PhD Educational Psychology Specialization
The PhD in Education with a specialization in educational psychology is individualized, interdisciplinary, and experiential. Students plan their own programs to meet self-defined goals with the guidance and support of faculty advisors. Educational psychology courses can be applied to primary or secondary specialization areas.
If you have questions about this specialization, please contact the specialization representative, Michelle Buehl.
About the Specialization
The demand for educational psychology experts continues to grow. There are many opportunities with government and private research organizations, as well as corporations who want to maximize the effectiveness of their employee training.
To accomplish self-defined goals, students engage in a variety of intensive courses, independent studies, seminars, and internships of a highly practical nature. Success in the program requires a high degree of personal initiative, self-directed learning, and commitment to inquiry as a style of personal and professional growth.
What Will You Learn?
The specialization features coursework and applied internships that enable you to learn:
- Theory and research in educational psychology
- Foundational knowledge about educational psychology
- Research methodologies to address a variety of educational psychology topics
- Specialized knowledge in educational psychology related to your area of interest
How Will You Learn?
Your advisor will guide your doctoral experience by supplementing coursework with professional experiences, including:
- Attending and/or presenting at professional conferences
- Independent study
- Teaching and/or co-teaching
- Writing, editing, and reviewing for scholarly journals
Where Can This Specialization Take You?
Graduates of this specialization hold professional positions such as:
- Academic faculty at post-secondary institutions
- Consultants with private companies, education and research think tanks, and non-government organizations
- Curriculum leaders in major K-12 school districts
Specialization Courses
Each student prepares an individual program of study in consultation with their Program Advisory Committee. The following courses can be taken as part of a student’s primary or secondary specialization coursework:
- EDEP 820: Teaching, Learning, and Cognition (3 credits)
- EDEP 821: Sociocultural Processes in Learning, Instruction, and Motivation (3 credits)
- EDEP 822: Advanced Learning, Motivation, and Self-Regulation (3 credits)
- EDEP 823: Research Project in Educational Psychology: Sequence I (3 credits)
- EDEP 824: Research Project in Educational Psychology: Sequence II (3 credits)
- EDUC 897: Independent Study for the Doctor of Philosophy in Education (1-6 credits)
- EDUC 994: Advanced Internship in Education (3 credits)
See additional coursework required as part of the PhD in Education degree.
Our Graduates
Jennifer Crewalk, PhD 2021
- Dissertation Title: Undocually Trainers' Risk, Resilience and Resistance: A Descriptive Case Study
- Dissertation Chair: Dr. Kimberly Sheridan
Anthony Arciero, PhD 2020
- Dissertation Title: Life Purpose in College Undergraduate Students: Structure, Measurement, and a Proposed Model of Thriving
- Dissertation Chair: Dr. Angela Miller
Jordan Goffena, PhD 2020
- Dissertation Title: The Development and Transfer of Self-Regulation during Motor Skill Acquisition: A Social Cognitive Perspective
- Dissertation Chair: Dr. Anastasia Kitsantas
Hyle Daley, PhD 2020
- Dissertation Title: Teachers, Play, and Narrative Sandboxes: A Collective Case Study of Teachers’ Perceptions of Narrative-Based Educational Gameplay
- Dissertation Chair: Dr. Kimberly Sheridan
Swati Mehta, PhD 2019
- Dissertation Title: Negotiation of Motherhood with Self, Family, and Cultural Communities Among First-Generation Indian Immigrant Mothers of Toddlers
- Dissertation Chair: Dr. Michelle Buehl
Jerusalem Merkebu, PhD 2019
- Dissertation Title: A Mixed-Methods Investigation of Metacognitive Reflection, Emotional Regulation, and Career Decision-Making in Undergraduate Students
- Dissertation Chair: Dr. Anastasia Kitsantas
Maryam Saroughi, PhD 2019
- Dissertation Title: Examining Relationships among Self-Efficacy, Self-Regulation, Stereotype Threat, Sense of Belonging, and Well-Being in Immigrant Language-Minority Undergraduate Students
- Dissertation Chair: Dr. Anastasia Kitsantas
Aubrey Whitehead, PhD 2019
- Dissertation Title: Examining Relationships among Undergraduates' Social Group Influences, Motivation, and STEM Degree Persistence
- Dissertation Chair: Dr. Anastasia Kitsantas
Missy Coffey, PhD 2018
- Dissertation Title: A Case Study of Part C Coordinators' Use of Data through Implementation of Results Driven Accountability
- Dissertation Chair: Dr. Michelle Buehl
Holly Klee, PhD 2018
- Dissertation Title: A Multilevel Mediation Model of Control-Value Theory to Predict College Students' Mathematics Anxiety
- Dissertation Chair: Dr. Michelle Buehl
Lily Lopez-McGee, PhD 2018
- Dissertation Title: Examining Undergraduate Students' Goals and Self-Efficacy Beliefs in Study Abroad Programs
- Dissertation Chair: Dr. Anastasia Kitsantas
Faculty Specialization Representative
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Michelle Buehl
PhD, University of Maryland, College Park
Primary Faculty
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Anthony Eamonn Kelly
PhD, Stanford University -
Anastasia Kitsantas
PhD, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York -
Holly Klee
PhD, George Mason University -
Elizabeth Levine-Brown
PhD, University of Pittsburgh -
Angela Miller
PhD, University of Missouri-Kansas City -
Alexandra Patzak
PhD, Simon Fraser University -
Kimberly Sheridan
EdD, Harvard University -
Divya Varier
PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University