Educational Psychology students learn to approach decision making and to problem-solve from a data-based orientation, to apply critical and reflective analysis to all knowledge production, and to work toward the overall intellectual and affective betterment of humankind.  Graduates of this program secure positions as university faculty members, as psychological and educational researchers, and as program evaluators in research and consulting firms, foundations, public schools, industry, state and federal departments of education, and the military.

Degree Requirements

Major Requirements (36 cr.)

In addition to the 18 hours required below the student will work with their advisor to select 18 additional hours to meet the minimum needed.

• P601 Educational and Historical Foundations of Psychology (3 cr.)

• P513 Gerontology:  Multidisciplinary Perspectives (3 cr.)
• P514 Life Span Development: Birth to Death (3 cr.)
• P515 Child Development (3 cr.)
• P516 Adolescent Development (3 cr.)
• P517 Adult Development and Aging (3 cr.)
• P518 Social Aspects of Aging (3 cr.)
• P622 Social Development (3 cr.)
• P623 Child Development (3 cr.)
• P624 The Biology of Behavior: Implications for Educational & Clinical Practice (3 cr.)
• P625 Family Processes (3 cr.)

• P540 Learning and Cognition in Education (3 cr.)
• P544 Applied Cognition and Learning Strategies (3 cr.)
• P545 Educational Motivation (3 cr.)
• P566 Social Psychology in Education (3 cr.)
• P590 Independent Study or Research in Educational Psychology (3 cr.)
• P600 Topical Seminar in Learning, Cognition & Instruction (3 cr.)
• P640 Thinking and Learning in Social Contexts (3 cr.)
• P650 Topical Seminar in Educational Psychology (3 cr.)

Inquiry Core (15 cr. minimum)

The Inquiry component emphasizes methodological skills which provide a basis for conducting original research. The following three courses are required:

• Y521 Methodological Approaches to Educational Inquiry (3 cr.)
• Y502 Intermediate Statistics Applied to Education (3 cr.)
  (Must be taken concurrently with Y500)
• Y527 Educational Assessment and Psychological Assessment (3 cr.)

Select two courses from the following:

• H510 Foundations of Educational Inquiry (3 cr.)
• H601 Historical Inquiry in Education (3 cr.)
• Y535 Evaluation Models and Techniques (3 cr.)
• Y603 Statistical Design of Educational Research (3 cr.)
  (Must be taken concurrently with Y500.)
• Y604 Multivariate Analysis in Educational Research (3 cr.)
  (Must be taken concurrently with Y500.)
• Y611 Qualitative Inquiry in Education (3 cr.)
• Y617 Psychometric Theory (3 cr.)
• Y627 Seminar in Educational and Psychological Measurement I (3 cr.)
• Y635 Methodology of Educational Evaluation (3 cr.)
• Y750 Seminar in Inquiry Methodology (3 cr.)

Minor Requirements (12 cr.)

The minor must have integrity in its own right and must complement the major. The minor field must demonstrate wholeness within itself and contribute to the student's overall doctoral program. Minors are generally formulated within a single program area. However, an interdisciplinary or individualized minor is also possible. Interdisciplinary or individualized minors require a written description of the minor's underlying theme along with a rationale for each course's contribution to that theme through the Minor Justification form. This form should be submitted and approved by the Graduate Studies Office before enrolling in the minor courses.

Students will select a minor field of study to complement their major in educational psychology. The minor serves to develop students’ substantive area of interest. Major area courses may not be used in the minor.

Elective Requirements

Elective courses are chosen to fill out the major and to contribute to the integrity of the student’s program.  These courses are taken in the student’s area of interest, within or outside the department, to fulfill the total program requirement of 90 credit hours.

Early Inquiry Experience

To satisfy the program requirements, the student must carry out an independent research project as an early inquiry experience. The resulting research report must be read and approved by the major members of the program of studies committee. This project must be completed before advancing to candidacy and is expected to be completed in the first three years. A master’s thesis can be considered but must meet the same approval process.

Dissertation Requirements (15 cr.)

• P795 Dissertation Proposal Preparation (3 cr.)
• P799 Doctoral Thesis in Educational Psychology (12 cr.)