Graduate Program

Student Contact Information
Christopher Larranaga, Program Manager
Zimmerman Library, Room 242
(505) 277-2137
chrisla1@unm.edu  


Degrees and Certificate Offered

  • Master of Arts in Organization, Information, and Learning Sciences (M.A.)
    Concentrations: Adult Education and Professional Development; eLearning; Instructional Design and Technology; Learning Officer; Organization Development and Human Resource Development.
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Organization, Information, and Learning Sciences (Ph.D.)
  • Education Specialist Certificate in Organization, Information, and Learning Sciences (Ed.Spc.)

Admission Information

To enter the degree programs at the Master's or Doctoral level, the student must complete appropriate application materials and proceed through the admission process. Application packets and program information are available from the program office. For specific details and guidelines, contact the Program Coordinator or the Administrative Assistant. All graduate candidates are required to work under the supervision of an assigned advisor and to develop and follow a planned program of studies composed of courses selected with the approval of the faculty advisor and/or Program of Studies Committee. Courses taken without prior approval may not be accepted toward the completion of the degree.

Application Deadlines

M.A. and Ed.Spc.
Fall semester:
1st Half July 15
2nd Half September 10
Spring semester:
1st Half November 5
2nd Half February 5
Summer session: April 5
Ph.D.
Fall semester: January 15


NOTE: Doctoral admissions are made for fall semester only.


Master of Arts in Organization, Information, and Learning Sciences

The OILS Program offers a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree that gives students an opportunity to combine aspects of adult learning, learning sciences, organizational learning and development, and instructional technology that includes multimedia design and distance learning, principles of knowledge management and data management, and the design, development, and evaluation of training. OILS students can expect to develop a diverse skill set that helps them hit the ground running when they enter the workforce. They are able to design, teach, support, evaluate, lead, and manage programs for diverse audiences. Course work includes areas such as foundations of organizational learning, the adult learner, learning design, cross-cultural issues in learning, principles of knowledge management, instructional technology, e-learning, and program evaluation. Data management courses give students the conceptual and practical hands-on training that allows them to effectively design, manage, analyze, visualize, and preserve data and information. Students who are knowledgeable in these areas are at a significant competitive advantage as they pursue further academic and professional efforts. OILS courses require students to apply their learning in real world contexts. Not only do OILS graduates have the flexibility to choose where they work, they also enjoy diverse and rewarding employment options which include adult learning, instructional design and technology, organizational development, training and development, distance education, eLearning, online learning, knowledge management, data management, project management, and much more.

The M.A. in Organization, Information, and Learning Sciences is offered under two options:
Plan I: Thesis (36 credit hours)
Plan III: Coursework (30 credit hours)

Plan I Requirements

Credit
Hours
Required Core (12 credit hours)
(OILS 535
-and-
OILS 536)
-or-
OILS 545
Culture and Global eLearning I

Culture and Global eLearning II

Cross-Cultural Issues in Adult Learning
1

2
-or-
3
OILS 541 The Adult Learner 3
OILS 544 Program Evaluation 3
OILS 546 Framing Designs for Learning 2
OILS 547 Prototyping Designs for Learning 1
Area of Focus (12 credit hours)
Students will work with their advisors to select relevant courses to strengthen their preparation in specific areas of their choosing. 12
Research Methods (6 credit hours)
Research methods courses, such as OILS 570 and/or OILS 604, with advisor permission. 6
  Master's Thesis (6 credit hours) two semesters
OILS 599 Master's Thesis 6
Plan I Total 36


Plan III Requirements

   Credit
Hours
  Required Core (15 credit hours)  
(OILS 535
-and-
OILS 536)
-or-
OILS 545
Culture and Global eLearning I

Culture and Global eLearning II

Cross-Cultural Issues in Adult Learning
1

2

3
OILS 541 The Adult Learner 3
OILS 544 Program Evaluation 3
OILS 546 Framing Designs for Learning 2
OILS 547 Prototyping Designs for Learning
OILS 597 Capstone 3
Concentration (15 credit hours)
Choose from: Adult Education and Professional Development; eLearning; Instructional Design and Technology; Learning Officer; Organization Development and Human Resource Development. 15
Plan III Total 30


