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Dec 04, 2024
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UofM 2020-2021 Graduate Catalog * [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
Educational Psychology and Research, (PhD)
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PhD Degree Programs
The PhD degree program in Educational Psychology and Research is designed to prepare innovative researchers and professional practitioners for university teaching, applied research, or other professional roles through interdisciplinary training in fields of human development (infancy, childhood, and adolescence, adulthood and aging), learning (motivation and cognitive processes and learning science), quantitative (and qualitative research methods, and program evaluation.
Since the purpose of doctoral training is to prepare students to conduct research in a specialized area, individuals with no interest in research should not apply to this major.
Program objectives are: (1) ability to contribute to the professional field through research presentations and writing; (2) preparation for careers as academicians in institutions of higher education and applied researchers in professional settings; (3) development of leadership skills for professional organizations and the ability to contribute to the field through professional service activities.
Program Admission
Applicants to the PhD program are evaluated two times a year. Completed online applications must be received by November 1 for Spring semester admission, and -March 1 for Fall admission. Applications for international students are only accepted in the Fall admission (March 1deadline). Late submissions may be considered on an individual basis, but will normally be deferred to the following semester. The admission committee may request a personal interview. Multiple criteria will be used when considering applicant admission, including, but not limited to, undergraduate and graduate grade point average, GRE scores, personal goals statement, writing sample, relevant employment history, and letters of recommendation. The number of students admitted to the PhD program will depend on availability of adequate faculty supervision. Admission forms are available online on the Graduate Admissions website.
The completed application must include:
- Letters of recommendation from at least three persons familiar with the applicant’s academic background and aptitude for graduate work, specifying in detail the applicant’s ability and potential to conduct research for future performance and scholarship.
- A statement of 500-1000 words indicating the applicant’s present interests, career goals, research interests, prior research and relevant professional experiences.
- A writing sample, such as a previously completed university term paper or a similar expository writing from applicant’s professional activity.
- A willingness to be interviewed by members of the Educational Psychology Applicants to the PhD program are evaluated two times a year. Completed online applications must be received by November 1 for Spring semester admission, and -March 1 for Fall admission. Applications for international students are only accepted in the Fall admission (March 1deadline). Late submissions may be considered on an individual basis, but will normally be deferred to the following semester. The admission committee may request a personal interview. Multiple criteria will be used when considering applicant admission, including, but not limited to, undergraduate and graduate grade point average, GRE scores, personal goals statement, writing sample, relevant employment history, and letters of recommendation. The number of students admitted to the PhD program will depend on availability of adequate faculty supervision. Admission forms are available online & Research faculty, should that be required.
Credit Hours:
A minimum of 54 hours of graduate credit beyond the master’s degree.
Core Competency:
All students upon admission into the doctoral program need to demonstrate competencies in the three core domains (research methods, human development, learning and cognition) as prerequisites for further coursework. Students may demonstrate their competency by (a) having earned at least a 3.0 in a master’s level course in each of the above domains, or (b) passing validation exams. Doctoral students without proficiency in any of these core domains must complete the appropriate entry level course before more advanced coursework. These entry level courses will not count toward the minimum of 54 hours required.
Research Core (15 required credits):
Educational Psychology Core (9 credits required):
Program Electives (12 Credits)
These electives should be taken within the EDPR program and be planned with the major advisor.
Electives outside of Major (6 credits)
These electives are to be taken outside of EDPR and will be planned with the major advisor to focus on the area of research.
Residency Project Requirement:
All doctoral degree students are expected to be active in collaborative research with members of the faculty. This includes the research-based residency project approved by the major advisor that must result in a written research paper submitted to a refereed journal or a refereed professional conference presentation.
Comprehensive Examination:
Upon completion of coursework and residency project each doctoral student will complete a three-part open-book written comprehensive examination covering both the educational research and the educational psychology components of their program. The written examination that the student’s advisor will coordinate should reflect the three core domains of the program.
The student’s advisory committee members will administer the relevant examination. An oral examination will follow the written examination. Doctoral students who have passed the comprehensive examination are accepted as doctoral candidates.
Dissertation and Final Defense (12 credits):
A dissertation acceptable to the faculty is a requirement for all doctoral students. The dissertation must embody the results of an extended research effort that is an original contribution to the existing body of research. The dissertation should reflect the candidate’s ability to conduct independent research and interpret in a logical manner the facts and phenomena revealed by the research. Students may elect either to write a traditional five-chapter dissertation or to write two journal articles and submit them with the approval of the committee for journal reviews. Upon completion of the dissertation, each student will orally defend the research undertaken.
NOTE: Students should familiarize themselves with the Thesis/Dissertation Preparation Guide before starting to write.
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