Programs

Programs

The Department of Educational Psychology is committed to provide exceptional training in five areas of concentration, including:

• Psychological foundations of education, 

• Quantitative methods in education,

• Counseling and student personnel psychology,

• School psychology, and

• Special education

In addition, we offer undergraduate degrees in Special Education and courses in American Sign Language (ASL).

Both graduate and undergraduate minors are available for students.

Below you will find descriptors of each program, as well as contact information for each program area.

American Sign Language

American Sign Language (ASL) is a natural, visual, non-spoken language with its own distinct grammatical structure. The shape, movement, and location of the hands, facial expressions and body are used to communicate with one another.

ASL program page

ASL club

Contact: Jonathan C. Penny, program coordinator (jcpenny@umn.edu)

Counselor education

With a master of arts in counselor education, students can become qualified to counsel others throughout the lifespan. Areas of emphasis include: school counseling, clinical mental health, and higher education.

Counselor education program page

Contact: Seth Christman, program coordinator (chri2031@umn.edu) or Sharon Sawyer, academic support (sawye100@umn.edu) 

Psychological foundations of education

Students study the psychological processes critical to education. Research in the program focuses on cognitive and social-emotional development, including high-level cognition and factors shaping and enhancing learning throughout the lifespan.

Psychological foundations of education program page

Contact: David DeLiema, program coordinator (ddeliema@umn.edu) or Sharon Sawyer, academic support (psyf-adm@umn.edu)

Quantitative methods in education

Students solutions to issues in educational research, assessment, and program evaluation through measurement, evaluation, and statistics.

QME program page

Contact: Nidhi Kohli, program coordinator (nkohli@umn.edu) or Sharon Sawyer, academic support (psyf-adm@umn.edu)

School psychology

As a student in school psychology, individuals gain skills to be able to create learning environments in their profession where students, families and school staff feel safe, welcome, and supported.

School psychology program page

Contact: Amanda Sullivan, program coordinator (asulliva@umn.edu) or Sara Burrington, academic support (spsy-adm@umn.edu)

Special education

Students can improve outcomes for individuals who require specialized support to achieve success throughout their lifespan.

Special education program page

Contact: LeAnne Johnson (leannej@umn.edu) or Kristen McMaster (mcmas004@umn.edu), program co-coordinators or Sara Burrington, academic support (sped-adm@umn.edu)

Graduate minor

The Department of Educational Psychology's graduate minor is for M.A. and Ph.D. students from outside the department interested in a minor in educational psychology.

Graduate minor program page

Contact: Lori Boucher, student personnel coordinator (bouch004@umn.edu)

Undergraduate Minor

The Department of Educational Psychology offers three undergraduate minors, including an Applied Psychology in Educational and Community Settings (APECS) minor, an educational psychology research minor, and a special education minor. The APECS minor will increase students' knowledge, skill level, and experience working with children and youth in a variety of settings.

Undergraduate minor program page

Contact: Kathy Seifert, director of undergraduate studies (seif0074@umn.edu)