Adult Education and Professional Development

   Credit
Hours
Required Courses
Choose three courses from:
OILS 540 Foundations of Human Resource Development 3
OILS 545 Cross-Cultural Issues in Adult Learning 3
OILS 552 Team Development and Facilitation 3
OILS 553 The Role of Widsom in Adult Learning Across Cultures 3
OILS 555 Mentoring and Adult Career Development 3
OILS 559 Positive Psychology in Organizations 3
Subtotal 9
Electives
Any OILS courses approved by an advisor. 6
Subtotal 6


eLearning

   Credit
Hours
Required Courses
OILS 505 Management of eLearning Systems
OILS 534 Mobile Learning: Introduction to Mobile Learning and Mobile Learning Design
OILS 537 E-learning Course Design I 1
OILS 538 E-learning Course Design II 2
Subtotal 9
Electives (choose from):
OILS 501 Presentation Technologies 3
OILS 502 Instructional Multimedia
OILS 503 Digital Video Techniques for Instruction 3
OILS 504 Instructional Use of Computer Simulations and Games 3
OILS 506 Exploring Virtual Worlds and Virtual Reality in Online Learning Environments 3
OILS 510 Designing Knowledge Management Solutions 3
OILS 533 Management of Learning Technology 3
OILS 554 Consulting and Project Management 3
Subtotal 6


Instructional Design and Technology

   Credit
Hours
Required Courses
OILS 502
-or-
OILS 504
Instructional Multimedia

Instructional Use of Computer Simulations and Games
3
OILS 505 Management of eLearning Systems 3
OILS 554 Consulting and Project Management 3
Subtotal 9
Electives (choose from):
OILS 500 Contemporary Instructional Technologies: Survey 3
OILS 501 Presentation Technologies 3
OILS 502 Instructional Multimedia 3
OILS 503 Digital Video Techniques for Instruction 3
OILS 504 Instructional Use of Computer Simulations and Games 3  
OILS 506 Exploring Virtual Worlds and Virtual Reality in Online Learning Environments
OILS 533 Management of Learning Technology 3
OILS 534 Mobile Learning: Introduction to Mobile Learning and Mobile Learning Design 3
OILS 537 E-learning Course Design I 1
OILS 538 E-learning Course Design II 2
Subtotal 6


Learning Officer

   Credit
Hours
Required Courses
Note: Students in the Learning Officer concentration are required to take OILS 535 and OILS 536 from the Plan III Core table.
OILS 540 Foundations of Human Resource Development 3
OILS 542 Theory and Practice of Organizational Learning
OILS 551 Training and Development 3
OILS 558 Leading Change 3
Subtotal 12
Elective (choose from):
OILS 500 Contemporary Instructional Technologies: Survey 3
OILS 552 Team Development and Facilitation 3
OILS 554 Consulting and Project Management 3
OILS 557 Human Performance Improvement 3
Subtotal 3


Organization Development and Human Resource Development

   Credit
Hours
Required Courses
OILS 540 Foundations of Human Resource Development 3
OILS 542 Theory and Practice of Organizational Learning 3
OILS 551 Training and Development 3  
Subtotal 9
Electives (choose from):
OILS 554 Consulting and Project Management 3
OILS 557 Human Performance Improvement 3
OILS 558 Leading Change 3
Other OILS courses
Subtotal 6

Doctor of Philosophy in Organization, Information, and Learning Sciences

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Organization, Information, and Learning Sciences is a research degree. It is designed to develop the candidate’s competencies to design, conduct, and report original theoretical and applied research in the selected area of study. The Program of Studies and the dissertation reflect an emphasis on theoretical concepts, inquiry skills, and original research.

Requirements

An Organization, Information, and Learning Sciences Ph.D. candidate must complete an approved program of studies of no less than 60 graduate credit hours of course work plus 18 credit hours of dissertation. All candidates complete the required core courses (18 credit hours), concentration courses (24 credit hours) and research courses (18 credit hours).

Candidates for the Ph.D. are required to demonstrate inquiry skills appropriate to conducting scholarly research. The identification and certification of the inquiry skills are completed by the student’s Program of Studies Committee on Studies prior to the candidate’s starting work on a dissertation.

The dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy must demonstrate an ability to conduct independent research and competence in scholarly exposition. Both traditional and non-traditional (hybrid) dissertation options are accepted. Students should choose an option in consultation with their committee members. It should present original investigation at an advanced level, of a significant problem and should provide the basis for a publishable contribution to the research literature of the major field. A non-traditional (hybrid) dissertation consists of a collection of related articles prepared and/or submitted for publication or already published. Each dissertation must include “introduction” and “conclusion” sections. The student must meet the general manuscript format criteria set forth in the UNM Catalog on manuscript guidelines. Students must adhere to copyright policies for obtaining permission to use a previously published manuscript.

The Ph.D. degree in Organization, Information, and Learning Sciences includes a minimum 60 course work credit hours plus 18 dissertation credit hours. Students must meet with their advisor in their first semester to begin planning their program of studies.

Doctoral Core (18 credit hours)

OILS 570 must be taken in the first semester of course work. OILS 541 and 543 must be taken in the first year, as these courses are prerequisites to many other courses. Students who have already taken OILS 541 and/or OILS 543, or equivalent courses may transfer those courses. 

OILS 541 The Adult Learner
OILS 543 Instructional Design
OILS 570 Research Foundation in Social and Learning Sciences
OILS 601 Advanced Instructional Design
OILS 690 Dissertation Proposal Seminar
OILS 696 Research Practicum


Doctoral Concentration (24 credit hours)

The courses selected are chosen in concert with the student’s advisor and reflect the student’s particular programmatic interest. For example, if students are particularly interested in the use of multimedia and distance learning technologies, they choose a set of courses that help them develop these areas of expertise. Likewise, if students are interested in training and organization development knowledge and skills, they choose courses that develop these areas of expertise. 

Students must take 9 credit hours of doctoral-level seminar courses to be selected from the following 3 credit hour seminars:

OILS 600 Science, Technology and Society
OILS 608 Advanced Seminar in Organizational and Program Evaluation
OILS 635 Research in Online Education (this course carries prerequisites that may be taken as part of the core and concentration)
OILS 639 Advanced Instructional Technology Seminar
OILS 641 Advanced Seminar on Organization Development and Consulting
OILS 661 Seminar: Transformational Learning
OILS 642 Advanced Seminar in Organizational Leadership


Six credit hours must be taken outside of OILS to develop an interdisciplinary lens on the concentration.

An additional 9 credit hours of graduate course work in OILS may include 500-level courses taken to meet prerequisites for 600-level courses, other 500- and 600-level OILS course work, and OILS 698 Directed Readings in Organization, Information, and Learning Sciences.

Research Requirement (18 credit hours)

Students must complete at least one quantitative and one qualitative course. These courses must be approved by the advisor. Students must enroll in OILS 604 for at least 9 credit hours. 

OILS 604 Current Research Methods for the Study of Learning


Students should take at least two advanced research courses, based on the qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods focus of the dissertation, such as from the list below, but other courses may be approved by the student’s Program of Studies Committee Chairperson.

CJ 609 Mixed Methods Research Designs
EDPY 607 Structural Equation Modeling
EDPY 651 Advanced Seminar in Quantitative Educational Research
LLSS 605 Advanced Qualitative Research Methods
LLSS 606 Case Study Research Methods
LLSS 623 Ethnographic Research
NURS 613 Mixed Methods Research
STAT 565 Stochastic Processes with Applications
STAT 577 Introduction to Bayseian Modeling
STAT 586 Nonparametric Curve Estimation and Image Reconstruction
STAT 590 Statistical Computing


Transfer Credit Hours

Students who have previously completed graduate course work outside OILS from UNM may request to transfer in up to 6 of those credit hours for the doctoral concentration requirement of taking courses outside OILS. The final decision of which courses are accepted is made by the student’s Program of Studies Committee. For more information on the transfer of courses, see Transfer Credit in the Graduate Program section of this Catalog.


Courses

IADL 1110. Introduction to Information Studies. (3)



OILS 102. Online Learning and Strategies for Success. (3)



OILS 293. Topics. (1-3, no limit Δ)



OILS 320. Managing Information for Professionals. (3)



OILS 391 / 591. Problems. (1-3 to a maximum of 18 Δ)



OILS 403. Ethics and Diversity Training in the Workplace. (3)



OILS 405 / 505. Management of eLearning Systems. (3)



OILS 420. Creativity and Technical Design. (3)



OILS 421. Production and Utilization of Instructional Materials. (3)



OILS 440. Survey of Human Resource Development. (3)



OILS 457. Leading the Training Organization. (3)



OILS 466. Principles of Adult Learning. (3)



