The master's program provides a foundational understanding of the concepts, methods and theories related to the profession of educational psychology. Students hold undergraduate degrees from diverse academic fields. Many are experienced educators who have chosen graduate work in Educational Psychology to increase their knowledge and skills. The program exposes these students to knowledge emerging from psychological research and theory, preparing them for a wide range of professional positions in education, government and industry. For other students, master's work provides a level of entry into a doctoral program in Educational Psychology.
All students learn how psychology is relevant to educational issues.
The master's program offers specialized courses in the areas of the psychology of teaching and learning, human cognition and problem-solving, human development, and measurement, statistics and research methodology. The master's degree program of study for each student is planned by the student in consultation with a faculty advisor, who must approve the program. The choices for the course of study are determined by the student and advisor based on prior preparation, professional aspirations, scholastic needs and personal preferences. Because usefulness of courses varies depending on the student's background, the program of study depends in part upon the student's entry-level competencies. The master's degree requires a minimum of 36 units, with at least 27 of these units taken in Educational Psychology.