Prepare to work in a school or other learning environment, where you will be adept at tailoring curriculum and programs to better meet the needs of your students. This program will prepare you to work with a general student population, understanding the ways children learn, or in a setting working with gifted and creative students. Develop a deeper understanding of human development, how students learn, and what motivates students in educational settings. Because we require a rigorous but limited number of core courses, you may tailor your program of study to your individual research needs. This program is designed for education-based practitioners who want to become learning specialists.
Director of Graduate Studies Kristen Bub Kristen.Bub@uga.edu Graduate Program Advisor/Graduate Program Administrator Caroline Calhoun-King wcc96770@uga.edu
30 hours minimum
Faculty take a holistic approach to reviewing applications to the program, considering all materials before making their decision. Applicants must have previously earned a Master’s Degree in Education, Psychology, or a related field. The following are required as part of the application process. a) Application b) Current resume/CV c) Transcripts from all universities d) Statement of Purpose e) GRE scores f) TOEFL/IELTS scores (international students) g) 3 letters of recommendation (with at least 2 from faculty whose classes you have taken) The application is due December 1 for admission the following Fall Semester.
| EPSY 8650 | Applied Education Specialist Project in Educational Psychology | 3 |
| EPSY 8990 (min. 2 hours) | Doctoral Seminar in Educational Psychology | 1-6 |
Choose 4 course(s) from the following:
| ECHD(EPSY) 8010 | History of Psychology and the Evolution of Contemporary Practice | 3 |
| EPSY 8020 | Developmental Psychology and Instruction | 3 |
| EPSY 8060 | Advanced Seminar in Motivation for Education | 3 |
| EPSY(ECHD) 8080 | Development Across the Lifespan for School/Counseling Psychologists and Educators | 3 |
| EPSY 8170 | Psychology of Reading | 3 |
| EPSY 8180 | Psychology of Learning and Instruction | 3 |
| EPSY 8190 | Achievement and Intelligence | 3 |
| EPSY 8250 | Early Educational Intervention for Young Children Placed At-Risk | 3 |
Note: Additional courses may meet this requirement as approved by the student's major professor
Choose 1 course(s) from the following:
| EPSY 4170/6170 | Educational Psychology of Race and Racism | 3 |
| EPSY 8550 | Multicultural Psychology | 3 |
Note: Additional courses may meet this requirement as approved by the student's major professor
Choose 1 course(s) from the following:
| ERSH 8575 | Mixed Methods Approaches to Research | 3 |
| ERSH 8610 | Theories of Educational Measurement | 3 |
| ERSH 8740 | Exploratory Factor Analysis | 3 |
| ERSH 8750 | Introduction to Structural Equation Modeling | 3 |
| ERSH 8770 | Multilevel Modeling | 3 |
| ETAP(QUAL) 8550 | Writing Up Qualitative Research | 3 |
| QUAL 8400 | Qualitative Research Traditions | 3 |
| QUAL 8410 | Designing Qualitative Research | 3 |
| QUAL 8420 | Analyzing Qualitative Data | 3 |
| QUAL 8510 | Theories in Qualitative Design | 1-3 |
| QUAL 8520 | Interviewing Research | 3 |
| QUAL 8525 | Narrative Inquiry | 3 |
| QUAL(EDHI) 8530 | Case Study Research | 3 |
| QUAL 8540 | Ethnographic Research Methods | 3 |
| ETAP(QUAL) 8550 | Writing Up Qualitative Research | 3 |
| QUAL 8560 | Ethnomethodological and Conversation Analytic Studies | 3 |
Note: Additional courses may meet this requirement as approved by the student's major professor
Choose 2 course(s) from the following:
Students will also select a major concentration and take 2 courses in that area, as approved by their major professor.
| GRSC 7001 | GradFIRST: First-year Research and Scholarship Training Seminar | 1 |
Only graduate-level courses (6000 and above) may be used toward the earning of a graduate degree.
Select additional courses, as needed, in consultation with an advisor to meet the minimum number of required credit hours for this program.
Specialist in Education degree candidates may transfer up to 6 hours from an accredited institution where the student had been fully admitted into an Ed.S. degree program. This credit must meet the same criteria as credit transferred for master’s degrees.
MFECOE offers a number of scholarship opportunities, which can be found here: https://coe.uga.edu/students/financial-aid The Educational Psychology department offers the W. Owen Scott Fellowship for Academic Merit and Professional Promise. Information about this scholarship can be found here: https://coe.uga.edu/students/financial-aid/owen-scott
Students are encouraged to pursue research opportunities outside of Athens, when appropriate and in consultation with their committees.
Students are encouraged to pursue internship opportunities when they will facilitate their professional development.
Students are encouraged to present their research at conferences, professional meetings, and symposia.
GREP (Graduate Researchers in Educational Psychology) ASP (Association of School Psychologists) ACD Brownbag
The Educational Psychology department has four areas of emphasis: a) Applied Cognition and Development b) Gifted and Creative Education c) Measurement, Data Science, and Statistics d) School Psychology Across these areas of emphasis, the follow degree paths are offered: a) MA b) MED c) MED Online d) EDS e) EDS Online f) PHD The Educational Psychology department also offers the following: Interdisciplinary Certificate in Creativity and Innovation