Department of Educational Psychology

Become a leader in the fields of teaching, learning, human development, and behavior in our Educational Psychology programs. Graduate-level researchers study how students think and learn, the science of giftedness and creativity, quantitative methodology, and the best practices in the field of school psychology.

By crafting personalized plans of study, we prepare you to be an educational researcher, theorist, or practitioner who works to serve diverse populations. Our department comprises four interconnected areas of emphasis, which provide depth and flexibility to customize your program of study and become an expert in the research skills to build knowledge about the ways students think and learn.

Our department is also home to several leading research centers and clinics that offer opportunities for practical experience working with clients and conducting research projects. This includes the School Psychology Clinic and the Academic Computing Center. Our students also may work closely with the Torrance Center for Creativity and Talent Development.

Our faculty members have been awarded millions of dollars in federal and private funding for research on topics such as:

Assessment and remediation of children’s reading difficulty
Sex differences in mathematics strategies
Underrepresented populations in gifted education
Creativity
Reading comprehension and vocabulary development
Diagnostic classification models
Preschool intervention for children living in poverty
Design of student-centered learning environments
Dropout prevention

Anti-racism Statement

Please read our Statement of Anti-racism

Concentrations

Applied Cognition and Development
Our applied cognition and development programs prepare graduates to improve education through research, to implement projects in schools, and to apply research and methods to various settings.
Gifted and Creative Education
The Gifted and Creative Education Program philosophy is grounded in tenets that giftedness and creativity are expressed in diverse ways among people; that creativity is a universal potential to be nurtured and enhanced; and that the best education is tailored to student's specific needs.
Quantitative Methodology
Do you have an interest in theoretical developments in psychometrics, statistics, measurement, and other statistical modeling strategies? The QM Program exists to advance the field of quantitative methodology and connect to real-world problems in educational and social science research.
School Psychology
The School Psychology program is designed to produce clinically skilled scientists who are proficient in principles of theory, science, and practice. We are fully accredited by the APA.

Degree Programs

Double Dawgs
Combined Bachelor's and Master's Degrees

BS in Statistics / MA in Quantitative Methodology
Become an expert in collecting, analyzing, and presenting data by combining a BS in Statistics with an MA in Quantitative Methodology.

Minors

Personal Health and Well-Being Minor
Housed in the Department of Educational Psychology and the Department of Kinesiology, the personal health and well-being minor supports students' exploration, understanding, and development of practices and habits that support personal health and well-being.

Master of Education (MEd)

MEd in Educational Psychology (Applied Cognition and Development)
Become an expert in human development, learning, and motivation, or explore gifted and creative education or quantitative methods.
MEd in Educational Psychology (Gifted and Creative Education)
Become an expert in human development, learning, and motivation, or explore gifted and creative education or quantitative methods.
MEd in Educational Psychology (Quantitative Methodology)
Become an expert in human development, learning, and motivation, or explore gifted and creative education or quantitative methods.

Master of Arts (MA)

MA in Educational Psychology (Applied Cognition and Development)
Become an expert in human development, learning, and motivation through our program in applied cognition and development.
MA in Educational Psychology (Gifted and Creative Education)
Develop the knowledge and skills to research, teach and support gifted, creative and advanced P-12 students while completing a thesis project.
MA in Educational Psychology (Quantitative Methodology)
Explore quantitative methods by developing and disseminating advances in measurement in the social and behavioral sciences, educational assessment and statistical methodology.

Educational Specialist (EdS)

EdS in Educational Psychology (Applied Cognition and Development)
Enhance your knowledge of how students learn, or how gifted and creative students see their world.
EdS in Educational Psychology (Gifted and Creative Education)
Enhance your knowledge of how students learn, or how gifted and creative students see their world.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

PhD in Educational Psychology (Applied Cognition and Development)
Explore cognitive processes both inside and outside of the classroom, connect real-world issues in education, or become a skilled psychologist at all levels of child development.
PhD in Educational Psychology (Gifted and Creative Education)
Explore the cognitive process both inside and outside of the classroom, connect research to real-world issues in education, or become a skilled psychologist at all levels of child development.
PhD in Educational Psychology (Quantitative Methodology)
Explore quantitative methods by developing and disseminating advances in measurement in the social and behavioral sciences, educational assessment and statistical methodology.
PhD in Educational Psychology (School Psychology)
Explore the cognitive process both inside and outside of the classroom, connect research to real-world issues in education, or become a skilled psychologist at all levels of child development.

Non-Degree Programs

Certificates

Interdisciplinary Certificate in Creativity and Innovation (ICCI)

Scholarships

In addition to the following departmental scholarships, learn more about additional opportunities for financial assistance on our financial aid page .

W. Owen Scott Fellowship for Academic Merit and Professional Promise

Student Organizations

Association of School Psychologists (ASP)

To advise the scholarly goals and professional interests of future school psychologists.

Faculty advisor: Scott Patrick Ardoin

Graduate Researchers in Educational Psychology

This organization fosters communication between graduate students and faculty in the Department of Educational Psychology and encourages active participation in projects relating to fields represented in the department.

Faculty advisor: Sycarah Fisher

Latest News

Abraham discusses creativity in APA Monitor on Psychology
Professor and Torrance Center director Anna Abraham spoke on creativity in a recent article from the American Psychological Association’s magazine Monitor on Psychology.
CABER mentioned in Red & Black for Autism Acceptance Month
The Center for Autism and Behavioral Education Research (CABER) was included in a recent Red & Black article highlighting Autism Acceptance Month.
Wang selected as an outstanding reviewer for AERA's Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics
Shiyu Wang, associate professor in the College's Department of Educational Psychology, was recently selected as an Outstanding Reviewer of 2021 by AERA for the “Journal of Educational and Behavioral Statistics.”