PhD in Educational Psychology
Admission Requirements
Applicants are considered on an individual basis. Applicants must submit transcripts from the last 60 hours of undergraduate work and from all postbaccalaureate work. In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements:
- Baccalaureate Field No restrictions.
- Grade Point Average At least 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of undergraduate study and for all postbaccalaureate coursework.
- Tests Required GRE General. Minimum of 300 on combined Verbal and Quantitative.
- Minimum English Competency Test Score
- TOEFL iBT 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (Note: Total score is higher than the sum of the subscores), OR,
- IELTS Academic 6.5, with 6.0 in each of the four subscores, OR,
- PTE-Academic 54, with subscores of Reading 51, Listening 47, Speaking 53, and Writing 56.
- Letters of Recommendation Three letters from faculty members or others familiar with the applicant’s previous academic training, academic and research ability, and experience are required.
- Personal Statement This required statement must address the applicant’s professional and scholarly goals.
- Admission Deadlines Application deadlines for this program are listed on the Graduate College website.
Degree Requirements
In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:
- Minimum Semester Hours Required 97 from the baccalaureate or 65 hours beyond the master’s degree.
- Coursework
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| College Core (12 semester hours) | ||
| Urban Contexts and Educational Research | ||
| Introduction to Educational Research: Paradigms and Processes | ||
| Introduction to Educational Research: Designs and Analyses | ||
| Methodology Requirement (12 semester hours) | ||
| Essentials of Qualitative Inquiry in Education (or equivalent, based on faculty advisor approval) | ||
| Essentials of Quantitative Inquiry in Education | ||
One additional (quantitative or qualitative) course to be selected in consultation with faculty advisor. | ||
| Educational Psychology Program Core | ||
| Select 9 semester hours from the following: | ||
| Proseminar in Educational Psychology I: Socialization into The Field | ||
| Theories of Educational Psychology | ||
| Proseminar in Educational Psychology II: Discourses in the Field | ||
| Area of Emphasis | ||
At least 16 semester hours of approved courses, selected in consultation with the faculty advisor, are required. A minimum of 16 hours is taken in this area of emphasis if the student has a master’s degree, 52 hours if admitted without a master’s degree. | ||
- Preliminary Examination A three-step process involving a written examination, dissertation proposal, and oral defense of the student’s readiness to complete a dissertation is required.
- Dissertation 12 semester hours: Students are required to register for doctoral thesis research for at least 12 semester hours.
- Other Requirements 4 semester hours in the course EPSY 593. Students participate in a research project in collaboration with a faculty member or a team of faculty members and students. Students must complete a training course sponsored by the Office for the Vice Chancellor for Research on the ethics of conducting research with human subjects. Students are required to submit an annual report of their academic and professional progress.
Interdepartmental Concentrations
Students earning a graduate degree in this department may complement their courses by enrolling in select concentrations after consulting with their graduate advisor. Interdepartmental concentrations available for this degree include: