Educational Psychology Degrees and Careers
(found programs from 184 schools)

Online Programs in Educational Psychology

Some of the most common online educational psychology degrees are master's and doctoral degrees. Although most universities require students to complete these degrees by taking a prearranged series of classes, many online educational psychology programs let students customize their experience by choosing from a number of specializations, such as child and adolescent development, health psychology and social psychology.

In addition to classes related to their specializations, students typically begin with an introduction or foundations course. While these programs tend not to require internships, they do generally include a capstone project. Doctoral programs typically require a thesis, while master's programs may conclude with a comprehensive exam, thesis or some other project. In some online programs, students can choose to complete extra courses to add additional specializations to their degrees. In some programs, on-campus residencies are required.

Online Educational Psychology Degrees to Consider:

Capella University offers both an online master's and an online doctorate degree in educational psychology. The master's program requires students to take a combination of core psychology classes, specialization courses and electives to complete their degrees. The doctorate program is similar but requires four courses of dissertation research along with a choice of specialization.

At the University of Northern Colorado, students can complete the online master's in educational psychology with a teaching application emphasis. The program, which typically attracts teachers, is designed to help instructors understand how students learn so they can become better classroom teachers. The program is 30 credit hours and can be completed in about 19 months. New students begin each summer.

Finally, Walden University offers an online doctorate in educational psychology. The program, which can be completed in 106 credit hours, requires 71 core credit hours, 15 elective credits, a 20-credit dissertation and four short residencies.

Introduction to Educational Psychology Careers

Have you ever wondered why some students struggle to read and digest even the simplest prose while others have trouble navigating the world of mathematics? Perhaps you have wondered whether visual aids such as pictures and movies are useful adjuncts to traditional instruction, or distracting crutches to be avoided. Educational psychologists wonder--and seek answers to--these same questions.

Useful Resources

• Association of Educational Therapists

Educational Psychology Job Description

Educational psychologists study the processes through which people acquire scholastic knowledge, assess and treat disorders that inhibit those processes, and work with students and teachers to develop and evaluate the most effective school curricula and teaching methods.

Educational Psychology Requirements

Many educational psychologists begin their academic journey as undergraduates majoring in psychology or education, though graduate programs vary in the degree to which they require these courses of study. Most accredited programs require that candidates for admission have taken the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Doctoral programs generally grant either a Doctor of Philosophy in psychology (Ph.D.) or a Doctor in Education (Ed.D.). Either degree requires approximately five years of graduate study, and the differences between the two are more imagined than real. Historically, the Ph.D. was more research-oriented; in recent years, this distinction has largely faded away. While those with master's degrees in educational psychology generally cannot practice as educational psychologists, a few states will confer licensure upon appropriately qualified master's holders. Other states will license those with a specialist in education (Ed.S.), which is a post-master's but pre-doctoral degree.After graduation, degree-holders must obtain government licensure by passing an examination and demonstrating satisfaction of professional experience requirements. These experience requirements vary from state to state, typically ranging from 1500 to 3000 hours (1 to 2 years) of supervised clinical internships. Educational psychologists who wish to assess and treat students, particularly children, should be personable, understanding and patient.

Educational Psychology Career Outlook

Educational psychologists seek and obtain employment in a variety of settings and roles. Some will practice within schools, assessing students, training teachers, and designing remedial programs. Others practice at a macro level, overseeing and advising school administrations and governments on educational policy. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that for 2008, the national median annual earnings for educational psychologists was $68,400. The BLS also predicts that from 2008 to 2018, employment of psychologists will grow 12 percent.

Educational Psychology Trends

The federal No Child Left Behind Act, which was enacted in 2002, is likely to continue to increase and maintain the demand for educational psychologists, as it emphasizes implementation of scientifically based research practices in the classroom along with scholastic improvement and accountability.

Educational Psychology Degree Programs

Welcome to the most complete directory on the Web of Educational Psychology programs. It contains all the nationally accredited programs, from 184 schools across the country.

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