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PhD in Educational Psychology

Introduction

The PhD in Educational Psychology is directed towards increasing the candidate's competence in educational inquiry. In general, the domain in inquiry encompasses human learning and development in the context of education. Courses are offered in the areas of statistics, measurement, and research methodology; and human learning, cognition, and development. The programs prepare individuals to conduct basic and applied research and evaluation in public and private educational settings and provide instruction and consultation appropriate for all eduational levels.

Program Requirements

Each student works closely with members of the graduate faculty to define an individual program of study. A typical program spans three to five years of concentrated study within the broadly defined discipline of educational psychology.

Program requirements include the following:

33 credits of core coursework in educational psychology.
College teaching experience (EDEP 711) in conjunction with one or more faculty members.
Documentation of directed research experiences.
A minimum residency of three semesters of full-time work or the equivalent in credits at UHM.
Advancement to candidacy follows satisfactory completion of the core courses.
A comprehensive examination is required. Its purpose is to ascertain the student's comprehension of knowledge fundamental to educational psychology.
In conjunction with the identification of the Dissertation Committee Chair, students also prepare and circulate a 5–10 page description of the proposed dissertation research to solicit feedback and assist in forming a dissertation committee. If there are no major objections to this prospectus from the graduate faculty as a whole, the student forms a doctoral committee based on mutual interest.
Dissertation committee formation is generally intertwined with proposal development. A formal oral defense of the proposal is made by the student to the doctoral committee in order to confirm approval of the proposed research.

For further information, contact:

Department of Educational Psychology
College of Education
University of Hawai'i at Manoa
1776 University Avenue, Wist Hall 214
Honolulu, HI 96822
Tel: (808) 956-7775
Fax: (808) 956-6615
Web: www.hawaii.edu/coe/departments/edep/