COLLEGE OF

Education and Human Development

Graduate students at CEHD

The College of Education and Human Development aims to supports our graduate students throughout their studies as they develop the practical skills necessary to reach their goals and explore the career options related to open to them with their graduate education experience. Whether you are planning for an academic or a non-academic a career in academia or any other industry, we strive to be a resource for you and to provide you with the tools to be successful.

What CEHD students do after graduation

Within 12 months of graduating 93.4% of CEHD graduates are employed or continuing their education. 

55% Employed by company or organization
37% Accepted or enrolled in graduate or professional program
2% Involved in other career-related activities (paid/unpaid internship, working freelance/contract, military service, or volunteer service)

Source: Post-Graduation Survey of CEHD Undergraduate Students Spring 2022 and Fall 2022. Knowledge Rate = 71.2%. 
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), a knowledge rate is the percentage of graduates for whom you have knowledge about their first-destination career outcomes (either survey response or other legitimate sources of information such as faculty, employers, and social media). A knowledge rate of 65% is recommended by NACE.

Graduate career outcomes

One of the many benefits of being a College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) student is choosing a major or program that is interesting to you and prepares you for exciting careers.

Each year we ask our recent graduates what they are doing with their CEHD degrees. This and other career information is organized for you to explore potential employers and career opportunities related to areas of study at CEHD. These lists are not exhaustive -- find out about other careers that might interest you.

Post Graduation Survey 

The University of Minnesota conducts a Post-Graduation Survey (PGS) where we reach out to graduates of undergraduate degree programs to learn about their plans during their first year post-graduation. Data includes career outcomes, employment information, and continuing education plans with multiple filters. This dashboard shows PGS results from all University of Minnesota colleges.

Career Areas Related to CEHD Programs

Students with a degree from CEHD gain transferable skills and use their education in a variety of careers and work settings. Find out about the employment trends, potential employers, and ways to prepare for some of the career areas that CEHD graduates have entered.

Engage during your grad school experience

All CEHD programs are unique and lead to wonderful opportunities to build your academic and career profile. You will go further and faster in your journey when you connect with peers and other academics.

We encourage you to engage with students from other programs within and outside of the U of M. This is the best way to build relationships and expand your network. There are also department-specific organizations that you can get involved in. Just ask your faculty!

UMN community

Graduate School: Academic and Career Support supports UMN graduate students and postdoctoral scholars by offering a wide range of resources to help you thrive academically and prepare for diverse career pathways.

The Graduate School Diversity Office provides a list of student organizations and resources for students to engage around a variety of interests and communities.

Graduate Students in Education and Human Development (GradSEHD) holds events (in-person and virtual), provides grants, and connects with and advocates for the 2,000+ professional and graduate students in CEHD. Involvement is a great way to build connections across disciplines.

The Council of Graduate Students (COGS) is a university-wide student organization that represents, advocates for, informs, facilitates communications among, and supports Twin Cities graduate students (students who are seeking a research degree: a PhD or a masters that is associated with a PhD program).

Broader graduate community

The GradHacker blog is written by graduate students and is a great way to hear from other graduate students about their experiences in varied programs across the United States.

PhDivas Podcast, hosted by Liz Wayne and Christine “Xine” Yao, is about academia, culture, and social justice across the STEM/humanities divide. An engaging conversation between friends and scholars, PhDivas fills a niche for witty and insightful discussion and proves that PhDs in engineering and English literature have more in common than meets the eye.

PhD alumni careers

Graduates of our PhD programs go on to tenure-track positions at higher education institutions across the United States and abroad.

Careers outside of academia

Though most graduates pursue careers in academia, many have applied their knowledge towards developing professions in a variety of industries. Below is a listing of careers from our alumni. View the full list.

Developmental psychology PhD alumni

  • Clinical Psychologist, Anxiety Treatment Resources
  • Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Children's Minnesota
  • Manager, Hennepin Healthcare
  • Owner, DeveloPlay, LLC
  • Psychologist, Children's Minnesota
  • Research Director, Pearson
  • Social Science Research Analyst, United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)
  • Research Associate, Social Research and Demonstration Corporation
  • School Psychologist, Minneapolis Public Schools
  • Senior Research Scientist, The Nemours Foundation

Curriculum and instruction PhD alumni

  • Assistant Principal, Ascension Catholic School
  • Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Aquarian Knowledge
  • Director, RSM US, LLP
  • Senior Project Manager, Apple Inc.
  • Program Officer, U.S. State Department
  • Assistant Superintendent, Bloomington Public Schools
  • Director, St. Louis Park Public Schools
  • Principal, Anoka-Hennepin School District
  • Program Officer, Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies

Educational policy and administration PhD alumni

  • Director of Student Services, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
  • Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Stolz Consulting
  • Manager, Minnesota Department of Education
  • Director, Korean Educational Development Institute (KEDI)
  • Executive Director, Sabes Jewish Community Center
  • Grants Manager, Ford Foundation
  • Principal, Minneapolis Public Schools

Educational psychology PhD alumni

  • Clinical Scientist, Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare
  • Epidemiologist, 3M Company
  • Licensed Psychologist, Affirmative Counseling and Psychological Services, LLC.
  • Manager, Science Museum of Minnesota
  • Psychologist, Allina Health
  • Senior Clinical Psychologist, Hennepin County Medical Center, Minnesota
  • Advisor, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (NIH)
  • Analyst, Minnesota Department of Education
  • Assistant Director, Robbinsdale School District

Family social science PhD alumni

  • Clinical Manager, Paragon Residential Treatment for Youth, LLC
  • Director, Native American Community Clinic
  • Licensed Marriage And Family Therapist, Northwest Relationships
  • Manager, Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare
  • Psychologist, HealthPartners
  • Consultant, Smithsonian Institution
  • Director, Minnesota Department of Human Services
  • Research Manager, Amherst H. Wilder Foundation
  • Research Scientist, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation

Kinesiology PhD alumni

  • Clinical Scientist, Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare
  • Director, Philadelphia Flyers
  • Manager, Mount Sinai Health System
  • Research Consultant, Elite Research Institute
  • Physiologist, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (NIH)
  • Research Physiologist, US Army Center for Environmental Health Research

Social work PhD alumni

  • Assistant Professor, Augsburg University, Minneapolis
  • Assistant Professor, East Carolina University
  • Assistant Professor, Indiana University - Bloomington
  • Chief Editor, Graduate Journal of Social Science
  • Supervising Attorney, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid
  • Executive Director, KVC Health Systems, Inc

Work and human resource education PhD alumni

  • Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Human Care, Inc
  • Editor, Next Level Publishing
  • Research Fellow, Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training (KRIVET)
  • Senior Consultant, Willis Towers Watson
  • Manager, Yinghua Academy