Psych Foundations & QME Assistantships

Jack Merwin Graduate Assistantship

Professor Jack Merwin, former dean of the College of Education and Chair of the Department of Educational Psychology, has established a special endowment to support graduate students in educational measurement and evaluation. This assistantship is posted biennially dependent on funding.

Amount: Approximately $15,000 salary plus tuition and health benefits

Contact: Lori Boucher, Dept. of Educational Psychology, 612-624-4540; bouch004@umn.edu

Purpose: The goal of this assistantship is to maximize the research experience and opportunities for graduate students in the field of educational measurement.

Criteria: Applicant must be a student in the psychological foundations or quantitative methods tracks within educational psychology with preference given to applicants who are focusing on measurement and evaluation. Award consists of 50% support (25% teaching assistant and 25% research assistant). TA portion is based on applicant’s interests and background and available positions within the program.

Application: In the spring, application information will be distributed to current students in the psychological foundations and quantitative methods tracks in educational psychology. Applicants must provide the following materials: 1) letter of application specifying qualifications; and a short narrative section on how this award will further your academic and professional interests; 2) courses in which you are interested in assisting; 3) plans for other work during the academic year; 4) copy of current transcript and vitae.

John P. Yackel/Pearson Graduate Internship

This internship will be posted biennially dependent on funding.

The Clinical Assessment division of Pearson has two campuses; one in Bloomington, Minnesota and the other in San Antonio, Texas. It operates as a business of Pearson Education, the world’s largest integrated education company. Its textbooks, online learning tools, and testing and assessment programs help to educate more than 100 million students worldwide. The Clinical Assessments division brings leadership in the area of tests for special needs and personal growth. The assessment development staff researches and develops norm-referenced tests and related support products that measure cognitive ability, achievement, behavior, and personal and social adjustment. The purpose of the John P. Yackel/Pearson internship program is to provide an opportunity for a graduate student to develop an understanding of the major phases of test development and interpretation by working with seasoned professionals on major projects. Internship activities may include work on product specifications, test blueprints, and test items; field research design; data analysis; and interpretation and educational applications.

Criteria: Applicants must be full-time graduate students in the quantitative methods or psychological foundations track in educational psychology with graduate level coursework in measurement and statistics. The internship is a half-time position for the academic year at the Bloomington or San Antonio office paid as a 50% Research Assistantship through the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of MN.

Application: In the spring, application information will be distributed to current students in the psychological foundations and quantitative methods tracks in educational psychology. Applicants must provide the following materials: 1) letter of application including a short narrative describing your qualifications and preparation for the internship and stating how the position will relate to your academic and professional interests and growth; 2) resume; 3) copy of current transcript.