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Master of Education in Educational Psychology - Applied Developmental Science
The M.Ed. in Educational Psychology-Applied Developmental Science (EP-ADS) prepares students for careers studying or improving the lives of children, adolescents, and adults. Students learn theory and research on the contribution of school and out-of school settings on how settings in which we live (e.g., home, school, work) influence learning and development. Students have hands-on experience developing and evaluating interventions designed to support children and youth to become important, contributing members of society. There are four key features of the EP-ADS program.
Content in EP-ADS: 1) takes an interdisciplinary perspective, 2) uses rigorous research designs and advanced methods, 3) takes a strength-based approach to understanding the complex challenges faced by children and youth, and 4) chooses applied problems. Course work provides content in educational and applied developmental psychology as well as research design, methods, and statistics. EP-ADS faculty and students work together closely, fostering a productive, engaging, and exciting learning environment. The ultimate goal is to prepare students for careers in research organizations, non-profit and community organizations that work directly with children and youth, or educational settings (e.g., school districts, charter schools).
Students enroll into either the Applied Research or Applied Professional track. The M.Ed. program involves coursework, an internship experience, and a master’s level comprehensive exam.
Core Requirements
The M.Ed. program requires completion of a minimum of 32 credit hours (including internship).
Required courses may include:
Educational Psychology & Foundations (12 credits)
EDLF 5711 - Globalization, Childhood, and Culture - Credits: 3
EDLF 7150 - Educational Psychology (3 credits)
EDLF 7290 - Seminar in Educational Psychology (1 credit each semester, 3 credits total)
EDLF 7601 - Social Foundations of Education - Credits: 3
Developmental Science (9 credits)
Required courses:
EDLF 5020 - Introduction to Applied Developmental Science (3 credits)
EDLF 5700 - Race, Ethnicity, and Diversity in Youth Development - Credits: 3
Select one of the following:
EDLF 5010 - Child Learning and Development (3 credits)
EDLF 5011 - Adolescent Learning and Development (3 credits)
EDLF 5040 - Education and Neuroscience (3 credits)
EDLF 5160 - Life Span Development (3 credits)
EDLF 5260 - Cognitive Psychology and Education (3 credits) (if not taken for previous category)
EDLF 5270 - Adult Development and Aging (3 credits) (if not taken for previous category)
EDLF 5470 - Motivation in Achievement Contexts (3 credits)
EDLF 5711 - Globalization, Childhood, and Culture (3 credits)
EDLF 7200 - Child Development (3 credits) (for those with previous experience with child development and research; instructor permission required; offered even years)
EDLF 7210 - Adolescent Development (3 credits) (for those with previous experience with adolescent development and research; instructor permission required; offered odd years)
Research Methods (6 credits)
Required courses:
Select at least one from the following:
EDLF 5310 - Data Management for Social Science Research (Research Track) (3 credits)
EDLF 5330 - Quantitative Methods and Data Analysis I (3 credits)
EDLF 5500 - Field Experiments (3 credits)
EDLF 7330 - Single-Subject Research (Professional Track) (3 credits)
EDLF 7402 - Program Evaluation (Professional Track) (3 credits)
EDLF 7403 - Survey Design & Instrument Construction (3 credits)
EDLF 7404 - Qualitative Analysis (3 credits)
EDLF 7410 - Mixed Methods Research Design (3 credits)
EDLF 7420 - Quantitative Methods II: General Linear Models (3 credits)
More advanced methods courses are available and may be taken by students with significant prior stats experience, with advisor and instructor permission.
Internship (6 credits)
EDLF 8998 - Masters Research Internship
Comprehensive Exam
Students complete a comprehensive exam during the last semester of the program.
Public Professional Licensure Disclosure
As a member of the State Authorizations Reciprocity Agreement, the University of Virginia (UVA) is authorized to provide curriculum in a distance learning environment to students located in all states in the United States except for California. (34 CFR 668.43(a)(6)& 34 CFR 668.72(n)).
Upon completion of the Master of Education in Educational Psychology at the UVA School of Education and Human Development, graduates may be eligible for initial professional licensure in another U.S. state by applying to the licensing board or agency in that state.
Please visit the University’s state authorization web pages to make an informed decision regarding which states’ educational requirements for initial licensure are met by this program. (668.43(a)(5) (v)(A) - (C))
Enrolled students who change their current (or mailing) address to a state other than Virginia should update this information immediately in the Student Information System as it may impact their ability to complete internship, practicum, or clinical hours, use Title IV funds, or meet licensure or certification requirements in the new state. (34 CFR 668.402).
Doctor of Philosophy in Education - Applied Developmental Psychology
The Ph.D. in Educational Psychology-Applied Developmental Science (EP-ADS) prepares students for a research career focused on studying and improving the lives of children, adolescents and even, adults. Students learn how to understand and produce theory and research on the contribution of school and out-of school settings on learning and development. There are four key features of the EP-ADS program. Research in EP-ADS: 1) takes an interdisciplinary perspective, 2) uses rigorous research designs and advanced methods, 3) takes a strength-based approach to understanding the complex challenges faced by children and youth, and 4) chooses applied problems. The ultimate goal is to prepare graduates for research careers in academic settings, research organizations, and/or school and government agencies.
The Ph.D. program involves interdisciplinary coursework, research apprenticeship experiences, university-level teaching, and independent, mentored research. Some students engage in research-practice partnership experiences in state agencies or districts.
Core Requirements
Students must earn a minimum of 72 credits; 60 (or more) must be based on coursework. The remaining 18 credits may be research credits. If students enter with a masters degree, they may apply up to 24 credits from their masters degree toward their doctoral degree. (The masters courses must overlap in content and rigor with the required doctoral courses for this to apply.)
Required Courses may include:
Foundation Courses
EDLF 7150 - Educational Psychology 3
EDLF 7300 - Foundations of Educational Research 3
EDLF 7430 - Education Science Seminar 3 (VEST fellows only)
Human Development
EDLF 7420 - Quantitative Methods II: General Linear Models 3 , EDLF 7210 - Adolescent Development 3 or EDLF 5270 - Adult Development and Aging 3 (choose 2 for a total of 6 credits)
Topical Development Course related to specialization (3 credits)
Methods and Statistics
EDLF 7420 - Quantitative Methods II: General Linear Models 3
EDLF 8310 - Generalized Linear Models 3
EDLF 8350 - Multivariate Statistics 3
EDLF 7404 - Qualitative Analysis 3
EDLF 5310 - Data Management for Social Science Research 3 (optional)
Methods Specialization
Seminar in Advanced Methods (3 credits)
One Additional methods class (3 credits)
Interdisciplinary Specialization
Four courses organized around a content specialty:
6 credits from EHD, 6 credits from outside EHD (total of 12 credits)
Teaching
Internship in College teaching (3 credits)
Research Experiences
EDLF 9993 - Independent Study , or EDLF 9998 - Doctoral Research Apprenticeship (total of 18 credits)
EDLF 9999 - Doctoral Dissertation (24 credits)
Additional Requirements
Students complete a research paper by the end of their second year, a comprehensive exam during their third year, and a dissertation (including proposal, proposal defense, written dissertation, dissertation defense) in their final year of the program. Students must complete at least one semester of an internship in college teaching. Students have the opportunity to engage in a research partnership experience during their third or fourth year.
Culminating Experience
Students must complete the doctoral dissertation in accordance with the School of Education and Human Development doctoral dissertation guidelines.
