A cognate is an area of specialization developed through completion of a sequence of related courses designed to add depth to the student's doctoral program. A cognate consists of 12 hours of coursework in a disciplinary or interdisciplinary area, selected by the student in concert with the program advisor. It may be completed in any one or a combination of graduate academic units, departments, or schools. The scope and sequence of the cognate must be approved by the program advisor. Only 3 hours of practicum, independent study or directed readings type courses may be applied to the cognate with 9 hours being classroom instruction. Courses counted toward the core cannot also be counted toward the cognate.

Cognates are highly dependent upon the interests and needs of individual students. A student may choose a cognate similar to that of other students, or create a new cognate area. Because some BGSU courses are only offered in certain semesters, students are encouraged to begin working with their advisors to plan out a cognate as soon as possible.

Cognates selected by current and past doctoral students:
Adult Learning
Athletics
Budget and Finance
Comparative Higher Education
Counseling
Business Administration
College Cultures
Curriculum
Educational Gerontology
Evaluation and assessment
Gender and Diversity Issues
Interpersonal communication
Leadership Development
Law and Public Policy
Legal Aspects of Disability
Management Information Systems
Multicultural Affairs
Organizational Development
Organizational Leadership
Planning, Finances and Public Policy
Popular culture
Sports administration
Student Affairs
Student Learning
Student Retention and Persistence
Teaching Issues
Technology
Training and development
Women's Issues

Suggestions for cognate composition follow. (Check with departments for course scheduling.)

Student Affairs for Students with Non-CSP Masters Degree
CSP 602 Theory and Assessment of College Student Development
CSP 603 Theory and Assessment of Educational Environments
CSP 604 Educational Outcomes of American Colleges and Universities
HIED 789 Higher Education Administration Internship/Field Experience

Student Affairs for Students with CSP Masters Degree
CSP 620 A Developmental Perspective on the Adult Learner
CSP 680 Spiritual Dimensions in Student Affairs
CSP 680 Advanced Seminar in Student Development Theory
CSP 680 Advanced Issues in Student Affairs
HIED 734 College and University Teaching

College Teaching
CSP 621 Facilitating Adult Learning
C&TE 650 Instructional Design
C&TE 660 Evaluation (how to evaluate individual learning outcomes and program goals/objectives)
HIED 734 College and University Teaching
HIED 797 Advanced Practicum in Higher Education (co-teach a graduate course)
TECH 633 Visual Communications (teaches many software packages used for instructional design purposes)
TECH 665 Computer Courseware Design

Social Justice Issues in Higher Education
CSP 633 Women in Higher Education
CSP 680 Multicultural Issues in Higher Education
CSP 680 Social Justice Training
WS 620 Feminist Theory

Intercollegiate Athletics
HMSLS 630 Administrative Processes of Intercollegiate Athletics
HMSLS 631 Athletic and Recreation Facility Planning and Management
HMSLS 637 Sport and Higher Education
HMSLS 640 Governance of Intercollegiate Athletics

Assessment and Evaluation
C&TE 660 Evaluation (how to evaluate individual learning outcomes and program goals/objectives)
PSYC 667 Statistical Theory I
PSYC 668 Statistical Theory II
PSYC 754 Criterion Theory and Development
PSYC 768 Scaling
PSYC 769 Advanced Quantitative Methods
SOC 611 Intermediate Methodology
SOC 612 Intermediate Statistics
SOC 643 Small Groups
SOC 713 Research Design
SOC 716 Advanced Studies in Methodology
SOC 718 Measurement and Sampling
SOC 719 Advanced Statistics

Adult Learners in Higher Education
CSP 620: A Developmental Perspective on the Adult Learner
CSP 621: Facilitating Adult Learning
CSP 622: Student Services for the Adult Learner
PSYC 736: Psychology of Adult Development and Aging
BUSE 563: Teaching and Learning Strategies for Adults
Courses in Human Development and Family Studies, Women's Studies, Gerontology, Sociology, etc. that focus on adults of various age groups and life circumstances
HIED 784, 790, 797: Advanced Readings, Directed Research, or Practicum in Adult Learner Services, Learning in Retirement Programs, and other topics of interest

Comparative/International Higher Education
Global Understanding International Internship
EDFI 701 Comparative Higher Education
ECON 540 Women, the Economy, and Society
ECON 551 International Trade
ECON 552 International Monetary Economics
ECON 554 Econ Problems of Less-Dev’d Countries
ECON 572 Comparative Economic Systems
ECON 651 Seminar in International Economics
EDFI 703 Seminar in Cultural Basis of Education
ENVH 605 Introduction to Environmental Health
MCOM 570 International Press Systems
MCOM 571 International Media Networks
POLS 523 Comparative Public Administration
POLS 560 Politics and Issues of World Development
POLS 575 International Organization
POLS 576 Politics of International Economic Relations
POLS 578 International Conflict
POLS 678 Seminar in Economic Statecraft
SOC 723 Population and Third World Development
SOC 754 Women and Institutions

One example:
EDFI 701 Comparative Higher Education
ENVH 605 Introduction to Environmental Health
POLS 560 Politics and Issues of World Development

Plus 1-2 of the following:
ECON 540 Women, the Economy, and Society
ECON 554 Economic Problems of Less-Developed Countries
ECON 572 Comparative Economic Systems

Many combinations might be possible, dependent on when courses are offered and based on students' interest areas. Dr. Patty Kubow is an excellent resource for students seeking this cognate.