Departments and Centers

Departments

Curriculum and instruction

In adhering to the land grant mission of the university, the Department of Curriculum and Instruction fosters an intellectual community of nationally and internationally-recognized scholars who:

advance understanding of teaching and learning through research and other scholarly endeavors, including the scholarship of teaching and the scholarship of public engagement;
support the preparation and development of scholars and educators who are leaders in their disciplines, schools, and community settings, and who are able to collaborate across disciplines to benefit those they serve;
engage in multidisciplinary pursuits with partners in P-16 schools, communities, professional associations, and other educational institutions to improve the quality of education for all learners;
address the cultural, linguistic, social, political, technological, and economic factors that influence teaching, learning, and research; and
foster educational practice that leads to a more democratic and just society.

Educational psychology involves the study of cognitive, emotional, and social learning processes that underlie education and human development across the lifespan. Research in educational psychology advances scientific knowledge of those processes and their application in diverse educational and community settings. The department provides training in the psychological foundations of education, research methods, and the practice and science of counseling psychology, school psychology, and special education. Faculty and students provide leadership and consultation to the state, the nation, and the international community in each area of educational psychology. The department’s scholarship and teaching enhance professional practice in schools and universities, community mental health agencies, business and industrial organizations, early childhood programs, and government agencies.

Family Social Science

Family Social Science Intranet

The Department of Family Social Science provides outstanding undergraduate, master’s and doctoral level education dealing with all aspects of family life in the U.S. and around the world, with the full range of factors affecting families, with family therapy, and family education. In national rankings the department is considered the premier family department in America. Departmental faculty are leaders in family research, family theory, family therapy, family education, and consultation on family issues.

Our mission is to enhance the well-being of diverse families in a changing world through teaching, research and outreach. Family Social Science is an international leader in:

Undergraduate, graduate, and extension education
Discovery and application of new knowledge
Innovative engagement with communities

Institute of Child Development

Institute of Child Development Intranet

The Institute of Child Development (Department of Child Psychology), founded in 1925, is one of the oldest departments studying children’s development in the U.S. From its inception, a key tenet of our department has been to “give away” child psychology. This philosophy has created an environment rich with collaborations, new ideas, and exciting interdisciplinary work. We offer academic programs in child psychology and early childhood education. The Shirley G. Moore Lab School, also in operation since 1925, is housed at the Institute. The Shirley G. Moore Lab School provides model training experiences for teachers of young children at both graduate and undergraduate levels and serves as an active center of child study and research.

Mission Statement

Contribute to knowledge about human development through research and related scholarly activities;
Promote the welfare and optimal development of children and youth from all cultural backgrounds in the context of family, school, and community settings;
Contribute to the advancement of human development as an interdisciplinary, basic, and applied science.

Kinesiology

Kinesiology Intranet

The mission of the school is to enrich the quality of human life by expanding, applying, and disseminating the body of knowledge germane to physical activity, recreation, sport, and their applied systems. The aspects of physical activity, recreation, and sport that are relevant to this mission include:

biological, developmental, psychosocial, and behavioral attributes of persons engaged in physical activity, recreation, and sport;
delivery systems of the educational and management enterprises that reflect the professional outgrowth of the scholarly inquiry into physical activity, recreation and sport;
applied research in all areas of human performance, physical activity, recreation, and sport;
instruction in a variety of sport, exercise, and recreational activities which enhance the quality of the University experience for all students, with an emphasis on making decisions about personal lifetime physical activity, recreational participation, health, and wellness.

This mission is accomplished by:

educating and preparing undergraduate and graduate students for professional positions, and for certification in the professions associated with the study of kinesiology, recreation, and sport (the teaching function);
scholarly inquiry, and the dissemination of knowledge about these relevant aspects of human performance, physical activity, and recreation (the research function);
providing state, national, and international leadership in the disciplines of kinesiology, recreation, and sport (professional service activities).

These pursuits are manifested in the provisions of:

undergraduate and graduate degree programs;
an all-University physical activity and health promotion program;
research programs supported by outside funding;
the publication and presentation of scientific research;
participation in college and University committees and representative governing bodies;
the provision of kinesiology, recreation, and sport related services to the surrounding community, the State of Minnesota, and to national and international agencies.

All persons have equal access to programs, facilities, and employment in the School of Kinesiology without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status or sexual orientation.

Organizational, Leadership, Policy and Development (OLPD)

OLPD Intranet

The Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development is a leader in advancing knowledge about educational and organizational change in local, national, and international contexts. Our research, teaching, and outreach reflect a commitment to interdisciplinary and intercultural engagement with educators, scholars, and policy makers seeking to enhance leadership, policy, and development around the globe.

School of Social Work (SSW)

School of Social Work Intranet

The School of Social Work was established at the University of Minnesota in 1917, the first graduate social work program among the land-grant universities in the United States. Located in a state known historically for its progressive innovations in human services and social reform, it has always emphasized social service and social justice in shaping its teaching, community service and research goals. The central mission of the School of Social Work is:

Building on the University of Minnesota’s and College of Education and Human Development’s land-grant mission of education, research, and service, the mission of the School of Social work is threefold:

to educate ethical competent social work practitioners and scholars in direct practice, community practice, teaching, theory development, policy development and evaluation;
to promote scholarship and research to expand social work knowledge, and
to provide professional outreach locally, nationally and globally. As the oldest public school of social work in the United states, the University of Minnesota School of Social Work promotes this mission through a tradition of scholarship, leadership, and commitment to the public good, social justice, and the empowerment of oppressed peoples.

Centers

Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement (CAREI)

CAREI Intranet

CAREI seeks to improve the quality of education for all learners through neutral, rigorous research and evaluation of educational contexts and initiatives.

Center for Early Education and Development (CEED)

CEED Intranet

For over 30 years CEED has helped children from infancy through age eight to learn and develop to the best of their abilities. Through research and community outreach, CEED strives to effect positive change in early education, child care, and public policy.

Institute on Community Integration (ICI)

Through collaborative research, training, and information sharing, ICI works to improve policies and practices to ensure that all children, youth, and adults with disabilities are valued by, and contribute to, their communities of choice.

Learning Technologies Media Lab (LTML)

LTML creates opportunities for global collaboration in addressing humanity’s most pressing educational, social, and environmental issues by designing and evaluating innovative technology-mediated solutions for learners, educators, researchers, and organizations around the world.

Minnesota Center for Reading Research (MCRR)

MCRR conducts research on reading instruction. It focuses on translating findings into more effective instructional practices in order to support teachers, particularly those who work with students in poverty.

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Center

The primary goal of the STEM Education Center is to have a significant impact on STEM education through concerted interdisciplinary research efforts in learning and cognition, STEM integration, instructor development, and evaluation and assessment.

University of Minnesota Child Development Center (UMCDC)

The University of Minnesota Child Development Center is a site for early development and childcare with research opportunities to further knowledge of early development, education and quality care for young children. It also offers childcare for University affiliates.