Educational Psychology/Human Learning and Development, Ed.D.

This program is designed to help students integrate theory, research and practice in the field of psychology and education. It helps prepare graduates for leadership and research positions in a broad range of educational settings, universities and continuing education programs for adults. Those whose undergraduate and master’s degrees are not in psychology may be required to complete prerequisites in addition to the requirements below.

In addition to National College of Education Doctoral Admissions Requirements, applicants must:

• Submit written responses to substantive questions that directly speak to the applicant’s intellectual interests, professional goals, compatibility with program and commitments to the values of the program. Each program has its own set of questions and assessment criteria. Applicant responses are considered carefully, along with all other evidence, in determining the applicant’s potential for success in pursuing the Ed.D. degree.
• Submit official scores from the Graduate Records Examination (GRE)
• Submit four letters of recommendation. Two of the four required letters should be completed by people associated with the applicant’s recent graduate work and two by people supervising the applicant’s professional work.
• Note: The admission process occurs in two stages. First, the applicant submits the application and all supporting documentation to the Office of Admissions by the published deadlines. Faculty from the respective doctoral programs reviews the applications. 

The second stage of the admissions process consists of an interview with the program faculty. Because of the limited size of the doctoral programs, only a small number of applicants are selected to participate in the second stage of the admission process. 

The objectives of the interview process are to establish that applicants have clearly defined goals for pursuing doctoral study, to determine that the applicants’ goals may be met through the doctoral programs, to gain further information about the applicants and to clarify areas of concern, to provide an opportunity for applicants to ask questions about the programs and to enable applicants to acquaint themselves with faculty in the programs.

Program Details:

• Requires 63 SH for completion
• Requires comprehensive examination
• Requires a dissertation

Required Courses

Educational Psychology/Human Learning and Development Core - 15 SH

EPD 659	Studies in Family-School Partnerships and Relationship-Building	3
EPD 660	Advanced Studies in Cognition: Learning and Knowledge as Social Practices	3
EPD 667	Advanced Studies in Cognition: Learning through Design-Based Research in Schools	3
EPD 668	Interpersonal Relationship in Culturally Diverse Educational Environments	3
EPD 669	Advanced Studies in Problem-Solving Special Education and School Psychology Service Delivery Systems	3

Educational Psychology/Human Learning and Development Minor Concentration - 12 SH

In consultation with a doctoral advisor, choose 12 SH in one or two areas of minor concentrations which are designed to provide breadth of knowledge in areas relevant to Educational Psychology

Program Electives - 9 SH

Choose 9 SH of NCE graduate courses in consultation with a doctoral advisor

Doctoral Core - 6 SH

Research and Dissertation - 21 SH

ESR 604	Dissertation Proposal Seminar	2
ESR 612	Statistical Methods in Research	3
ESR 614	Interpretive and Critical Research Methodology	3
ESR 616	Mixed Methods Design	3
	or
ESR 618	Interpretive and Critical Research Design	3
	and
CCD 699D	Dissertation: Educational Psychology	1 TO 8

Note: CCD 699D must be taken for a total of 8 semester hours.

Comprehensive Examination

The comprehensive examination is taken after completion of the doctoral, research and program core classes (with the exception of the last research course). Students must pass the comprehensive examination prior to formal work on the dissertation and advancement to candidacy for the Ed.D. degree.