Return to: Educational Studies|

Program Description

The doctoral program in educational psychology and research at the University of South Carolina offers two concentrations. Students choose either the educational psychology concentration or the educational research concentration.

Educational Research Concentration. Core skills acquired in the educational research concentration include using measurement and statistics, evaluating programs, designing research, constructing tests, and using computer statistical packages to analyze data. In addition to university faculty positions, graduates in research and measurement serve as directors and coordinators of educational research in school districts, government agencies, and the private sector.

Students may enter the doctoral program with a master’s degree in any of a number of fields. Students with only a baccalaureate degree may wish to earn a master’s degree in educational psychology and research or educational technology before entering the doctoral program.

Educational Psychology Concentration. The focus of the educational psychology concentration is to develop a sound knowledge base of both the biological and psychological factors that influence human learning and their relationship to the educational setting. Included are the applications of principles of learning to instruction and classroom situations, cognitive processes, the relationship of human development to the processes of learning, and methods to critique and analyze fundamental educational psychology research areas. Core skills acquired include using quantitative and qualitative research methodologies. This concentration is appropriate for qualified individuals who wish to assume a university faculty position and/or conduct research, as well as those who are responsible for classroom learning in other areas of education and industry.

Admission

To be considered for admission, all of The Graduate School’s application requirements, curriculum vitae, a letter of intent that delineates the applicant’s professional goals and specific interest in the degree and specifies the track (educational psychology or educational research) applied for, and three letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to the applicant’s professional potential in the chosen area of interest must be on file in The Graduate School, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208. Review of applications takes place in October and February.

Program of Study

Doctoral students must complete residency requirements, a program of study, a qualifying examination, and a comprehensive (written and oral) examination and, finally, must complete and defend a dissertation.