Educational Psychology
The Educational Psychology program area prepares masters and doctoral students for careers in research institutes, academic settings, and a variety of other educational research settings. Majors may concentrate in a content area within educational psychology that is flexibly tailored to their unique professional objectives. The program offers three specializations: Learning and Development, Gifted Education, and Sport and Exercise Psychology.
The Learning and Development specialty prepares students to apply the principles, empirical methods, and accumulated knowledge of psychology to problems that arise in practical settings. Educational Psychology students study human development, learning, psychological assessment, educational research, evaluation, and program design. Graduates are typically employed as professors, researchers, educational consultants, teachers, information specialists, program developers, and evaluators. They work in colleges of education, medical schools, psychology departments, research firms, regional laboratories, private corporations, educational foundations, public and private schools, and state and federal agencies. Masters (M.Ed.) graduates are qualified to design developmentally appropriate curricula, validate tests, assess educational programs, evaluate educational products, and participate in educational psychology research investigations. Doctoral graduates (Ph.D. or Ed.D.) are qualified to become university professors and assume leadership roles as educational psychologists.
The Gifted Education specialty prepares students to become experts in the study and education of gifted and talented individuals. Students in this specialty focus on the characteristics and needs of gifted children, methods of teaching gifted individuals, creativity and problem solving, tests and measurement, human development, development and evaluation of gifted programs, and current research in gifted education. Graduates are employable as gifted education specialists in public or private schools, private foundations, state or federal agencies, and universities. Masters (M.Ed.) graduates are prepared to conduct assessments, develop curricula, and prepare instructional strategies for working with gifted students. Doctoral graduates (Ph.D. or Ed.D.), because of their in-depth study and research expertise, are qualified to become university professors and assume leadership roles in the field of gifted education.
The Sport and Exercise Psychology specialty prepares students for careers in research, teaching, athletics, and health and fitness. Students in this specialty study the social influences and individual factors related to participation and performance in a variety of physical endeavors. There are two categories of investigation: (a) how participation in sport and exercise contributes to the personal development of participants; and (b) how psychological factors influence participation and performance in sport and exercise. Category (a) includes the study of self-esteem, character development, intrinsic motivation, and the ability to cope with anxiety and stress. Category (b) includes the study of social support, motivation, self-confidence, goal-setting, arousal control, and mental imagery. Graduates with terminal Master’s degrees (M.Ed.) are prepared for positions as teachers, coaches, or professionals in fitness or athletic clubs. Doctoral graduates (Ph.D.) are qualified for research and teaching careers in higher education.
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