How to Get a Master's Degree in Educational Psychology

Education psychology plays an important role in the ongoing quest to help students achieve their full potential and compete in the global marketplace. School counselors, curriculum developers, teachers, and school administrators all rely on educational psychology insights to improve the education system and produce more educated students.

A master's degree in education psychology prepares you to lead the development of the education system in the 21^st century, either as an administrative or teaching professional, or as a researcher developing new best practices for your professional peers. You can earn a master's degree online or on campus, adding an important credential and valuable expertise to your professional record.

WorldWideLearn.com takes you through the program research and application process, setting you up for a successful journey to the MS or M.Ed. in educational psychology.

Guide to Master's Degrees in Educational Psychology

Educational psychology applies developmental and behavioral psychology to better understand the learning process. Educational psychologists use these insights to inform and improve educational practices. Educational psychology makes an impact on school curricula, policies, teacher training, and classroom management. In addition, the discipline has a direct application in school counseling, which enables psychology graduates to work directly with students to improve learning outcomes.

Academic and Professional Master's Degrees

In order to accommodate different career goals, graduate educational psychology programs have developed several different degree options.

Master of Science (MS). This is the traditional academic master's degree. The curriculum generally includes both advanced foundational and specialized elective courses, culminating in a research capstone project or master's thesis during the second year of the program.
Master of Arts (MA). This degree is broadly the same as the MS, though it is more likely to emphasize a master's thesis grounded in both qualitative and quantitative research.

Master of Education (M.Ed). The standard professional master's degree in educational psychology, this degree is a required credential in some states. The curriculum features advanced coursework in applied educational psychology specialties such as school counseling, classroom management, and curriculum development. The M. Ed. typically allows more program customization to meet the needs of mid-career education professionals, and is available digitally for those who want to earn a master's degree online. WorldWideLearn.com features a Guide to Master of Education Degrees to help you decide whether this degree fits your career goals.

Educational Specialist in School Psychology (EdS). This is a brief, focused career training module that can be added to the master's degree program. This professional practice program is required in many states as part of the National Certification as a School Psychologist (NCSP).

Specializations for Educational Psychologists

No matter which master's degree you pursue, you have the opportunity to specialize in an educational psychology research area or applied practice field. Academic MS and some professional M.Ed. programs structure the specialized component of the degree as a research project. Other professional programs allow students to focus their studies by taking advanced elective courses.

Academic educational psychology specializations include:

Early childhood development
Learning theory
Cognitive development: problem solving and thinking
Reading and literacy psychology
Affective development
Adolescent development
Learning disorders and exceptional learners
Learning styles

Applied specializations in educational psychology include:

School counseling
Therapeutic interventions
Curriculum development
Education policy
Classroom management
Instructional strategies
Educational statistics and measurement
Program evaluation

Many educational psychology master's degree programs encourage students to develop their own area of study in collaboration with a faculty mentor. As you research programs, talk to admissions counselors, faculty, and current graduate students to get a sense of the specialized research and instruction available at the school.

Career Tracks in Educational Psychology

A master's degree in educational psychology offers a versatile foundation for careers throughout the educational system. Graduates use their psychology expertise to inform their work as:

Education policy analysts and advocates
Curriculum developers and instructional designers
Program evaluators
School psychologists or counselors
Researchers at public agencies, education nonprofits, consulting firms, and educational publishers
Academic scholars and university professors

Some of these roles require additional preparation beyond the master's degree in educational psychology. The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) awards the NCSP designation, for example, requiring both a master's degree, internship experience, and an exam. University professors use the master's degree as a stepping stone to a PhD in educational psychology, where they develop original scholarship in the field and teach undergraduates.

Plan for a Master's Degree in Educational Psychology

A master's degree in educational psychology can be just another credential gracing your resume--or a watershed moment in your career trajectory. Make sure your graduate school journey catalyzes real career opportunity by focusing your goals and lining up the right resources from the outset.

Step One: Find the Right Graduate Educational Psychology Program

The diversity among graduate educational psychology programs means you can find a program that matches your interests and professional goals exactly. WorldWideLearn.com helps you research your options with several resources:

A directory of accredited education partners searchable by subject, degree level, location, and program format.
An interactive search tool that lets you input your academic program criteria. The system then matches you with schools that meet your specifications. Engage directly with a school representative by adding your contact information. This system cuts down on your research time, allowing you to glean detailed information directly from an admissions counselor.
Links to school websites for in-depth exploration of individual program resources.

Together, these research tools help you examine and compare master's degree programs in education psychology.

Using these research tools, focus your program research in four stages:

1. List Accredited Programs

Begin by reviewing all the master's degree program options in educational psychology. Accreditation is an important baseline criterion, even at this initial stage. Only an accredited master's degree program can return the value of your investment. Independent accreditation agencies conduct regular program reviews to certify quality according to industry-accepted standards. Employers and financial aid providers look to accreditation to determine the value of your degree. The U.S. Department of Education Web site posts a searchable database of approved accreditation agencies.

Resources

The American Psychology Association lists nearly sixty Accredited Programs in School Psychology, among which you can find master's degrees in educational psychology.

The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), a division of the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), lists "nationally certified" master's programs in school psychology. National certification is not the same as accreditation, but most of the schools you find here are NCATE-accredited. Cross-reference this list with NCATE's searchable directory of member institutions to confirm accreditation.

WorldWideLearn.com publishes a searchable directory of accredited master's degrees in educational psychology.

2. Choose Program Format: Campus or Online Master's Degree?

Traditional campus and online master's degree programs offer two different yet equal alternatives for accessing higher education.

Online master's degree programs offer the convenience returning students need to complete their education. Many M.Ed. and education MS students earn a master's degree online while they pursue their careers in the school system. The online format also offers the benefit of a diverse student body because the format attracts students from all walks of life, geographical areas, and with different levels of experience.

Campus programs feature close access to peers and faculty mentors, making this format the preferred choice for aspiring academics. Professionals who need access to library or research facilities to complete their thesis projects can also opt for a campus or temporary residency program.

Also take into account your learning style and the specificity of your research interests. If you intend to work with a particular faculty mentor, for example, you may need to relocate or choose an online degree.

3. Explore Academic Programs

Research individual programs to identify the educational psychology degrees most closely aligned with your professional profile. Evaluate resources such as:

Curriculum and specializations
Internship or clinical opportunities
Degree format and requirements
Faculty expertise
Research facilities
Industry relationships
Career placement services
Academic support services
Learning environment

Prioritize these factors based on your existing resources and specific goals. For example, if you are already working in a school counseling office, internships and research facilities are less important than faculty expertise.

Resources

School websites offer a goldmine of detailed information about the master's degree, with links to student handbooks, graduation requirements, course descriptions, faculty CVs and publications, and current graduate research projects.

Informational interviews with faculty, alumni, and current graduate students give you an inside look into the quality of the academic experience and support services. If possible, visit the school's campus to tour department facilities. Even if you plan to earn a master's degree online, firsthand experience of the campus gives you valuable information about the program's priorities and resources.

4. Evaluate Program Quality

Finally, rank the programs on your list based on quality and selectivity. Look for programs that offer the most value for your educational investment as well as an admissions profile matching your academic record. Factors to consider include:

Reputation
Selectivity
Job placement
Student demographics

Resources

Admissions departments supply useful data for a prospective student. Ask for information about:

Selectivity: average admitted students' GPA and test scores
Job placement: placement rate, starting salaries, signing bonuses, and employer information
Student demographics: work experience, percentage of international students. Diversity in the classroom translates into a richer educational experience and potentially, broader networking opportunities for you.

Rankings help you gauge the education department's reputation. Influential publications include U.S. News & World Report, which publishes Best Education Schools Specialty Rankings: Educational psychology and Student Counseling.

Step Two: Apply to Graduate Educational Psychology Programs

Apply to the top five or six schools on your list, representing your background and promise as a graduate student. To put your best foot forward in your graduate school applications, follow these steps.

1. Complete Prerequisites

Standard minimum requirements for graduate study in educational psychology include:

Bachelor's degree in education, psychology, or a related social science discipline. Some schools specify school accreditation and minimum GPA
Prerequisite courses, if your degree is in another field
Standardized tests such as GRE and TOEFL (non-native speakers of English only)
Teaching or counseling experience (required by some M.Ed. and Ed.S. programs)

2. Prepare Application Materials

Look for a link to the graduate applications online, or request a paper copy from the admissions department. You can fill out the information form and submit a statement of purpose via the Internet. Also arrange for the following documents to arrive via mail or email:

Academic transcripts
Letters of recommendation
Test scores
Resume, if required

These important supporting documents are critical to your application. Make sure they arrive ahead of the admissions deadline to ensure full consideration of your application.

3. Finance Your Master's Degree in Educational Psychology

A graduate degree in educational psychology may be the most important investment you ever make. To cover the cost of the investment now, pursue the following steps:

Meet with financial aid advisors at your top schools.
Fill out a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This comprehensive application covers all federal financial aid programs.
Investigate continuing education benefits sponsored by your school district, a state agency or educational nonprofit, or a private employer.
Apply for scholarships through civic organizations, nonprofits, or public agencies.
Apply for a low-interest student loan through your educational institution.

You can also avoid some of the cost of the degree by going digital. Digital graduate education enables you to earn a master's degree online while you continue earning a paycheck. Find out more about financing your master's degree at the WorldWideLearn.com resource page on graduate education funding.

Conclusion

A master's degree in educational psychology offers a versatile credential for the education sector at a time when innovative approaches are in high demand. Expertise in educational psychology empowers you to tackle the source of poor classroom results--low student motivation, disruptive classrooms, learning disabilities, and more. To make the most of your time in graduate school, start planning your master's degree now.

Sources

Accredited Programs in School Psychology, American Psychological Association
Best Education Schools Specialty Rankings: Educational psychology, U.S. News & World Report (2009)
Careers in Educational Psychology, West Chester University
Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs, U.S. Department of Education
Educational Psychology, UW Milwaukee Graduate School
Graduate Programs in Educational Psychology, University of Florida
List of NCATE-Accredited Schools, Colleges, and Departments of Education, National Council of Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)
NASP-Approved/Nationally-Recognized Graduate Programs in School Psychology, National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
Programs in Education, The Sloan Consortium
"Psychologists," Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2010-2011 Edition. Bureau of Labor Statistics
School Psychology, Council of Specialties in Professional Psychology