The M.A. and Ph.D. programs in Educational Psychology with an emphasis on Applied Cognition and Development were designed for those who wish to contribute to research and scholarship on schooling and student learning using psychological principles of human development and learning. Because of the commitment to this level of scholarship, it is strongly recommended that students in the program enroll full-time.
Some Recent M.A. and Ph.D. Program Graduates
I. Admission Requirements
Admission is dependent on a number of factors including the match of the student’s interests to those of the faculty, GPA, GRE, and availability of an appropriate advisor. A majority decision of the graduate faculty is required for the candidate to be recommended for admission to the program. In addition, a faculty member must agree to serve as temporary advisor for the student.
The M.A. with thesis is considered the typical route to the Ph.D. because of the strong research emphasis of the Applied Cognition and Development Program. Only students who are considered possible future candidates for the Ph.D. are recommended for admission to the M.A. program.
II. M.A. and Ph.D. Coursework Requirements
Click here for MA Coursework (PDF format)
Core Course Requirements
Core courses are designed to give ACD graduate students basic skills and knowledge within two of three domains: cognition, development and motivation.
Required for M.A. and Ph.D. (when M.A. not from the department):
Two out of:
EPSY 6010 Foundations of Human Development for Education or 800-level equivalent
EPSY 6800 Foundations of Cognition in Education or 800-level equivalent
EPSY 6060 Foundations of Motivation for Education or 800-level equivalent
EPSY 6990/8990 Research Seminar in Educational Psychology (must be taken every semester offered by ACD faculty by every full-time student.)
Required for Ph.D.:
Any two of:
EPSY 8180 Psychology of Learning and Instruction
EPSY 8190 Theories of Achievement and Intelligence
EPSY 8060 Advanced Seminar in Motivation for Education
EPSY 8130 Psycholinguistics
EPSY 8170 Psychology of Reading
EPSY 8020: Developmental Psychology to Instruction
EPSY 8250: Early Educational Intervention for Young Children Placed at Risk
Educational Statistics and Research Methods Requirements
For MA:
ERSH 6300 Applied Statistical Methods in Education
ERSH 6600 Applied Educational Assessment
ERSH 6200 Methods of Research in Education
One of:
ERSH 8400 Qualitative Research Traditions or ERSH 8310 Applied Analysis of Variance
For PhD: (applicant must meet MA requirements if not taken elsewhere)
Two quantitative methods:
ERSH 8320 Applied Correlation and Regression Methods in Education
ERSH 7250 Educational Program and Project Evaluation
ERSH 8610 Educational Measurement Theory
ERSH 7600 Construction of Educational Measuring Instruments
ERSH 8740 Exploratory Factor Analysis
ERSH 8750 Structural Equation Modeling
ERSH 8770 Multilevel Modeling
QUAL 8410 Designing Qualitative Research
QUAL 8420 Analyzing Qualitative Data
QUAL 8510 Theories in Qualitative Design
QUAL 8520 Interviewing Research
QUAL 8525 Narrative Analysis
QUAL 8530 Case Study Research
QUAL 8540 Participant Observation
QUAL 8550 Writing Up Qualitative Research
QUAL 8560 Ethnomethodological and Conversation Analytic Studies
Timeline for Completion
The deadlines below apply to full-time students only and are the maximum time limits. Students may complete the work in less time. Part-time students may exceed these timelines by 50%.
M.A. Degree
Year 1
- Predominantly As in coursework.
- Successful completion of required and elective coursework.
- Successful performance of teaching/research assistantship responsibilities
- Demonstration of ethics and a professional attitudes as well as engagement in the intellectual life of the department.
- Formation of thesis committee.
Year 2
- Predominantly As in coursework.
- Successful completion of required and elective coursework.
- Successful performance of teaching/research assistantship responsibilities
- Demonstration of ethics and a professional attitudes as well as engagement in the intellectual life of the department.
- Steady and productive thesis research (grade must be S)
Year 3
- Predominantly As in coursework.
- Successful completion of required and elective coursework.
- Successful performance of teaching/research assistantship responsibilities
- Demonstration of ethics and a professional attitudes as well as engagement in the intellectual life of the department.
- Completion and successful defense of thesis.
Ph.D. Degree
Year 1
- Predominantly As in coursework.
- Successful completion of required and elective coursework.
- Successful performance of teaching/research assistantship responsibilities
- Demonstration of ethics and a professional attitudes as well as engagement in the intellectual life of the department.
- Formation of doctoral committee that must include four graduate faculty, two of whom are members of the Applied Cognition and Development Program. The committee, together with the student, decides the number and format of the comprehensive exams.
Year 2
- Predominantly As in coursework.
- Successful completion of required and elective coursework.
- Successful performance of teaching/research assistantship responsibilities
- Demonstration of ethics and a professional attitudes as well as engagement in the intellectual life of the department.
- Steady and productive dissertation research (grade must be S)
- Successful completion of written and oral comprehensive exams by the end of the second year.
Year 3
- Predominantly As in coursework.
- Successful completion of required and elective coursework.
- Successful performance of teaching/research assistantship responsibilities
- Demonstration of ethics and a professional attitudes as well as engagement in the intellectual life of the department.
- Steady and productive dissertation research (grade must be S)
- Dissertation prospectus should be approved by the end of the third year after admission to the PhD Program.
Year 4
- Predominantly As in coursework.
- Successful completion of required and elective coursework.
- Successful performance of teaching/research assistantship responsibilities
- Demonstration of ethics and a professional attitudes as well as engagement in the intellectual life of the department.
- Steady and productive dissertation research (grade must be S)
Year 5
- Predominantly As in coursework.
- Successful completion of required and elective coursework.
- Successful performance of teaching/research assistantship responsibilities
- Demonstration of ethics and a professional attitudes as well as engagement in the intellectual life of the department.
- Steady and productive dissertation research (grade must be S)
- Dissertation defense should be approved by the end of the fifth year after admission to the PhD Program.
Probation and Dismissal Procedures
Students not making sufficient academic progress as assessed by the timeline for completion, or exhibiting conduct not befitting the ethical and professional standards (e.g., academic dishonesty) will be reviewed for possible dismissal from their program of study.
Following a negative review the program area has the option of putting the student on probation or, in the case of extenuating circumstances, dismissing the student. If the program puts the student on probation the student will receive a letter indicating what must improve, a deadline for improvement and the consequences for failing to improve. It is the responsibility of the student to meet the deadline for improvement.
IV. Financial Aid
Financial support is available from a variety of sources: departmental teaching and research assistantships; university-wide graduate assistantships and fellowships; and federally funded research assistantships. Assistantships normally provide tuition and fee waivers. To be considered for all available assistantships completed applications must be received by the department by January 1st for full consideration.