About the Educational Psychology M.A.Ed. Program
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Educational Psychology M.A.Ed. Program accepts students who are interested in obtaining a master’s degree. Students in the educational psychology programs study learning, development, motivation, assessment, testing, and instructional design. Individualized programs of study are developed for students to ensure that their studies prepare them well for the career paths they choose.
Our students investigate strategies to improve teaching, effective methods to present ideas, factors that impact motivation, ways to accurately measure learning and achievement, and practices to create effective learning environments.
Some graduates of the master’s program apply to Ph.D. programs in educational psychology or related fields. Other graduates work in a variety of positions and obtain a master’s degree to further their knowledge of the teaching and learning processes. For example, some students are interested in coaching or working with children. Others are already teaching in some capacity or want to teach and find the degree useful for their career path. Note that this master’s degree does not lead to a teaching certification; therefore, individuals who are not already certified and plan to teach in K-12 public schools should enroll in a degree program that leads to certification.
WHAT YOU'LL STUDY
Educational psychology is a broad discipline that applies psychological research and theories to educational settings. Students in the educational psychology program study learning, development, motivation, assessment, testing, and instructional design. Individualized programs of study are developed for students to ensure that their studies prepare them well for the career paths they choose.
The master’s curriculum consists of courses in four areas: Concentration, Research, Foundations, and Cognate. A total of 30 credit hours of coursework is required for the master’s degree, typically a series of ten 3-credit classes. Some courses are required, and others may be selected as electives, based on your interests and academic preferences. Students typically enroll in 4 courses a semester as a full-time student. Students who wish to pursue this program while working full-time typically take one or two courses a semester.
There is no required order of courses, but all courses are not offered all semesters, so there is a recommended sequence shown below. Talk to your advisor about your specific needs and how you can meet them. A sample plan of study will be provided to you as you begin your studies.
To substitute a graduate course from another university for a course at Virginia Tech, you must submit a transcript from the other university. If the course was completed more than five years ago, please work with your advisor to request that the coursework be accepted as substitution.
Concentration / Applied Studies
Courses in Educational Psychology (denoted by "EDEP")
Required: Select at least 5 of these courses
- EDEP 5114: Learning and Cognition
- EDEP 5184: Sociocultural Influences on Learning and Instruction
- EDEP 6114: Cognitive Processes and Educational Practice
- EDEP 6224: Constructivism and Education
- EDEP 6444: Motivation and Cognition
- EDEP 6644: College Teaching
Research
Courses in Educational Research
Required: Select 2 of these courses
- EDRE 5404: Foundations of Educational Research & Evaluation
- EDIT 5584: Program and Product Evaluation
- EDRE 6504: Qualitative Methods in Educational Research I
- EDRE 6605: Quantitative Research Methods in Education I
Non-Required Electives
Quantitative
- EDRE 6606: Quantitative Research Methods in Education II
- EDRE 6634: Advanced Statistics for Education (Regression)
- Note: EDRE 6634 is prerequisite for the following:
- EDRE 6644: Advanced Research Design & Methodology (HLM)
- EDRE 6654: Multivariate Statistics for Applications to Educational Problems
- EDRE 6664: Application of Structural Equations in Education
- EDRE 6684: Instrument Development & Validation
- EDRE 6694: Hierarchical Linear Modeling
Qualitative
- EDRE 6524: Qualitative Methods in Educational Research II
- EDRE 6784: Advanced Issues in Qualitative Research
Other Available Courses
- EDRE 5644: Questionnaire Design & Survey Research in Education
- EDCI 6534: Ethnographic Methods in Education
- EDRE 6624: Measurement Theory in Education
- EDRE 6704: Evaluation Methods in Education
- EDRE 6754: Advanced Item Response Theory
- EDRE 6774: Advanced Issues in Psychometric Research
- EDRE 6794: Mixed Methods Research Design
Foundations
Typically, these are courses in education (such as "EDCI" or "EDIT" courses) that are not directly related to educational psychology
Required: Select 1 of these courses -- typically, these are courses in EDCI and EDIT.
The following are examples but also see the courses in the Cognate section below.
- EDCI 5104: Schooling in American Society
- EDCI 5784: Educational Philosophy and Technology
- EDCI 6024: Analysis of Education Concepts
Cognate
Courses that are outside the educational psychology program or outside of the School of Education. You can look in other education programs or check the offerings in the Psychology Department. (Some of these could also be used in the “Foundations” category; talk to your advisor about it.)
Required: Select 1 of these courses
- Note: There are many possibilities, these are just a few; check the course schedule for others.
- EDIT 5164: Design for Learning
- EDCI 5284: Disability & Society (can count as foundations course)
- EDCI 5284: Universal Access, Disability & Technology
- EDIT 5774 Learning Theories for Instructional Design
- EDCI 5774: Classroom & Behavior Management
- EDCI 5774: Human Growth and Development (online)
- EDCI 5784: Educational Philosophy and Technology
- EDCI 5784 Leadership to Improve Instructional Capacity (contact Bonnie Billingsley)
- EDCI 5814: STEM Education Pedagogy
- EDCI 6034: Education and Anthropology
- EDCI 6054: Academic Writing for Qualitative Educational Research
- PSYC 5344: Cognitive Psychology
- PSYC 5534: Developmental Psychology
- PSYC 5544: Cognitive Development
- PSYC 5554: Social Development
- GRAD 5104: Preparing for the Future Professoriate
EDEP Course Descriptions
Psychological theories and models which serve as a basis for educational models and practice. Emphasis on conceptions of learning and cognitive process. Pre: Graduate standing.
Credit Hour(s): 3
Lecture Hour(s): 3
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture, Online Lecture
Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s):
Theories and empirical research on the influence of language, semiotics, dialogue, manipulatives, and social groups on cognition. Practical application through observation of classrooms and visits to science museums. Pre: Graduate standing.
Credit Hour(s): 3
Lecture Hour(s): 3
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture, Online Lecture
Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s):
Investigates complex human learning from the perspective of cognitive/information processing theories. Emphasizes methods of investigation in cognitive science as well as strategies for using a cognitive orientation in educational settings.
Credit Hour(s): 3
Lecture Hour(s): 3
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture, Online Lecture
Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s):
Philosophical, theoretical, and empirical foundations of the broad field of constructivism, including the limits of epistemology and ontology, the determination of truth and reality, and applications to education and everyday life. Emphasis on radical constructivism, social constructivism, symbolic interactionism, social constructionism, and cognitive constructivism, and their applications to education.
Credit Hour(s): 3
Lecture Hour(s): 3
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture, Online Lecture
Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s):
Explores current research in the field of motivation as it relates to educational settings. Students will learn how motivation constructs relate to student behavior and cognition, how to select appropriate strategies to motivate students, and how to design measures to assess student motivation.
Credit Hour(s): 3
Lecture Hour(s): 3
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture, Online Lecture
Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s):
Teaching/planning process and consideration of teaching methods employed to encourage, guide, and evaluate college students learning.
Credit Hour(s): 3
Lecture Hour(s): 3
Level: Graduate
Instruction Type(s): Lecture, Online Lecture
Prerequisite(s):
Corequisite(s):
NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED FACULTY
