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Ph.D. in Educational Psychology

You will develop a broad and critical perspective on the psychological factors affecting individuals in schools, other educational settings, and other learning situations throughout the life span. You will be able to critically evaluate and apply research and theory based on a firm grounding in measurement, assessment, research methodology, and quantitative methods. Through convenient access to coursework, you will engage in:

  • a research-based curriculum covering basic concepts and theories in psychology as they relate to learning and instruction.

  • an integrated sequence of courses and other learning experiences that will ensure the development of a clear basis for understanding the connection between teaching, learning, and assessment.

  • a rigorous training sequence in educational statistics and research methodologies that will allow you to evaluate and conduct educational research in a variety of contexts.

  • a variety of opportunities, such as teaching assistantships and internships, that will prepare you for your future professional endeavors.

The PhD. in Educational Psychology is built for you! You can tailor your elective coursework to meet your goals by emphasizing either practitioner-oriented courses or researcher-oriented courses. You should expect to work closely with your advisor on scholarly projects as well as authorship opportunities throughout your graduate degree.

Plus, earning an advanced degree is a factor that determines pay grades in many school districts, organizations and corporations. This degree will strengthen the knowledge and practices for a variety of professions. Get started today!

Vanessa Harris, Ph.D.

Vanessa Harris

Educational consultant and owner of Major Change, LLC

“My degree in educational psychology has provided me with the essential skills to work in the area of student learning, motivation, cognitive development, and assessment. Developmental and motivational theories are the foundation for my business. I have been very fortunate to incorporate various aspects of cognition, motivation and assessment in my workshops and training to higher education administrators and students.”

Hear from more EDPY Alumni

Program Requirements

The Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Psychology requires 73 credit hours plus 18 dissertation hours, for a total of 91 hours. Students with relevant graduate level course work can transfer up to 30 hours into their degree. Doctoral students develop advanced skills in one or more research methodologies. They acquire hands-on research experiences through research internships. The program also offers opportunities to develop college-level teaching skills through teaching internships and assistantships.

Apply Today!

To apply, you need:

  1. Minimum grade point average of 3.0 as an undergraduate or 3.3 as a graduate student.
  2. Official Transcripts
  3. Letter of Intent
  4. 3 Letters of Recommendation
  5. Academic Writing Sample
  6. GRE or MAT Scores

Current Application Instructions

Submitting your application:

  1. Collect all your documents.
  2. Complete an online application at: www.unm.edu/apply
  3. Upload your documents with your online application

Educational Psychology M.A. and PhD. Application and Admission Schedule

Start Your Degree in:

Complete Application by:

Faculty will most likely make decision by:

Summer or Fall Semester

March 1

April 1

Spring Semester

October 1

November 1