An Interdisciplinary Approach to the Study of Individuals in Context
The Department of Comparative Human Development at the University of Chicago is an interdisciplinary program in the social sciences that links theory and methodology from fields such as cultural psychology, comparative behavioral biology, sociology, and anthropology.
The Department offers programs of research leading to BA and PhD, as well as graduate and undergraduate study in life course development, mental health, personality, and emotions, cross cultural studies (including psychological anthropology and cultural psychology), and comparative behavioral biology. The research interests of the faculty represent various disciplines within the social sciences. Emphasis is upon the interrelations of biological, psychological, and sociocultural forces at different points in the life cycle. The primary objectives of the Department are to provide education for innovative careers in research and teaching, and to contribute to the interdisciplinary understanding of human behavior. Students in the Department pursue careers in human development, psychology, anthropology, biology, sociology, and education.
Faculty Spotlight
Jennifer Cole wins prize for graduate student teaching, brings out volume on "Love in Africa"
Jennifer Cole was one of two faculty members in the entire Division of the Social Sciences to win the Faculty Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching for graduate student teaching at the Spring 2009 commencement. Recipients are nominated by graduate students who write supporting letters. Awards are then made on the volume and quality of those letters.
A Nigerian author once said that if you want to write a successful book about African be sure to include words like “darkness” or “safari’, but never write about love between Africans. Professor Cole and her co-editor, Lynn Thomas, have broken that taboo with their new edited volume, “Love in Africa,” published by the University of Chicago Press. It includes information on love in the movies, advice columns, managing men and much more.
Upcoming Events
In The News
Pre-Doctoral Fellowship in Quantitative Methods in Education and Human Development
This year the Department of Comparative Human Development, in conjunction with the Committee on Education, will offer a five-year pre-doctoral fellowship to an applicant to Comparative Human Development interested in advancing quantitative methods in human development and education. Applicants should be interested in such issues as how to define, assess, and analyze individual growth and change in important domains of development; how to measure the structure, process, and quality of educational experiences in classrooms, schools, and other related settings; or how to evaluate the impact of educational interventions on child and youth development via changes in educational experiences, while taking into account the interplay between individuals and the social settings. This fellowship will support the doctoral study of a student interested in contributing to research in this area. The fellowship will provide full tuition, stipend, and health benefits for five years. In addition to completing the online application for admission (http://socialsciences.uchicago.edu/prospective/admissions/), interested applicants should write a one-two page description of past training and current interests in human development, education, and quantitative social science methods. This description should be e-mailed to Assistant Dean of Students Kelly Pollock at kpollock@uchicago.edu by Monday, December 14, 2009. Applying for this fellowship does not preclude an applicant from being considered for other financial support from the University.
Richard Taub's Final Annual Newsletter
Workshop on City, Society, and Space (formally the Urban Workshop)
The Workshop on City, Society, and Space (formally the Urban Workshop) has been revived. This year the workshop will meet on alternate Wednesdays at 12pm (beginning October 7th) in STUART 101. More
