Program Theme: Leadership and Scholarship Focused on Learning and Development
The Ph.D. major in Educational Psychology develops a substantial knowledge base in the related fields defining educational psychology. This program prepares persons for careers as faculty members in colleges and universities, as researchers in departments of education and in government and business, and as professionals in training research programs in government and industry.
Program Academic Regulations
Students who have little or no background in educational psychology may be required to complete additional coursework beyond the minimum requirements described below
Students must complete the departmental residency requirements. Transfer credit hours may not be used to satisfy more than one third of the credit hours for the major area.
Evaluation of a student’s performance is continuous and involves consideration of the student’s performance in all academic settings. Only courses in which a student earns a grade of “B” or higher will be counted toward degree fulfillment. Failure to make progress in a timely manner or inappropriate or unprofessional conduct by a student may result in the students being withdrawn from a course or the program. If such removal from a course is necessary, the student will receive a grade of “F” for the course and may be judged ineligible to reenroll in that course.
Program Degree Requirements
Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Psychology
A. Core Area (18)
The Core Area consists of 15 semester hours of research coursework and 3 semester hours of Social Foundation of Education and Psychology of Learning coursework.
Research Core (15 hours)
Choose one course (3):
EPRS 8500 Qualitative/Interpretive Research in Education (3)
EPRS 8530 Quantitative Methods and Analysis in Education (3)
Required (12):
A two course sequence (6 hours) in research methodology (specific tracks/courses: http://education.gsu.edu/main/phd_requirement.htm)
Two courses (6 hours) in advanced research methods as identified by the Doctoral Advisory Committee
Social Foundations of Education and Psychology of Learning course (3) [for specific courses: http://education.gsu.edu/main/phd_requirement.htm]
B. Major Area (18-24)
Required (9):
EPY 8010 Professional Studies in Educational Psychology (3)
EPY 8961 Professional Development Seminar in Educational Psychology (3)
EPY 9000 Facilitating College Teaching (3)
Select (9-15): Students must select a minimum of 15 hours of additional credit hours of coursework, a majority of which must be in educational psychology. As an exception, students who have a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology from Georgia State University select a minimum of 9 additional credit hours.
C. Dissertation (15)
Required (15):
EPY 9990 Dissertation (15)
Program total: minimum of 51-57 semester hours