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College of Education & Human Development Institute of Child Development

Institute of Child Development
51 East River Road - Minneapolis, MN 55455 USA
Tel: 612-624-0526 - Fax: 612-624-6373

Doctoral minor in interpersonal relationships research (IREL)

The minor in interpersonal relationships research provides doctoral students at the University of Minnesota with broad theoretical and methodological foundations for research on behavioral interaction patterns between two persons and the impact of these interactions. A recently recognized and rapidly advancing multidisciplinary field of scientific inquiry, the roots of interpersonal relationships research lie in psychology, sociology, family studies, communication, and nursing. The program brings together faculty and students active in research on interpersonal relationships from eight University departments and schools.

Curriculum

The minor requires a minimum of 14 credits. These include three required core courses and additional elective courses.

Core courses

All students seeking to complete the interpersonal relationships research doctoral minor are required to take the following core courses.

Psy 5204—Psychology of Interpersonal Relationships (3 cr.; prereq honors or grad student or 3201 or #)

Broad introduction to interpersonal relationship theory and research findings, with emphasis on conceptual and methodological issues in relationship research.

OR

Psy 8202—Seminar in Close Relationships (3 cr.; prereq grad student or admission to Interpersonal Relationships research grad minor)

Survey of classic and contemporary theory and research on close relationships, with an emphasis on different theoretical perspectives and romantic relationships.


IREL 8001—Proseminar in Interpersonal Relationships Research
(1 cr. per semester [max. 2 cr.]; prereq admission to Interpersonal Relationships research grad minor)

Survey of major topics in interpersonal relationships research, including theoretical assumptions, methods, and samples of current research.


IREL 8021—Seminar:  Statistical and Methodological Issues in Research on Dyadic Relationships
(3 cr.; prereq admission to IRel minor, #) (Same as FSOS 8014, Quantitative Family Research)

Survey of topics in design and analysis of research on behavior in two-person interactions.


IREL 8360—Seminar:  Topics in Interpersonal Relationships Research
(1-4 cr.; prereq admission to IRel minor, #)

Intensive study of selected topics in interpersonal relationship research.

Elective courses

The remainder of the credits for the minor can be selected from a designated course list that includes approximately 40 courses offered by many disciplines. These courses include offerings on the analysis of dyadic interaction, contexts of dyadic interaction, research methods, and applications of theory and research on interpersonal relationships. Credits from courses in the student's major department, however, do not count toward the minor.

Colloquia and seminars

The doctoral minor program supports a series of visits from distinguished scholars active in research on interpersonal relationships. The visitors present public lectures and participate in seminars and courses for students pursuing the doctoral minor.

Faculty

Admission requirements

The doctoral minor program in interpersonal relationships research is open to doctoral students who have been admitted to the Graduate School and to a doctoral program in a degree-granting department.

Application procedures

Program applications and further information are available from:

Director of the IREL Program
Department of Psychology
S354 Elliott Hall
University of Minnesota
75 E. River Road, Minneapolis, MN  55455-0344
Telephone: 612-626-0025
E-mail: simps108@umn.edu

June 2008

 
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Last modified on September 23, 2008