and their families. The specialization is also designed to provide a knowledge base that will facilitate the work of graduates who pursue careers in agencies, institutions, and government organizations that offer services to very young children, as well as those who pursue careers in teaching and research relevant to the needs of infants, very young children, and their families.

The Interdepartmental Graduate Specialization in Infancy and Early Childhood will: 

1. Provide an opportunity for graduate students to obtain a comprehensive and contemporary academic experience in the field of infancy and early childhood development. 
2. Help graduate students with an interest in working with very young children to become aware of their professional obligations and responsibilities. 
3. Develop an intellectual environment that will foster the growth of research and teaching in the area of human infancy and early childhood development, as well as sensitize students to clinical, educational, and social policy issues related to early human development. 
4. Increase public awareness of the critical importance of the early years of human development.

A student who is enrolled in a master’s, educational specialist, doctoral, or graduate–professional degree program in one of the 12 participating academic units and who wishes to complete the requirements for an Interdepartmental Graduate Specialization in Infancy and Early Childhood should send their application to the director of the specialization. Qualified applicants must have a minimum grade-point average of 3.0. Once accepted into the specialization, students must identify a faculty member from their own discipline who is able to oversee their study in infancy and early childhood development, and to chair their guidance committee. Students are encouraged to actively solicit input from at least one faculty member from a discipline other than their home department, who will serve as a representative on the student’s guidance committee.

Students should work closely with their advisors within their academic units to develop meaningful experiences that are directly related to infancy and early childhood development studies. Credits that are used to meet the requirements for the specialization may also be counted toward the requirements for the student’s degree program at the discretion of the academic unit in which the student is enrolled.

Students who are pursuing the Interdepartmental Graduate Specialization in Infancy and Early Childhood are required to attend monthly seminars with members of the specialization faculty, staff, and other students in the program.

Requirements for the Specialization in Infancy and Early Childhood

Students must complete a minimum of 12 credits for the Graduate Specialization in Infancy and Early Childhood. The student’s program of study must be approved by the student’s guidance committee. The student must:

1. Master competencies through a variety of experiences including completion of a portfolio that demonstrates mastery of infancy and early childhood foundations. and a final oral or written examination across the following areas: theory, practice, policy, and research.
2. Complete 12 credits of course work including:
   1. Master’s students. A minimum of 4 credits of the Graduate Specialization in Infancy and Early Childhood seminar. Students should enroll in an 890 Independent Study through their home department. If an 890 course is not available, students may enroll for SW 890 Independent Study.
   2. Doctoral students.  A minimum of 6 credits of the Graduate Specialization in Infancy and Early Childhood seminar. Students should enroll in an 890 Independent Study through their home department. If an 890 course is not available, students may enroll for SW 890 Independent Study.
   3. All students are required to complete an additional 6 to 8 credits of course work from two disciplines outside of their home unit. Students may choose courses from the following:

      	Anthropology
      	ANP	423	Psychological Anthropology				3
      	ANP	470	Food, Hunger, and Society				3
      	Audiology and Speech Sciences
      	ASC	823E	Assessment of Child Language Disorders				3
      	ASC	823F	Language Intervention: Early Stages				3
      	ASC	823G	Language Intervention: Later Stages				3
      	ASC	991	Special Topics in Communication Sciences and Disorders				3
      	ASC	992	Seminar in Communication Sciences and Disorders				3
      	Counseling, Educational Psychology and Special Education
      	CEP	801	Psychological Development: Learner Differences
      						And Commonalities	3
      	CEP	903	Cognitive Development Across the Lifespan				3
      	CEP	904	Social-Emotional Development across the Lifespan				3
      	Family and Child Ecology
      	FCE	411	Developmental Study of a Child				2
      	FCE	811	Child Development: Ecological Perspectives				3
      	FCE	814	Parenthood and Parent Education				3
      	FCE	821	Early Childhood Education: Curricular Approaches				3
      	FCE	822	Assessment of the Young Child				3
      	FCE	823	Infant Programs and Practices				3
      	FCE	825	Families with Special Needs Children:
      					An Ecological Perspective		3
      	FCE	838	Early Literacy Development				3
      	FCE	845	Foundations of Family Study				3
      	FCE	895	Families in Poverty				3
      	FCE	896	Child Development Across Cultures				3
      	FCE	898	Play in Human Development				3
      	Human Nutrition and Foods
      	HNF	453	Nutrition and Human Development				3
      	HNF	840	Human Nutrition and Chronic Diseases				3
      	Kinesiology
      	KIN	860	Growth and Motor Behavior				3
      	KIN	890	Independent Study in Kinesiology				3
      	KIN	893	Internship in Kinesiology				3
      	KIN	894	Field Experience in Kinesiology				3
      	KIN	990	Independent Study in Kinesiology				3
      	Pediatrics and Human Development
      	PHD	523	Genetics for Medical Practice				1
      	Psychology
      	PSY	424	Child and Family Psychopathology				3
      	PSY	829	Child and Family Assessment				4
      	PSY	950	Advanced Child and Family Interventions				3
      	PSY	992	Seminar in Psychology				3
      	Sociology
      	SOC	475	Sociology of Health Care Systems				3
      	SOC	476	Social Psychology of Health				3
      	Social Work
      	SW	811	Social Work Perspectives in Human Development				3
      	SW	822A	Social Welfare Policy and Services: Children, Youth, and Families				3
      	SW	873	Social Work in Educational Settings				3
      	SW	874	Assessment and Testing in School Social Work				3
      	SW	875	School Social Work Intervention: Children with Special Needs				3
      	SW	891	Special Topics in Graduate Social Work				3

The Graduate Specialization in International Development is available as an elective for students who are enrolled in master’s and doctoral degree programs at Michigan State University.  The College of Social Science administers the specialization.  The graduate academic advisor for international development, located in the college, coordinates the specialization on behalf of the Dean.

