Educational Psychology
Director of Graduate Studies: Dr. Kiel Christianson
Graduate Admissions Information: Myranda Lyons
288 Education Building
1310 South Sixth Street
Champaign, IL 61820-6990
Phone: (217) 333-2245 or (888) 843-3779
Fax: (217) 244-7620
edpsy@illinois.edu
Major: Educational Psychology
Degrees offered: Ed.M., M.S., M.A., C.A.S., Ph.D.
Graduate Concentration: African American Studies (available to all on-campus degrees)
Online Program: Educational Psychology
Degree offered: Ed.M.
Medical Scholars Program: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Educational Psychology and Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) through the Medical Scholars Program
Graduate Degree Programs
U.S. News and World Report ranks the Educational Psychology Department at the University of Illinois among the top five in the nation. Our students and faculty research a broad spectrum of diverse educational topics and contribute to progress in education through work as administrators, researchers, counselors, and a variety of other positions in scholastic, government and business arenas, as well as esteemed faculty at major universities here and abroad.
Admission
The department accepts applications for the Ph.D. degree, from both applicants who have completed their bachelor's degrees and those who have a master's degree. Students who enter the program without a prior master's incorporate their master's class work and research into their doctoral program, and earn a master's degree as the first step toward their Ph.D. The department offers two terminal master's programs, an on-line Master of Education (Ed.M.) degree with a focus on Curriculum, Technology, and Education Reform (CTER) and an on-line Master of Education (Ed.M.) degree with a focus on Quantitative Literacy.
Applications
Doctoral applicants must submit a complete application for university admission, including three letters of reference, transcripts from all schools where undergraduate and graduate degrees were awarded or expect to be awarded prior to the application enrollment term, and other items listed in the department Web site. Applicants to our doctoral program apply for Fall enrollment. Current deadlines are posted on our department Web site. Applicants for both of our online Ed.M. program apply for Spring and Summer enrollment. Admissions requirements are somewhat different from the doctoral program. Applicants should consult the department’s on-line program Web site for current admissions criteria, deadlines and program description.
Grade Point Average
The preferred department standard for grade point average is 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. The University calculates undergraduate GPAs on the last two years of grades for degreed applicants and in the last one year for students who have not yet completed their bachelor's degree. Graduate GPAs are calculated on the total of all graduate level courses taken beyond the undergraduate degree.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
International applicants must have demonstrated English language competence with TOEFL scores of greater than 610 (paper and pencil test), greater than 253 (computer-based test), or greater than 102 iBT. An IELTS score of greater than 6.5 overall, with at least 6 in each sub-section, can be substituted for the TOEFL score. Students who are accepted with lower scores will be required by the University to enroll on a limited status basis for at least their first semester.
Area of Study Affiliation
All applicants to the Educational Psychology doctoral program must specify one of four areas in which they wish to study: Cognitive Science of Teaching and Learning (CSTL); Counseling Psychology (Counseling); Child Development; and Studies in Interpretive, Statistical Measurement, and Evaluative Methodologies for Research (Queries). Detailed information about each area and about the research interests of the faculty can be found on the department Web site.
Although all Ph.D. students are admitted to a specific area of study, the actual coursework, research, and faculty often overlap area boundaries. Departmental policy makes it possible for a student to change advisers and affiliation from one area to another when interests and research foci become more clearly defined or change. Many faculty members are affiliated with more than one area of study.
Degree Requirements
*For additional details and requirements refer to the department's Web site, the College of Education Graduate Programs Handbook, and the Graduate College Handbook.
