Human Development PhD Concentrations

Students matriculated into the Fall 2016 catalog or later in the HD program can concentrate their elective studies in the HD/OD&C concentrations listed below, or from any concentration offered in other School of Leadership Studies doctoral degrees or from the IECD doctoral program. In this way, students can individualize their doctoral program and expand their professional expertise. Each concentration typically includes a minimum of three tailored courses and access to a community of scholar-practitioners who are passionate about this specialized field of study.

Creative Longevity & Wisdom Concentration

The goal of the Creative Longevity & Wisdom concentration is to enhance knowledge and practice in areas concerning mid-life and older adults.

Required

• HOD-837 Ethnography and Crossing Borders 4 semester credits • HOD-850 Creative Longevity and Wisdom 4 semester credits • HOD-856 Writing Phenomenology 4 semester credits

Somatics, Phenomenology and Communicative Leadership Concentration

This Somatics, Phenomenology & Communicative Leadership Concentration combines and integrates scholarly theory and mastery of embodied mindful awareness (somatics) with substantial grounding in transformative phenomenology (consciousness and deep personal reflection) along with the interpretive and practical dynamics of social constructionism (Coordinated Management of Meaning (CMM), Symbolic Interactionism, and related communication and social construction disciplines). The impact of the artful blending of these three disciplines and bodies of theory is to: (1) reinforce the validity of "essence-based evidence" available through the phenomenological lens, (2) provide insights into improved research and practice through lifeworld analysis (3) improve practice skills through somatic awareness and practices (4) intensify and enhance leadership skills through increase communication practices such as CMM, (Communicative Management of Meaning) which was developed and perfected by the late Barnett Pearce, HOD Professor Emeritus, and (5) increase contemplative skills as related to research and practice based.

Required

• HOD-854 Somatics in Human and Organization Development 4 semester credits • HOD-856 Writing Phenomenology 4 semester credits • HOD-859 Communications Theory and Practice 4 semester credits