Psychological Foundations of Education
Overview
Mission statement
To apply and generate knowledge of psychological processes and methodological procedures involved in learning and teaching for the betterment and improvement of humans in a wide range of situations.
Advising Philosophy
Our program faculty members span a wide range of research approaches. Nevertheless, we are all psychological and educational scientists committed to training the next generation of leaders in the field. We do so by adopting an apprenticeship model. Although the details of this model look different for undergraduate and graduate students, the end goal is the same: to produce independent force for improving educational outcomes for all students.
Review the Psychological Foundations of Education Advising Philosophy
Current Handbook
Educational Psychology Graduate Student Handbook with graduate program information, policies, and core requirements to supplement the Graduate School Catalog.
First Year Research Project
Each MA and PhD graduate student in the Psychological Foundations program area will be expected to conduct a First Year Research project. Begun as early during the first year as possible, students will be expected to produce an acceptable written paper based on this project, by the end of the first year. The following stipulations apply:
The paper should demonstrate the student’s skill in completing an empirical research study, an original synthesis of recent research in a relevant area of scholarship in the field, or another project that is approved by the student’s program area advisor. APA style is required.
The program area particularly encourages students to pursue a project which involves an empirical research study, since so much of the training and related degree milestones for progress in the area are connected to the conduct of empirical research. If a student pursues an empirical study, the paper may be a progress report (e.g., report of a pilot study, preliminary data, preliminary analysis).
The paper topic should be planned in advance in consultation with the advisor.
When the paper is completed, the student will submit it for reading and evaluation to the advisor by the end of the first year.
Doctoral Prelims in Psych Foundations
All doctoral students are required to pass a written and oral preliminary examination in their major field. Review the Psych Foundations prelim exams information