Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Psychology

Apply Now

Program Link:
https://education.wsu.edu/graduate/edpsych/
Program Handbook:
https://education.wsu.edu/documents/2021/09/ed-psych-phd-handbook-2020-2022.pdf/
Student Learning Outcomes:
https://education.wsu.edu/graduate/edpsych/phd/
Total Graduate Faculty in Program:
8
Total Core Graduate Faculty in Program:
8
Graduate Students in Program:
19
Priority Deadlines:

  • Fall December 1
  • Spring July 1

Program Deadlines:

  • Fall – (Closes June 1)
  • Spring – (Closes Novemeber 1)

Campus:

  • Pullman

International Student English Proficiency Exams

International students may need to surpass the Graduate School’s minimum English language proficiency exam scores for this program. If the graduate program has unique score requirements, they will be detailed below. Otherwise, please refer to the Graduate School’s minimum score guidelines.

  • TOEFL – il
  • IELTS
  • Duolingo

Degree Description:

Educational Psychology…..advancing theory and methods to better learning and performance.

Educational psychology is the study of how humans learn and retain knowledge, primarily in educational settings like classrooms. This includes emotional, social, and cognitive learning processes. Areas of focus might include teaching, testing and assessment methods, psychometrics, classroom or learning environments, and learning, social, and behavioral problems that may impede learning, technology in learning. Graduates work as professors, education specialists, learning analysts, program evaluators, and find positions in research institutions, school systems, the testing industry, government agencies, and private industry.

The mission of Educational Psychology at WSU is to produce successful professionals in educational psychology who have strong methodological skills, understanding of researchable topics, the ability to develop a research program, effectively communicate and work with a wide variety of professionals, and skills to understand nuance and ambiguity in the work environment.

We train students within educational psychology to be excellent consumers and producers of research in order to address challenging educational problems.  These students gain a deep understanding of learning theory and methods to allow them to contribute to both theory and practice in the domain in which they select to work.  The work in such areas may be awarded, for example, by the  ability to make contributions to the improvement of educational settings (e.g., schools, universities), to have a direct influence on individuals through the development of programs, methods, and tools to meet their needs, or to provide information to individuals who shape policy. Thus, we seek individuals who will first meet challenging academic standards for entrance and show promise for success in the exciting field of educational psychology.

Note to International Students requiring a visa: Please apply early to ensure enough time for application processing, and if offered admission, enough time for visa processing, embassy visits and travel time before term start.

Admission Requirements:

01. A WSU Graduate School general application (including application fee). In GradCAS search for Washington State University – Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Psychology.

02. Current resume or vitae.

03. Letter of Intent. Please provide a written statement covering the below points, not exceed two typed single-spaced pages. 

  • A written statement of your professional objectives and how you believe they will be promoted by admission to the respective WSU program.
  • A description of relevant research or professional experiences.
  • A research/area of interest.

04. Three letters of reference. The three letters of recommendation, submitted through GradCAS, must address your:

  • Two of these should be from persons from whom you have taken previous course work.
  • If you are unable to contact previous professors, letters should be from individuals qualified to address your ability to be successful academically and professionally.
  • Please do not send placement files.

05. Complete Educational History and Transcripts from any colleges/universities:

  • Where any degrees have been granted or are expected.
  • That show any graded bachelor’s work and/or graduate-level work (including doctoral) taken after the bachelor’s degree.
  • Unofficial copies may be uploaded with your Graduate School application for application review. If admitted, you will be required to submit official copies to the WSU Graduate School.
  • Official WSU Transcripts are NOT required for coursework taken at WSU.

06. International Students must meet the university’s English proficiency and funding requirements. Please view the current requirements.

 

Student Opportunities:

The work in such areas as research, evaluation, and measurement may include for example: the opportunity to make contributions to the improvement of educational settings (e.g., schools, universities), to have some influence on individuals through consultation on programs, methods, or to provide information through analysis to individuals who shape policy. Other opportunities may include positions in the testing industry; researcher at national firms studying educational issues; assessment specialist at national foundations.

Career Opportunities:

Experienced individuals in this profession can expect to earn a good salary and maintain an interesting and fulfilling career in employment in private firms, at school districts or university settings, business, industry, or state agencies as program evaluators or student assessment coordinators, research technicians, or data analysts, as examples.

Career Placements:

  • Evaluator for Appalachian Education Laboratory, West Virginia
  • Assessment specialist for the regional educational agency in Cedar Rapids, Iowa
  • Assistant professor in measurement, statistics, and evaluation, Indiana State University
  • Research scientist, Duke Energies, South Carolina
  • Assistant professor of Educational Technology, Morehead State University, Minnesota
  • Project Director of Psychometrics, Applied Measurement Professionals

Contact Information: