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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Psychology

Harold Abel School of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Department of Psychology

Educational Psychology specialization

Deepen your knowledge of educational development and psychological research with this online PhD specialization in Educational Psychology. Through your choice of electives, you can tailor your degree program to meet your professional needs and research interests. People who choose this specialization often plan to pursue careers as professors, educational psychologists, researchers, program administrators, or consultants.
 
This specialization is not designed to meet licensure requirements for the counseling professions. If you are seeking information on professional licensure, please visit our Licensure Resource site.

Residency Requirements: Three four-day colloquia (PSY-R8921, PSY-R8922, PSY-R8923).

Learn about the residential colloquia experience.
As a PhD learner, you will attend three three-day residential colloquia at specific stages in your program, in addition to your online courses. These energizing residencies provide you with insights and knowledge that will be valuable during your PhD studies and beyond. Learn more about residential colloquia:
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Total Program: 120 quarter credits
Up to 50 quarter credits may be transferred into this specialization
Admission Requirements Icon indicating PDF
Next Start Date: March 5, 2012
Credit: $487
Quarter - Comps/Diss: $2,679

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Residency requirements: Three 4-day weekend experiences

Learn about the residential colloquia experience.
In addition to your online courses, you will complete 3 residential colloquia, each of which includes a 4-day weekend experience, at specific stages in your program. These energizing residencies provide you with insights and knowledge that will be valuable during your PhD studies and beyond.

Doctoral colloquia each have 3 steps:

Step 1: Colloquium Courseroom (opens approximately 2 weeks prior to Weekend Experience)
Step 2: Weekend Experience (4-day residency)
Step 3: Colloquium Courseroom—Assessment and evaluation (completed the week after the Weekend Experience)

What is the cost to attend?

The price for each colloquium is $1,495 (pricing is subject to periodic adjustment), but doesn’t include costs for evening meals or travel. You’ll be responsible for making your hotel reservations and travel arrangements.
  • Learn more about residency requirements.
  • Get more detailed information and learn how the residency experiences will enrich your learning at Capella University. Speak with an enrollment counselor at 1.888.227.3552.

Gain more value from your degree

Expand your educational and career opportunities by choosing one of Capella's degree enrichment options.

  • Add a concentration to gain deeper expertise

    Delve more deeply into a specific knowledge area by earning a concentration that will be included on your transcript and can enhance your career opportunities. If you have elective courses in your degree program, you may be able to use them to fulfill both your degree and concentration requirements at the same time. However, completing a concentration may extend your total credits beyond the requirements of your degree.

    Concentrations available as part of this specialization include:

    • Child and Adolescent Development
    • Coaching Psychology
    • Consultation Psychology
    • Industrial Psychology
    • Organizational Psychology
    • Program Evaluation and Measurement
    • Psychology Teaching and Instruction

Core Courses (each course 5 quarter credits unless noted)

  • PSY8002 - Orientation to Doctoral Learning in Psychology
  • PSY7110 - History and Systems of Psychology
  • PSY7210 - Lifespan Development
  • PSY7411 - Learning Theories in Psychology
  • PSY7543 - Ethics and Multicultural Issues in Psychology*
  • PSY7615 - Data analysis with SPSS
  • PSY7625 - Advanced Inferential Statistics**
  • PSY7658 - Quantitative Research Methods in Psychology**

Specialization Courses (each course 5 quarter credits unless noted)

  • PSY7421 - Cognitive/Affective Psychology
  • PSY7626 - Multivariate Statistics: Theory and Application*
  • PSY7630 - Qualitative Analysis
  • PSY7635 - Advanced Qualitative Analysis*
  • PSY8100 - Principles of Educational Psychology*
  • PSY9919 - Doctoral Comprehensive Examination*
  • PSY9920 - Dissertation Courseroom* - non-credit
  • PSY9921 - Dissertation Research 1*
  • PSY9922 - Dissertation Research 2*
  • PSY9923 - Dissertation Research 3*
  • PSY9924 - Dissertation Research 4*
  •  
  • In addition, choose one of the following recommended Educational Psychology concentrations:
  • For a program evaluation and measurement concentration:
  • PSY7610 - Tests and Measurements
  • PSY7660 - Survey Construction and Administration*
  • PSY8763 - Program Evaluation*
  • PSY8765 - Testing and Assessment in the Workplace*
  •  
  • For a psychology teaching and instruction concentration:
  • PSY8110 - Teaching Psychology
  • PSY8170 - Principles of Instructional Design*
  • PSY8130 - Adult Learner in the Classroom
  • PSY8361 - Online Teaching in Psychology Practicum*
  •  
  • For a child and adolescent development concentration:
  • PSY6010 - Human Prenatal Development
  • PSY6020 - Topics in Child and Adolescent Development*
  • PSY7220 - Child Psychology
  • PSY7230 - Adolescent Psychology
  • OR
  • Choose four from the following courses:
  • PSY6010 - Human Prenatal Development
  • PSY6020 - Topics in Child and Adolescent Development*
  • PSY7220 - Child Psychology
  • PSY7230 - Adolescent Psychology
  • PSY7610 - Tests and Measurements
  • PSY7660 - Survey Construction and Administration*
  • PSY8110 - Teaching Psychology
  • PSY8120 - Computer-Mediated Instructional Learning
  • PSY8130 - Adult Learner in the Classroom
  • PSY8170 - Principles of Instructional Design*
  • PSY8361 - Online Teaching in Psychology Practicum*
  •  
  • PSY8763 - Program Evaluation*
  • PSY8765 - Testing and Assessment in the Workplace*

Two Elective Courses

  • Choose any graduate courses, excluding introductory and special topics courses, lectures, seminars, practica, internships, and any Capella-designated first course.
Courses without a PSY designation may be worth fewer than five quarter credits. Learners must carefully plan their elective courses to ensure that total credit requirements for the degree are met. Special topics courses in the Harold Abel School of Social and Behaviorial Sciences can be used as an option to complete he total required credits needed for graduation.
** This course has a prerequisite that is not listed as a required course, which may increase the total number of courses needed to complete this specialization. See course descriptions for additional course prerequisites.
* This course has a prerequisite. Contact an enrollment counselor for more information.

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Even the best of intents need review.

August 3, 2010Tomas Every school, and programs within, needs to be reviewed to ensure the optimum benefits for their students. During my brief encounter with Capella I experienced two things that made me eventually leave to seek my PhD in Psychology elsewhere. First, I was lead to believe that Capella had a PhD in Counseling Psychology. I soon found out they didn't. Had the admissions department been honest with me up front about that, I could have been much further in my program than I am today. Second, three out of four professors found my writing and citing in APA formats to be of "A" quality. My professor for Social Psychology did not, and instead of helping me to understand what he was looking for, he failed me without cause. Capella did nothing on my behalf to help advert this situation. I had never failed a class before until then, and with no help from the university, it was time for me to seek my education with a school who actually cares for and supports their students.

Alumni

July 8, 2010Peggy Since my graduation at Capella in 2002, I feel that I have been one of the pioneers that have helped promote distance learning in the State of Hawaii. I received my Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and currently live in Hawaii. Prior to my entering a Ph.D. program, friends in the psychology field tried to discourage me from going into the Clinical Psychology field. However, through persistence and perseverance, I have my own private practice as a licensed psychologist. During my studies, I had a clear focus on what I wanted to accomplish and I feel that I have met my goals. Becoming licensed in the state of Hawaii was the most difficult task that I had to face. Again, I persisted; however, Capella stood behind me every step of the way and I am grateful. Thanks to all the faculty that helped me during that most difficult time. Aloha Peggy Maki Licensed Psychologist State of Hawaii

Unique Opportunity

July 28, 2010Barbara Capella University offers a unique opportunity to partner with learners worldwide. It is extremely exciting to be part of a respected and accredited institution which has adapted to current times. That is, supporting the flexibility required for working professionals. Since the onset of my doctoral program, I have seen changes in my productivity, which provides continued momentum in setting and achieving educational goals. One of the most important reasons for choosing Capella University is being able to successfully sustain the balance of work, family, and graduate school; without the limitations of a synchronous setting. Within the Educational Psychology specialization, I have gained a deep understanding of research methodologies and best practices in teaching adult learners. There is a strong commitment to excellence at Capella University, which provides learners with a competitive advantage in becoming scholar-practitioners within their specialization.

Self Guiding

July 8, 2010Jermaine I find the program to be self guiding. No one is telling me how much to do and what to do. My own drive an ambition is what moves me. I love Capella. I have taught myself how to dig into the material and gain more out of it on my own. There is always a fellow learner there or instructor available to me.

ALUMNI

July 12, 2010Stacy I have to say that switching to Capella from another university taking forensic psychology was the best move I ever could have made for myself. I get more attention from an distant learning than I did at a traditional university! I received my MA from Capella and I am almost near completion for my doctorate in Psychology. Best decision ever!

Classes are great! dissertation process takes longer than you think

July 30, 2010John I left a neuroscience program at ISU when my wife started residency and we unexpectedly had our first son. I researched schools for 6 months prior to choosing Capella. The coursework at Capella is outstanding! After taking useless stats classes at U of IL and ISU I finally got stats using the top down approach at Capella. Realize that your actual dissertation will take longer than you think. I knew my topic at my first colloquia, and have experience with physiological measures and vr equipment. I am a professor at a private university and have easy access to my sample. I feel I 7 months behind my expectations. You may have to wait 3-4 weeks for feedback from the dept chair on your MRF for each of several revisions. I scored a 9/10 on mine but I would have preferred to score lower and save a semesters tuition. Capella is building a name for itself, and that means being sticklers for details. My IRB was approved in 3 weeks at my University, it took months to get here at Capella.

So far so good

June 30, 2011Jaye I have attended Capella University since April of 2009 and I must say that I've had a pretty pleasant experience. I am pursuing a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and I find the work to be consistently stimulating and challenging. The more I move throughout the program, the more I realize the practicality of what I'm learning. I hope to continue to have such excellent experiences and I look forward to graduating in 2013.

Good Times!

September 15, 2011Amanda I am a graduate student in the Educational Psychology Program. It has been an amazing experience. Not only has my writing improved dramatically, but It has provided me the flexibility to be home more with my children.

Doctoral Student

August 2, 2010Willie It has been my pleasure to attend Capella University; the learning concept does work, and the students are great. The instructors are there to give you feedback in a short span of time, makes recommendation, to help in completing the assignments, and referring to a specific orientation designed to assist you with your assignments. I believe you have to want to make a change in your life, being self-motivated does help of course, and putting in the time for studies makes a big difference.

apa

January 11, 2011me does the psychology program have apa accreditation?
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