2014-2015 Graduate Catalog

Educational Psychology Ph.D.

The overall goal of the program is to produce university instructors and scholars capable of original basic and applied research in psychological and educational processes.

There is considerable emphasis on research training within the program. Research topics of the faculty pertain to processes in learning cognition, and development, measurement and assessment, social perspectives to research design and to applications of the findings from educational psychology to informal and informal educational settings.

Upon meeting the admission criteria for the Graduate School, the candidate's application is forwarded to the program area faculty for review. Reviews by the program area faculty are typically conducted within four weeks of receipt of the application. Decisions regarding admission are communicated to the applicant before the beginning of the next semester. Although students may enroll any semester following admission, they are strongly encouraged to begin their program in either the summer or fall term in order to enter the proper sequencing of courses.

Applications are evaluated case by case according to the following preferred guidelines:

  • GRE combined score of 1,200 on the verbal and quantitative reasoning sections, with a minimum verbal score of 500 and an analytical writing score of at least 4.0.
  • GPA of 3.5 (4.0 scale) in the last 60 semester hours of academic work.
  • Three letters of recommendation indicating a high potential for success in a doctoral research program.
  • A written statement of career goals and a resume.
  • Congruency between the applicant's career goals and the purpose of the Ph.D. program.

The doctoral program contains a common core of courses and three areas of emphasis: Learning and Cognitive Processes, Human Development, and Research, and Measurement. All students must take the common core emphasis area and electives in consultation with the advisor. Students must take a minimum of 67 hours to graduate. A doctoral minor is also available.

For degree and program requirements, see:

Educational Psychology Ph.D.

Educational Psychology Doctoral Minor