The Specialization in International Development is  designed to:

1. Provide an opportunity for graduate students to obtain a comprehensive and contemporary academic experience in the field of international development studies.
2. Sensitize graduate students with an interest in development studies to their professional obligations and responsibilities.
3. Develop an intellectual environment that will foster the growth of research and teaching in the area of development studies.

With the approval of the department or school and college that administer the student’s degree program, the courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for the specialization may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the degree.

Requirements for the Graduate Specialization in International Development

Any course that was used to satisfy the requirements for the undergraduate Specialization in International Development may not be used to satisfy the requirements for the Graduate Specialization in International Development. The student’s program of study must be approved by the graduate student advisor for international development and must meet the requirements specified below:

The student must complete 12 credits as outlined below:

1. Complete two of the Core Courses listed below. Only one of the courses may be at the 400 level. (6 credits)
2. Complete at least two additional courses, of at least 3 credits each, which are relevant to international development either from the Core Courses listed below or from applicable courses selected in consultation with the international development advisor. (6 credits)

Core Courses: 

The Interdepartmental Graduate Specialization in Cognitive Science are available for students who are enrolled in master’s and doctoral degree programs in Audiology and Speech Sciences; Computer Science; Ecology, Evolutionary Biology and Behavior; Geography; Linguistics, Languages and Cultures; Neuroscience; Philosophy; Physics and Astronomy; Physiology; Psychiatry; Psychology; Telecommunication; and Zoology.  The College of Social Science administers the specialization.

One of the most important remaining mysteries in science is the nature of mind, whether mind be embodied in the neurons of the brain or in the silicon stuff of computer chips in an artificial brain-like system.   Cognitive Science explores how biological systems process information to produce thought and adaptive behavior and whether artificial systems can be endowed with the same capabilities.  The scientific study of the nature of mind requires a concerted effort by investigators from many different theoretical perspectives, empirical traditions, and academic disciplines. The program will make available  to students an interdisciplinary field that encompasses approaches to solving the problems of understanding the mind from a number of sharply different directions.  Students will learn about, and engage in,  research on these problems under more than one disciplinary umbrella.  The specialization is supervised by the Cognitive Science Graduate Affairs Committee.

Students seeking admission to the specialization must contact the Director of the Cognitive Science Program.  To be admitted, a student must have completed a bachelor’s degree with a grade-point average of at least 3.0 and have been admitted to a master’s or doctoral program in one of the participating departments.  Students should submit a cover letter and a personal statement describing  their interest in cognitive science  and their objectives in seeking admission.  Additional documentation may be requested.

Requirements for the Specialization in Cognitive Science

The Specialization in Cognitive Science is offered at both the master’s and the doctoral level.  No student may receive certification at both levels.  During the first year of the master’s or doctoral program, the student and the major professor select a guidance committee to assist in planning  both the student’s degree program and specialization.  At least one member of a master’s student’s guidance committee and two members of a doctoral student’s guidance committee shall be members of the Cognitive Science faculty, with one of the latter from a discipline outside the student’s major department.

Credits that are used to meet the requirements of the specialization may also be used to satisfy the requirements for the student’s major at the discretion of the department or college.  Courses that are used to satisfy the requirements for the specialization must be approved by the student’s guidance committee and should demonstrate competence in at least two areas of cognitive science.

Master’s Students must:

1. Complete 18 credits of course work as specified below.
2. Participate in a research project outside their major department, either by completing one semester of  work in a laboratory project or by enrolling in an independent study course involving collaborative work with a member of the cognitive science faculty.
   Plan A students will also complete a thesis reflecting the integration of the student’s discipline and Cognitive Science.

Doctoral Students must:

1. Complete 18 credits or course work as specified below.
2. Participate in a research project outside their major department, either by completing one semester of  work in a laboratory project or by enrolling in an independent study course involving collaborative work with a member of the cognitive science faculty.
3. Complete a dissertation that reflects the integration of the student’s discipline and Cognitive Science.

   Required Core Courses
   PSY	863	Seminar in Cognitive Science					1
   At least 16 additional credits in courses relevant to Cognitive Science.
   At least 6 of these credits, chosen from the following, must be in courses
   outside the student’s major.
   ASC	813	Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology of Speech, Language, and Hearing					3
   ASC	823A	Acquired Language Disorders					3
   ASC	914A	Speech Production and Perception I					4
   ASC	914B	Speech Production and Perception II					4
   CSE	802	Pattern Recognition and Analysis					4
   CSE	803	Computer Vision					3
   CSE	841	Artificial Intelligence					3
   CSE	845	Knowledge-Based Systems					4
   CSE	847	Machine Learning					3
   CSE	848	Evolutionary Computation					3
   CSE	885	Artificial Neural Networks					3
   CSE	941	Selected Topics in Artificial Intelligence					3
   LIN	824	Phonological Theory I					3
   LIN	834	Syntactic Theory I					3
   LIN	837	Advanced Studies in Semantics and Pragmatics					3
   LIN	850	Advanced Studies in Child Language Acquisition					3
   PHL	860	Seminar in Metaphysics and Epistemology					3
   PHL	880	Seminar in Philosophy of Science					3
   PSY	801	Sensation and Perception					3
   PSY	802	Basic Cognitive Processes					3
   PSY	803	Higher Order Cognitive Processes					3
   PSY	814	Psycholinguistics					3
   PSY	851	Neuropsychology					4
   ZOL	822	Topics in Ethology and Behavioral Ecology					3
   Other course may be substituted with prior approval of the Cognitive Science Graduate Affairs Committee.