OILS 470. Workplace Training. (3)



OILS 471. Designing Training. (3)



OILS 472. Training Techniques. (3)



OILS 473. Analyzing and Measuring Training and Performance. (3)



OILS 481. Technological Change and Society. (3)



OILS 483. eLearning and Instructional Technology. (3)



OILS 492 / 592. Workshop. (1-4 to a maximum of 13 Δ)



OILS 493 / 593. Topics. (1-3, no limit Δ)



OILS 495. Field Experience. (3-6 to a maximum of 12 Δ)



OILS 500. Contemporary Instructional Technologies: Survey. (3)



OILS 501. Presentation Technologies. (3)



OILS 502. Instructional Multimedia. (3)



OILS 503. Digital Video Techniques for Instruction. (3)



OILS 504. Instructional Use of Computer Simulations and Games. (3)



OILS 505 / 405. Management of eLearning Systems. (3)



OILS 506. Exploring Virtual Worlds and Virtual Reality in Online Learning Environments. (3)



OILS 510. Designing Knowledge Management Solutions. (3)



OILS 513. Digital Information Management. (3)



OILS 515. Introduction to Spatial Data Management. (3)



OILS 532. eLearning Course Design. (3)



OILS 533. Management of Learning Technology. (3)



OILS 534. Mobile Learning: Introduction to Mobile Learning and Mobile Learning Design. (3)



OILS 535. Culture and Global eLearning I. (1)



OILS 536. Culture and Global eLearning II. (2)



OILS 537. E-learning Course Design I. (1)



OILS 538. E-learning Course Design II. (2)



OILS 540. Foundations of Human Resource Development. (3)



OILS 541. The Adult Learner. (3)



OILS 542. Theory and Practice of Organizational Learning. (3)



OILS 543. Instructional Design. (3)



OILS 544. Program Evaluation. (3)



OILS 545. Cross-Cultural Issues in Adult Learning. (3)



OILS 546. Framing Designs for Learning. (2)



OILS 547. Prototyping Designs for Learning. (1)



OILS 549. Building Social Capital in Learning Organizations. (3)



OILS 551. Training and Development. (3)



OILS 552. Team Development and Facilitation. (3)



OILS 553. The Role of Wisdom in Adult Learning Across Cultures. (3)



OILS 554. Consulting and Project Management. (3)



OILS 555. Mentoring and Adult Career Development. (3)



OILS 556. The Business of Learning. (3)



OILS 557. Human Performance Improvement. (3)



OILS 558. Leading Change. (3)



OILS 559. Positive Psychology in Organizations. (3)



OILS 570. Research Foundation in Social and Learning Sciences. (3)



OILS 583. Graduate Teaching I. (1-3 to a maximum of 3 Δ)



OILS 591 / 391. Problems. (1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



OILS 592 / 492. Workshop. (1-4)



OILS 593 / 493. Topics. (1-3, no limit Δ)



OILS 595. Field Experiences. (3-6 to a maximum of 12 Δ)



OILS 596. Internship. (3-6 to a maximum of 12 Δ)



OILS 597. Capstone. (1, may be repeated twice Δ)



OILS 598. Directed Readings in Organization, Information, and Learning Sciences. (3-6 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



OILS 599. Master's Thesis. (1-6, no limit Δ)



OILS 600. Science, Technology and Society. (3)



OILS 601. Advanced Instructional Design. (3)



OILS 604. Current Research Methods for the Study of Learning. (1 or 3 to a maximum of 15 Δ)



OILS 608. Advanced Seminar in Organizational and Program Evaluation. (3)



OILS 635. Research in Online Education. (3)



OILS 639. Advanced Instructional Technology Seminar. (3)



OILS 641. Advanced Seminar on Organization Development and Consulting. (3)



OILS 642. Advanced Seminar in Organizational Leadership. (3)



OILS 661. Seminar: Transformational Learning. (3)



OILS 690. Dissertation Proposal Seminar. (3-6 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



OILS 693. Topics in Organization, Information, and Learning Sciences. (1-3, no limit Δ)



OILS 696. Research Practicum. (3-6 to a maximum of 12 Δ)



OILS 698. Directed Readings in Organization, Information, and Learning Sciences. (1-3 to a maximum of 6 Δ)



OILS 699. Dissertation. (3-12, no limit Δ)



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Office of the Registrar

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Phone: (505) 277-8900
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