College of Education

Educational Psychology - Graduate

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The Educational Psychology program focuses on preparing scholars who have strong theoretical, conceptual, and practical ties to education and psychology and who possess exceptional skills in the areas of measurement, statistics, assessment, and research methodology. The program’s focus on social justice includes the scientific consideration of the multiple intrapersonal, interpersonal, and structural factors that influence individuals’ cognition, affect, and behavior in diverse contexts. Graduate students in the program focus on at least one of four areas of specialization: multicultural education, quantitative methods, motivation, and human development.  The Educational Psychology program offers two degree options: Master’s of Science (MS) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).   Applications for the Educational Psychology program are currently closed. The website will be updated once applications open.

Diverse career opportunities for educational psychologists

 

The Educational Psychology program prepares students for professional positions in academic institutions and professors or researchers and in a variety of public and private agencies in positions as policy makers, education advisers, and research consultants.

Career options are based on the focus of the student’s coursework and the level of degree earned. At the Master’s level, an individual might attain expertise in areas that would be readily marketable in a school system. The individual might work in curriculum development, training programs, setting up testing programs, research, and other areas. Additional job opportunities might be found in training departments of various industries or in divisions of state and federal agencies.

At the doctoral level, an individual’s expertise and marketability may be much broader. For example, graduates might opt to teach and/or do research and development in colleges and universities, become administrators in higher education, work in medical education or research, develop and manage training departments in industry, work in various areas of publishing, conduct product design and research and/or program development, consult for or head state and federal agencies, conduct measurement and evaluation in school districts, or establish a private consulting firm.

 

Educational Psychology Masters (MSEd) Degree - Application Requirements

  1. CV
    • Educational background, work experiences, professional certifications, professional memberships, publications, and references
  2. Personal Statement that includes:
    • previous teaching and/or life experiences that have influenced your decision to pursue a degree in educational psychology 
    • experience with diverse populations and/or different cultures
    • research interests (i.e., specific problems or general areas in which you hope to work)
    • specific career goals
    • rationale for why the educational psychology program at the University of Kentucky is a "good fit" for your goals.
  3. GRE
  4. Letters of recommendation (2 required, 3 encouraged)

Applicants must meet the Graduate School admission requirements.

 

Application Deadline

​Fall: February 1

 

Educational Psychology Doctoral (PhD) Degree - Application Requirements

  1. CV
    • Educational background, work experiences, professional certifications, professional memberships, publications, and references
  2. Personal Statement that includes:
    • previous teaching and/or life experiences that have influenced your decision to pursue a degree in educational psychology
    • experience with diverse populations and/or different cultures
    • research interests (i.e., specific problems or general areas in which you hope to work)
    • specific career goals
    • rationale for why the educational psychology program at the University of Kentucky is a "good fit" for your goals
  3. Writing Sample
    • ​Article manuscript or class paper; sole authored; demonstrating APA style command (Title page, headers, references, etc.)
  4. GRE
  5. Letters of recommendation (2 required, 3 encouraged)

 

Application Deadline

Fall: December 1