An important component of the UCSB program in language acquisition is the interdisciplinary emphasis in human development. The IHD program brings together faculty and graduate students from the departments of linguistics, communication, education, psychology, and sociology who share a common interest in human development. The emphasis offers special training in three areas: social-emotional development, cognitive development, and the development of complex communication processes, including language acquisition. Courses in the participating departments provide students with an opportunity to pursue their interests in diverse areas involving the biological, cognitive, and sociocultural forces affecting processes of developmental change. In the ongoing IHD proseminar, participants meet research scholars and other professionals, learning from them and from one another about the diverse methodological and theoretical approaches currently employed in the study of human development. For more information, see the General Catalog.
