The Educational Psychology Master’s program focuses on the examination and evaluation of psychological principles across the lifespan with an emphasis on cognition, development, motivation, identity and social processes. We thoroughly prepare students to serve as scholar-practitioners in a variety of education settings. Our goal is to create scholars, educators and leaders who will help improve and transform the lives of all learners through the lifespan.
Program Description
Educational Psychology students learn to apply psychological theory and research methodology to answer these and other questions:
- How is learning influenced by the social and cultural contexts of the classroom, school and community?
- How do students learn and grow?
- What motivates students to achieve and teachers to teach?
- What is the best way to help individuals learn across the lifespan?
- How can we best assess student learning and educational outcomes?
As scholar-practitioners, educational psychologists generate new knowledge that can improve the outcomes of people in a broad range of settings, from formal classrooms to training and continuing education in the professions.
What can graduates do with a master’s in educational psychology?
Our graduates are prepared to become researchers, leaders, university faculty, independent researchers in military, governmental or private industry settings, as well as skilled practitioners in their chosen field of study. As university or college faculty, we may teach college courses, conduct research, prepare prospective teachers and other educators, and/or develop statistical and research methods. Also at the college level, educational psychologists may work in study skills programs, instructional improvement programs, and/or curriculum development projects.
Educational psychologists also leverage their deep knowledge of psychology to work in research and development organizations (such as those found in the Research Triangle) in which they help evaluate new educational initiatives, influence policy, or help develop instructional materials or educational tests for schools. Educational psychologists increasingly work in government, school, military, corporate settings or private enterprise, the courts, and other organizational settings where they participate in training staff, developing and implementing educational programs, evaluating the effectiveness of educational programs, and/or analyzing educational data.
Program Handbook and Course of Study
The following Program Handbook provides details about the master program and the PhD program coursework, timeline, and requirements. Please see the handbook—HERE
Curriculum
Course descriptions can be found in the university course catalog.
Educational Psychology Master of Science (36 hours):
Category I. Curriculum, Professional Development and Leadership (3 hrs.)*
- ECI 501 Foundations of Curriculum
- ECI 508 Teacher as Leader
- ECI 585 Introduction to Exceptional Children
- ECI 806 Seminar in Teachers as Learner: Developmental Theory, Research and Practice
Category II. Knowledge of Learners and Teaching (18-24 hrs.)*
- ECI 500 Theory and Practice in Teaching Diverse Populations
- ECI 511 Computer Applications and Curriculum Integration
- ECI 716 Design and Evaluation of Instructional Materials
- ECI 520 Teaching Composition
- ECI 541 Reading in the Content Areas
- EDP 504 Advanced Educational Psychology**
- EDP 575 (Lifespan Dev), EDP 582 (Adolescent Dev), or PSY 786 (Cognitive Dev) or Equivalent
- EDP 590 Special Topics in Educational Psychology
- PSY 508 Cognitive Processes
Category III. Methodological Inquiry (6-9 hrs.)*
- ECI 510 Research Applications in Curriculum and Instruction (or ELP 532 Introduction to Educational Inquiry or equivalent)
- ECI 523 Teacher as Researcher
- EDP 560 Educational Tests and Measurement
- ECI 607 Advanced Seminar in Multicultural Research
- ST 507 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences I
- ST 508 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences II
- EAC 580 Designing Instructional Systems in Training and Development
- ECI 695 Master’s Thesis Research**
- ECI 699 Master’s Thesis Preparation**
*Other courses as approved by your master’s committee or master’s advisor
**Required Courses
Educational Psychology Master of Education (30 hours):
Category I. Curriculum, Professional Development and Leadership (3 hrs.)*
- ECI 501 Foundations of Curriculum
- ECI 508 Teacher as Leader
- ECI 585 Introduction to Exceptional Children
- ECI 806 Seminar in Teachers as Learner: Developmental Theory, Research and Practice
Category II. Knowledge of Learners and Teaching (18-24 hrs.)*
- ECI 500 Theory and Practice in Teaching Diverse Populations
- ECI 511 Computer Applications and Curriculum Integration
- ECI 716 Design and Evaluation of Instructional Materials
- ECI 520 Teaching Composition
- ECI 541 Reading in the Content Areas
- EDP 504 Advanced Educational Psychology**
- EDP 575 (Lifespan Dev), EDP 582 (Adolescent Dev), or PSY 786 (Cognitive Dev) or Equivalent
- EDP 590 Special Topics in Educational Psychology
- PSY 508 Cognitive Processes
Category III. Methodological Inquiry (6-9 hrs.)*
- ECI 510 Research Applications in Curriculum and Instruction (or ELP 532 Introduction to Educational Inquiry or equivalent)
- ECI 523 Teacher as Researcher
- EDP 560 Educational Tests and Measurement
- ECI 607 Advanced Seminar in Multicultural Research
- ST 507 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences I
- ST 508 Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences II
- EAC 580 Designing Instructional Systems in Training and Development
*Other courses as approved by your master’s committee or master’s advisor
**Required Courses
Faculty
Dr. Vandna Bindra
Assistant Teaching Professor
vkgill@ncsu.edu
Margareta M. Thomson, PhD
Professor
mmpop@ncsu.edu
DeLeon L. Gray, PhD
Associate ProfessorEducational Psychology Program Coordinator
dlgray2@ncsu.edu
John L. Nietfeld, PhD
Professor
john_nietfeld@ncsu.edu
Jessica T. DeCuir-Gunby, PhD
Professor
jessica_decuir@ncsu.edu
Christy Byrd, PhD
Assistant Professor
cmbyrd3@ncsu.edu
Admission Requirements
- Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and related health, economic, and social challenges, GRE test scores are waived for applicants applying for all graduate programs in the College of Education for the 2021-2022 admissions cycle. Read more about this decision.
- Current resume or CV
- Personal statement including career goals and aspirations, research interests or focus and other relevant experiences
- Recommendations from 3 individuals attesting to scholarly aptitude and motivation
