Candidates are generally required to complete the departmental research foundation (12 hours), core requirements in educational psychology (21 hours), an area of specialization (9 hours), a related area (9 hours), and 9-15 hours of thesis credit for a total of 60+ hours beyond the master’s degree. Areas of specialization and related areas are planned cooperatively by the student, the advisor, and the advisory committee. Coursework must be completed in a five-year period. In addition to completing their coursework, doctoral students are expected to gain experience and expertise in research, writing, teaching, leadership, and service.
Ph.D. Plan of Study Guidelines
Departmental Foundation Requirement
- 6 credits – Two foundational statistics courses
- 3 credits – one additional statistics and/or research methods course
- 3 credits – one departmental advanced research methods course
- EDPS 630 – Research Procedures in Education
Primary Area Core Requirements
- 3 credits – one course in measurement
- EDPS 531 – Introduction to Measurement and Evaluation
- EDPS 532 – Measuring Educational Achievement
- 3 credits – one course in development by advisement
- 6 credits – two of the following courses in development, learning, and instruction:
- EDPS 535 – Personal-Social Dynamics in the Classroom
- EDPS 536 – Achievement Motivation and Performance
- EDPS 537 – Prose Learning and Retention
- EDPS 538 – School Learning and Instruction
- EDPS 540 – Gifted, Creative, and Talented Students
- 9 credits – enrollment in one or more of the following variable credit seminars:
- EDPS 631 – Applied Research Design (Gifted Education Seminar)
Students are expected to enroll in this specialized seminar each time it is offered until they have successfully defended their dissertation proposal.
- EDPS 632 – Research Procedures in Education
- EDPS 633 – Educational Psychology
Primary Area Specialization
- 12+ Credits – Four or more electives by advisement
Related Area
- 9+ credits – Multiple enrollments in EDPS 699 Research Ph.D. thesis are expected while working on the dissertation; typically students take 9-15 hours of EDPS 699 for a Ph.D.
Total Credits = 63+
Residency Requirement
The graduate school requires doctoral students to satisfy 90 hours of residency. This can be accomplished several ways. Please see your advisor to be sure that your plan of study meets this requirement.
Graduation
Students are responsible for ensuring that all graduate school deadlines are met in time for their proposed date of graduation.
Creating an Advisory Committee
All Ph.D. students select an advisory committee of at least three faculty members in addition to their major advisor. More than 50% of the committee members must be from the West Lafayette campus.