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KATHY L. RUHL, Head of the Department of Educational and School Psychology, and Special Education
125E CEDAR Building
814-865-6072

RAYNE A. SPERLING, In Charge of Graduate Programs in Educational Psychology
232 CEDAR Building
814-863-2286
edpsy@psu.edu

Degrees Conferred: Ph.D., M.S.

The Graduate Faculty

Jeanne T. Amlund, Ph.D. (Arizona State) Assistant Professor of Educational Psychology
Robert L. Hale, Ph.D. (Nebraska) Professor of Education
Jonna Kulikowich, Ph.D. (Texas A&M) Professor of Education
Pui-Wa Lei, Ph.D. (Iowa) Assistant Professor of Education
Bonnie J. F. Meyer, Ph.D. (Cornell) Professor of Educational Psychology
P. Karen Murphy, Ph.D. (Maryland) Associate Professor of Education
Rayne A. Sperling, Ph.D. (Nebraska) Associate Professor of Education
Robert J. Stevens, Ph.D. (Illinois) Associate Professor of Educational Psychology
Hoi K. Suen, Ed.D. (Northern Illinois) Professor of Educational Psychology
Peggy Van Meter, Ph.D. (Maryland) Associate Professor of Education

The graduate program in Educational Psychology focuses on the study of learning, instruction, and measurement across the life span. The learning and instruction emphasis applies the study of cognitive psychology to research on learning and instruction in applied settings like schools. The course of study provides a strong foundation in psychological theory, principles related to instructional applications, and quantitative methodology. The measurement emphasis applies cognitive psychology and theories of measurement to test design, instrument construction, scale analysis, and measurement theory. The Educational Psychology program emphasizes the use of rigorous quantitative methodology in the scientific study of learning, instruction, and measurement in applied settings. Typically this program prepares individuals for professions in universities, research institutions, government agencies, and industry. Individuals interested in more clinical applications of psychology, such as counseling psychology or school psychology should contact those specific graduate programs in the University.

Admission Requirements

Applicants are required to submit scores from the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) verbal, quantitative, and analytic writing. Typically applicants have at least a 3.0 junior/senior grade-point average (on a 4.0 point scale) and broad undergraduate background including college level mathematics. Exceptions may be made for students with special backgrounds, abilities, and interests. Applicants with a master’s degree will be required to show strong performance in their graduate program. Applicants will also supply letters of reference and a written statement of their professional goals. The requirements specified here are in addition to the Graduate School requirements stated in the GENERAL INFORMATION section of the Graduate Bulletin.

Master's Degree Requirements

Students in the master’s degree program are required to take 30 credits, including core courses EDPSY 406, 421, 450, and 475. Students will also take at least one foundational course in educational theory, philosophy, or individual differences. The remaining credits will be taken in a way to develop the student’s area of specialization, in consultation with the student’s adviser. The program offers two options, M.S. with a thesis, and an M.S. without a thesis. Students wishing to go on to the Ph.D. are required to complete the M.S. with thesis option.

Doctoral Degree Requirements

Students in the doctoral degree program will select a major emphasis in either learning and instruction or measurement. Students in the doctoral program must complete the core courses as listed in the master’s program. All students must also have at least one advanced-level course in learning and in measurement. Students will also have three courses spread across the foundational areas of educational theory and history, philosophy, and individual differences. Students must pass a candidacy examination to enter into the doctoral program, assessing their mastery of the content in the core courses. Students must also pass a comprehensive examination assessing their areas of specialization near the end of their doctoral studies. Students are also expected to develop and defend a theoretically based scholarly research proposal that will become their dissertation project. The doctoral program culminates in the production of and defense of the student’s dissertation that is expected to be a publishable quality independent research study. All of these requirements are specified in more detail in the student handbook.

Student Aid

All applicants are considered for Graduate Assistantships that are available in the program. Typically these assistantships provide tuition waiver plus a stipend.

Graduate courses carry numbers from 500 to 599 and 800 to 899. Advanced undergraduate courses numbered between 400 and 499 may be used to meet some graduate degree requirements when taken by graduate students. Courses below the 400 level may not. A graduate student may register for or audit these courses in order to make up deficiencies or to fill in gaps in previous education but not to meet requirements for an advanced degree.

EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY (EDPSY) course list

The Pennsylvania State University © 2004

The University reserves the right to change the requirements and regulations listed here and to determine whether a student has satisfactorily met its requirements for admission or graduation, and to reject any applicant for any reason the University determines to be material to the applicant's qualifications to pursue higher education. Nothing in this material should be considered a guarantee that completion of a program and graduation from the University will result in employment.

This electronic Graduate Bulletin is a version of the official bulletin of The Pennsylvania State University. It is suggested that users refer to this electronic bulletin when seeking the latest information about the University's academic programs and courses. Printed versions of the Bulletin are also official copies of the programs, courses, and policies in effect at the time of print.

DATE LAST REVIEWED BY GRADUATE SCHOOL: 04/12/04

DATE LAST UPDATED BY PUBLICATIONS: 12/06/07