Master of Education (Ed.M.), Educational Psychology
(not applicable to the online Ed.M. offered by the CTER program)
| Required Courses: | Required Hours-No concentration | Required Hours-African American Studies Concentration |
|---|---|---|
Psychological Foundations Courses in Educational Psychology |
4 | 4 |
| Social Foundations Courses in Educational Policy Studies EPS 400, 402, 403, 404, 420, 421, 423, 424, or 426 |
2 | 2 |
| Philosophical Foundations Courses in Educational Policy Studies EPS 401, 410, 411, 412, 413, or 414 |
2 | 2 |
| Concentration courses (see African Americal Studies) | 24 | |
| Elective Hours: 400/500-Level Hours Required: 12 hours (Independent Study included) 500-Level Hours Required in Education: 12 hours |
24 | 24 |
| Research/Project/Independent Study Hours (min/max applied toward degree): | 0-8 | 0-8 |
| Total Hours (minimum) | 32 | 56 |
| Other Requirements:* | ||
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 | 3.0 |
Master of Science (M.S.) and Master of Arts (M.A.), Educational Psychology
| Required Courses: | Required Hours-No concentration | Required Hours-African American Studies Concentration |
|---|---|---|
Psychological Foundations Courses in Educational Psychology |
4 | 4 |
| Social Foundations Courses in Educational Policy Studies EPS 400, 402, 403, 404, 420, 421, 423, 424, or 426 |
2 | 2 |
| Philosophical Foundations Courses in Educational Policy Studies EPS 401, 410, 411, 412, 413, or 414 |
2 | 2 |
| Concentration courses (see African Americal Studies) | 24 | |
| Elective Hours: 400/500-Level Hours Required: 12 hours (Independent Study and Thesis Hours included) 500-Level Hours Required in Education: 12 hours |
24 | 24 |
| Research/Project/Independent Study Hours (min/max applied toward degree): | 0-8 | 0-8 |
| Thesis Hours Required– EPSY 599 (min/max applied toward degree): | 2-8 | 2-8 |
| Total Hours (minimum) | 32 | 56 |
| Other Requirements:* | ||
| Human Subjects Approval Required | ||
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 | 3.0 |
Certificate of Advanced Study (C.A.S.), Educational Psychology
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's College of Education complies with the U.S. Department of Education's Gainful Employment requirements by disclosing information to applicants regarding our Certificate of Advanced Study program. Required information can be found here: provost.illinois.edu/programs/gainfulemploymentEDPSY.html.
| Required Courses: | Required Hours-No concentration | Required Hours-African American Studies Concentration |
|---|---|---|
If the student does not have a Masters degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Foundations Courses must be completed: OR EPSY 400, 401, 402, 404, 405, 406, 407 or 408: 4 hours |
4 | 4 |
| Social Foundations Courses in Educational Policy Studies EPS 400, 402, 403, 404, 420, 421, 423, 424, or 426 |
2 | 2 |
| Philosophical Foundations Courses in Educational Policy Studies EPS 401, 410, 411, 412, 413, or 414 |
2 | 2 |
| Concentration courses (see African Americal Studies) | 24 | |
| Elective Hours: 500-Level Hours Required: 16 hours (Independent Study included) General Coursework Required: 16 hours |
32 | 32 |
| Research/Project/Independent Study Hours (min/max applied toward degree): | 0-8 | 0-8 |
| Total Hours (minimum) | 32-40 | 56-64 |
| Other Requirements:* Enrollment must be preceded by at least two years of acceptable professional work experience. |
||
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 | 3.0 |
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Educational Psychology
Educational Psychology's doctoral students may become involved in an interdisciplinary program known as Second Language Acquisition and Teacher Education (SLATE). Admissions criteria and specific course requirements can be found on the SLATE Web site.
