Ph.D. in Educational Psychology

The Doctor of Philosophy in educational psychology is designed to help students master the core content and methods of educational psychology and acquire the depth of knowledge and methodological sophistication necessary for original research that contributes to the discipline.

Ph.D. students are reviewed annually by the faculty. Students must complete a second-year project by the end of their second academic year in the program. Those who do not fulfill this requirement or who otherwise fail to make satisfactory progress may be required to withdraw.

Students who enter the Ph.D. program without having completed an M.A. thesis are required to complete the independent research course sequence and its assigned research project in either their first or second year. Students who have completed an empirical M.A. thesis that is acceptable to the faculty may omit the independent research sequence and second-year project.

ADMISSION

Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College, including minimum grade-point average. They must have a combined verbal and quantitative score of at least 1000 on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test; successful applicants usually score higher. International applicants whose first language is not English must submit acceptable scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Applicants who do not meet all admission requirements may be granted conditional admission on the basis of other evidence, such as high grade-point average, strong academic preparation, and highly supportive recommendations. Conditional admission is rare.

Admission is for fall entry. Application deadline is January 1; late applications might not be considered. Review of applications begins January 1, when applicants who wish to be considered for fellowships and other awards are screened. Admission decisions are announced approximately six weeks after the application deadline.

Applicants who accept admission or financial aid and do not relinquish either one on or before April 15 may not solicit or accept another offer. Offers made by the program after April 15 include the provision that the offer is void if the applicant has accepted and continues to hold a previous offer from another program listed in the American Psychological Association publication Graduate Study in Psychology and Associated Fields. This policy is consistent with standards set by the association's Board of Educational Affairs.

REQUIREMENTS

The Ph.D. in educational psychology requires a minimum of 72 s.h. of graduate credit. Students develop a plan of study in consultation with their advisors. Some of the required courses listed below encompass substantive areas within educational psychology. Other required courses include a research practicum, in which students assist with and eventually design and carry out original research, and several courses in measurement and statistics.

Some requirements may be waived for students who begin the Ph.D. program with a master's degree or with course work from another program.

Course requirements are as follows.

Required Courses

All of these (or equivalents):

Recommended Courses

At least four of these:

Electives

At least two of these (or equivalents):

Minor Area

Students must complete a minimum of 12 s.h. that constitute a coherent program of course work outside educational psychology and beyond the courses listed above. The minor area may be from a foundation discipline, such as psychology, or in another area of education, such as mathematics education, educational philosophy, or program evaluation. Course work must be at or above the 200-level, may span departments and colleges, and must reflect a plan approved by the student's advisor.

Second-Year Research Project

As part of their participation in 07P:230 Research in Educational Psychology, Ph.D. students are required to complete a research project of modest scope under the direction of a faculty member. They must present the work in both oral and written form to the program's faculty and students. First-year Ph.D. students may assist second-year students with data collection and other research activities, and students may design and conduct projects in collaboration with other students. The written report must be completed by the end of the student's second academic year in the program. Students may re-enroll in this course beyond their second year.

Students who enter the Ph.D. program holding an M.A. or M.S. with an acceptable empirical thesis are exempt from 07P:230 and the project.

COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION

The Ph.D. comprehensive examination emphasizes competence and depth in one or more narrowly defined areas of research and theory. Students choose from three options in consultation with their advisor and with the approval of the examining committee, which is made up of five faculty members and is not necessarily the same as the dissertation committee. The options are a review article, an extended research activity, or a traditional comprehensive examination. For details of each option's requirements, see Ph.D. program page or contact the Department of Psychological and Quantitative Foundations.