Become a researcher at the highest level through our personalized program, which offers four areas of emphasis. Our graduate students are known across the country for their cutting-edge research. Study in the fields of assessment and quantitative methodology, or take advantage of our partnership with the Torrance Center for Creativity and Talent Development, a leader in creative education. Become a scholar of the cognitive process within learning environments as you connect research to real-world issues in education, or you may choose to become a skilled psychologist at all levels of child development.
As a student, you will have many opportunities for research, both with an experienced faculty member and on your own projects. Our graduate students present their findings at conferences across the country and internationally, and each year top lists for awards and accolades recognizing their work. Explore the effect of cognitive and developmental processes on education, and determine how that knowledge can be applied to teaching and learning. Our program will prepare you to improve education through research, implement projects in schools, and apply research and methods to a variety of settings. We encourage you to work with advisors and other faculty on research projects and in diverse environments.
Director of Graduate Studies Kristen Bub Kristen.Bub@uga.edu Graduate Program Advisor/Graduate Program Administrator Caroline Calhoun-King wcc96770@uga.edu
At least 30 credit hours over a master’s degree with 16 hours of 8000/9000 coursework exclusive of research and dissertation writing.
Faculty take a holistic approach to reviewing applications to the program, considering all materials before making their decision. The following are required as part of the application process. -Application -Current resume/CV -Transcripts from all universities -Statement of Purpose -GRE scores -TOEFL/IELTS scores (international students) -3 letters of recommendation (with at least 2 from faculty who had you) Applications are due December 1 for admission for the following Fall Semester.
| EPSY 8990 (min. 2 hrs) | Doctoral Seminar in Educational Psychology | 1-6 |
| EPSY 9000 (min. 6 hrs) | Doctoral Research | 1-6 |
| EPSY 9300 (min. 6 hrs) | Doctoral Dissertation | 1-9 |
| ERSH 8320 | Applied Correlation and Regression Methods in Education | 3 |
| ERSH 9210 | Quantitative Design in Education | 3 |
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 2 course(s) from the following:
| EPSY 8020 | Developmental Psychology and Instruction | 3 |
| EPSY 8060 | Advanced Seminar in Motivation for Education | 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 2 course(s) from the following:
| ERSH 7250 | Educational Program and Project Evaluation | 3 |
| ERSH 7600 | Construction of Educational Measuring Instruments | 3 |
| 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 4 course(s) from the following:
Students will also select a major concentration and take 4 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.
Students from our Doctoral Programs have gone on to pursue the following career paths: Psychometrician Postdoctoral Fellow Data Scientist Researcher Assistant Dean Assistant Professor Teaching Assistant Professor Staff/Assistant Instructional Coach Research Scientist Applications Analyst Specialist Strategic Planning Analyst School Psychologist Training and Curriculum Specialist Educational Associate Senior Lecturer
If graduate credit earned at an accredited institution constitutes a logical part of the student’s program, transfer of credit may be allowed when recommended by the student’s major professor, advisory committee, graduate coordinator, and when approved by the dean of the Graduate School. Such transfer of credit cannot exceed nine (9) semester hours and must fall within the time limit of the degree. No grade below B may be transferred. The courses to be transferred may not have been used to fulfill the requirements of a degree program at another institution.
Transfer credit may not be used to satisfy the residency requirement. If the residency requirement has not been satisfied and the transfer course is taken during the Fall or Spring semester, a “break” in residency will occur unless the student is also registered at UGA. Transferred courses may not be included in the 16 hours of 8000- and 9000- level credit on the program of study. Transfer grades are not used in calculating cumulative averages. All requests for transfer credit, with accompanying official transcripts, must be in the Graduate School at least 30 days prior to the time the student plans to graduate. Courses taken prior to the student’s admission to their degree program at The University of Georgia are eligible for transfer.
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: Applied Cognition and Development Gifted and Creative Education Measurement, Data Science, and Statistics School Psychology Across these areas of emphasis, the follow degree paths are offered: MA MED MED Online EDS EDS Online PHD The Educational Psychology department also offers the following: Interdisciplinary Certificate in Creativity and Innovation