| Required Courses after Ed.M./M.S./M.A. requirements are met: | Required Hours-No concentration | Required Hours-African American Studies Concentration |
|---|---|---|
| Competence in one of four research specialization areas. These courses are required, but hours do not count toward the degree. (The number of hours needed varies, but typically 16-20 hours are needed to complete this requirement.) | ||
| Concentration courses (see African Americal Studies) | 24 | |
| Elective Hours: Minimum Hours Required in Education: 32 hours General Coursework Required: 28 hours |
60 | 60 |
| Research/Project/Independent Study Hours (min/max applied toward degree): | 0-12 | 0-12 |
| Thesis Hours Required – EPSY 599 (min/max applied toward degree) | 4-32 | 4-32 |
| Total Hours (minimum) | 64 | 88 |
| Other Requirements:* (all programs) Minimum GPA: Master's Degree Is Not Required for Admission to PhD but is required for completion Residency: 2 consecutive full-time (12 hours) semesters of study on campus Early Research Requirement Qualifying Exams Required Human Subjects Approval Required Preliminary Exam Required Final Exam/Dissertation Defense Required Dissertation Deposit Required |
3.0 | 3.0 |
Online Programs
Educational Psychology offers two on-line professional Master of Education (Ed.M.) degrees, one with a focus on Curriculum, Technology, and Education Reform (CTER) and another with a focus on Quantitative Literacy. Admissions requirements are somewhat different and applicants should consult the college's on-line program Web site for current admissions criteria and specific course requirements.
CTER program - Ed.M. in Educational Psychology
| Required Hours | |
|---|---|
| Required Courses: | 32 |
| Total Hours (minimum) | 32 |
| Other Requirements:* | minimum of 12 hours at the 500 level |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
Quantitative Literacy focus - Ed.M. in Educational Psychology
| Required Hours | |
|---|---|
| Psychological Foundation Course: EPSY 400 | 4 |
| Social and Philosophical Foundation Course: EPS 415 | 4 |
| Required Courses: | 24 |
| Total Hours (minimum) | 32 |
| Other Requirements:* | minimum of 12 hours at the 500 level |
| Minimum GPA: | 3.0 |
Medical Scholars Program
The Medical Scholars Program permits highly qualified students to integrate the study of medicine with study for a graduate degree in a second discipline, including Educational Psychology. Students may apply to the Medical Scholars Program prior to beginning graduate school or while in the graduate program. Applicants to the Medical Scholars Program must meet the admissions standards for and be accepted into both the doctoral graduate program and the College of Medicine. Students in the dual degree program must meet the specific requirements for both the medical and graduate degrees. On average, students take eight years to complete both degrees. Further information on this program is available by contacting the Medical Scholars Program, 125 Medical Sciences Building, (217) 333-8146 or at www.med.illinois.edu/msp.
Faculty Research Interests
The faculty's research agendas span a wide range of topics related to the study and application of psychological principles to develop and inform educational interventions and facilitate human development across the life span. Faculty conduct basic and translational research that explores the cognitive, life-span developmental, social-emotional, and socio-cultural factors that affect behavior, learning, and achievement in educational, clinical, and community contexts. They also engage in research on approaches to educational inquiry and the development of quantitative, qualitative and evaluative methodologies that underpin the development of evidence-based, policy-relevant studies. Faculty research profiles are available on the department Web site.
Center, Programs, and Institutes
Department faculty are affiliated with both research centers and institutes in the College of Education and the university more broadly, including the Adult Learning Lab, the Center for Education in Small Urban Communities, the Center for Advanced Study, the Beckman Institute, the Center for the Study of Reading, the Social Development Consortium, and others.
Facilities and Resources
The Department of Educational Psychology puts a high priority on working with its graduate students to secure fellowships and other awards.
The College of Education also has many resources to assist graduate students through their academic career. The Bureau of Educational Research works with students to secure research funding and provide human subject reviews. The Council on Teacher Education certifies candidates, provides accreditation of professional education programs; and supervision of pre-service field experiences.
Information on University resources can be found at www.grad.illinois.edu/campus-resources.
Financial Aid
Financial aid in the form of assistantships, scholarships, fellowships, and tuition waivers can be found throughout the college and campus. There are opportunities available through the department, the College of Education, and the Bureau of Educational Research. Please note: Graduate students employed as Staff by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign are not eligible for a College of Education Award or Scholarship. Campus opportunities can be found at the Graduate College and the Office of Student Financial Aid.
The department does not require a separate financial aid application.