School of Psychological Sciences

Educational Psychology

The master's and doctoral programs are designed to prepare individuals for educational activities such as instruction, evaluation, test construction, educational research, educational consulting to business and public schools, and university teaching. All students must abide by the codes of ethics of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the American Educational Research Association (AERA).

Educational Psychology offers programs and service courses at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. The program faculty provide courses on psychological principles and theories and research methodologies as applied to the educational process. These applications range from everyday concerns in the public school classroom to basic research on learning and cognition, and the development of children, adolescents, and adults. Faculty and students have access to computers, a complete set of data analysis software packages and laboratory facilities available for both teaching and research purposes. Service courses are offered to support other university programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Accelerated (4 + 1) Psychology B.A. and Educational Psychology M.A.

Motivated and high-achieving students may seek to complete the requirements for the B.A. in Psychology and M.A. in Educational Psychology in five years. To obtain both degrees, students must complete all the requirements for the B.A. described in the Undergraduate Catalog and all of the requirements for the M.A. described in the Graduate Catalog. Completing the requirements for both degrees in the accelerated Master's program is made possible by taking 9 credits of graduate course work in the junior and senior years (paid for at the undergraduate tuition rate). Students remain eligible for financial aid as an undergraduate; any Graduate School aid is not available until students are admitted as a Graduate student.

Students interested in transferring into an accelerated Master’s Program must:

• Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 to take graduate-level courses as a junior or senior.
• Meet with the program’s advisor in their junior year, apply (following the same procedure and meeting the same requirements as other M.A. applicants). Full admission is dependent on completing the B.A. requirements in the senior year while maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA.
• Students and faculty identify the graduate courses the students should take. The program application will be signed and forwarded to the Graduate School with signatures of the program advisor indicating the approval of graduate course transfer.

Educational Psychology M.A.

Upon meeting the admission criteria for the Graduate School, the candidate's application is forwarded to the program area faculty for review. Applications are processed as they are received. 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 require a description of educationally-related work experience, statement of interest and career goals, three letters of reference, and GRE scores should be submitted if available, but are not required.

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

• GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 semester hours of academic work.
• Three letters of recommendation indicating a high potential for academic success.
• Congruency between the applicant's career goals and the purpose of the M.A. program as indicated by the letter of interest.
• Educationally-related work experience is desirable, but not required.

For degree and program requirements, see:

Educational Psychology M.A.

Educational Psychology: Teaching Applications M.A.

The Educational Psychology: Teaching Applications Concentration is designed specifically for teachers. The strategically-designed online program will help teachers optimize teaching and learning processes in the classroom.

Applications are due April 1^st of each year and all applications are reviewed at the same time after the deadline. Applicants can expect to hear from us by the end of April. The program is a cohort model, in which all participants start in the summer term and take courses together throughout the program.

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

• Possess (or be in the process of finishing) a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university, or a comparable degree from a foreign institution.
• Have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better (on a 4.00 point scale) for the most recent degree earned or current degree in progress.
  • If you are still completing your bachelor's degree at the time you apply, admission will be based on your current cumulative GPA, and you will need to re-submit your official transcript (showing your conferred degree and final GPA) during your first semester. If your final GPA fell below 3.00, you will be given additional requirements as defined by the academic program that must be met within one calendar year to remain enrolled at UNC.
  • If you have completed a master's degree, or at least 18 credit hours towards a master's degree, the GPA of your master's work will be used.
• If your GPA for your most recent degree earned or current degree in progress is under 3.0, we ask that you provide us with a rationale regarding why we should consider you for the program (e.g., evidence of success in your profession; length of time since your undergraduate degree, etc.). This rationale should be provided as part of your Personal Statement (see below).
• Note: The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is NOT required for this program.

For further information, see:

extended.unco.edu/programs/educational-psychology-teaching-masters/

For degree and program requirements, see:

Educational Psychology: Teaching Applications M.A.

Educational Psychology M.A. en route to the Ph.D.

Students may apply for admission to the Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and complete their M.A. in Educational Psychology on the way to the doctoral degree. The application process and the admission criteria are the same as for the Ph.D. program. Once admitted, students will complete the 30 credit M.A. program. Students must complete all program requirements (including Comprehensive Examination) for the M.A. in addition to the minimum credit hours required for the Ph.D. Students must be conferred with the M.A. degree prior to admission to doctoral candidacy.

For degree and program requirements, see:

Educational Psychology M.A.

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 include learning, cognition, motivation, development, measurement, assessment, and social and cultural process with applications to formal and informal educational settings.

Applications are due January 31^st of each year and are reviewed by the faculty in February. Applicants can expect to hear from us in March. Admitted students will begin their program Fall semester of the same year.

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

• GRE scores that meet and preferably exceed the Graduate School minimums (140 Quantitative; 146 Verbal Reasoning; Combined score of at least 297; Analytic Writing 3.5)
• 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.

All students must take the common core concentration area and electives in consultation with the advisor. Students must take a minimum of 68 hours to graduate. A doctoral minor is also available.

For degree and program requirements, see:

Educational Psychology Ph.D.

Educational Psychology Doctoral Minor