Mar 29, 2024  
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog [Current Academic Year] 
    
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog [Current Academic Year] This is not the most recent catalog version; be sure you are viewing the appropriate catalog year.

Educational Psychology [M.A.]

Location(s): Online


Model

Eastern Michigan University’s advanced professional education programs promote inquiry, advocacy, and leadership in education for a diverse and democratic society.

Mission Statement

The mission of the educational psychology program is to prepare educators as practitioners and researchers. The program prepares professionals who think critically about how diverse individuals learn and develop emotionally, cognitively, and socially. Students in this program ask questions, seek answers, and apply those answers in real-world situations.

Program Overview

This educational psychology program is offered entirely online in an asynchronous format. We focus on applying psychological theories, principles, concepts, and research/inquiry methods to school and non-school settings. Specifically, the program prepares students to:

  • Understand educational psychology concepts related to the cognitive, affective, physical, and social development of children and adolescents;
  • Apply educational psychology and principles of learning in school and non-school settings;
  • Utilize the findings gained from research studies to create programs and environments that foster positive learning;
  • Design research studies and assessments of student outcomes; and
  • Understand the multiple dimensions of diversity and their potential impact on development and learning. 

Important Information

Teacher certification is not required for this program. Students in the program are a mix of P-12 teachers, other professionals, and people interested in human development, learning, and motivation as they are applied in various educational contexts.

This degree program does not lead to licensure in school psychology, counseling, P-12 teaching, or any other professional field.

Online Education Eligibility

  • The U.S. Federal Government limits the number of online courses international students may enroll in while living in the United States. For this reason, we cannot admit students on F1 or J1 VISAs to fully online programs. Please check with International Admissions to confirm eligibility before applying.
  • All applicants, please review Online Education for Out-of-State Students to confirm your eligibility to enroll in an online program based in Michigan.

Do you have questions regarding this program? Please contact Shawn Quilter (734.487.6567, squilter@emich.edu

Program Admission


Admit Terms and Deadlines

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis; students may start the program in the Summer, Fall, or Winter. See Application Deadlines.

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

For full admission, applicants must have 1) Earned a four-year baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or an equivalent degree from a non-U.S. institution, 2) a minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.7 on a 4.0 scale, or 3.0 in the last half of the undergraduate program. Conditional admission may be available to applicants not meeting minimum admission requirements.

Program Requirements

Applicants must also meet the following program requirements:

  • Satisfy one of the following: a) A 2.75 undergraduate GPA, b) A 3.0 in the last half of the undergraduate work or 3.3 GPA in 12 hours or more of work at the graduate level, or c) A minimum 2.7 undergraduate GPA and 50th percentile on the Graduate Record Examination writing.
  • Provide a personal statement, including an analysis of professional goals. This analysis should describe how the chosen degree program will help meet the selected goals and how the candidate’s life experiences, accomplishments, and interests will contribute to their success in the program.

Application

Your application will be submitted using GradCAS, a Centralized Application Service (CAS) hosted by Liaison. After reviewing the admission requirements, please review the application instructions  and select the appropriate application. 

Domestic Applicants Domestic applicants are required to submit only the transcript from the institution granting their bachelor’s degree if either of the following criteria is met: 1) Lists 30 or more credit hours with an overall GPA of 3.0 or over OR 2) Lists 60 or more credit hours with an overall GPA between 2.7 and 2.99. Within the application, follow the instructions to submit an official transcript. The University may ask applicants to submit additional transcripts after applying.

International Applicants Before applying, applicants must review the international application/process deadlines at emich.edu/international as they may differ from general program requirements.

For additional information regarding the application process, please see Graduate Admissions or International Admissions.

 

Department Information


Teacher Education 313 Porter, 734.487.3260

Wendy Burke, PhD, Department Head

Advisor Information


Shawn Quilter, PhD, 313 Porter, 734.487.6567

Degree Requirements: 30 hours


Critical Graduation Information


Each graduate student is responsible for fulfilling the requirements or equivalents of the Eastern Michigan University catalog in force at the time of their initial registration or a subsequent catalog, including the one in effect at the time of their graduation.

Master’s degree requirements must be completed within six (6) years of first enrollment in the master’s degree program.

In the event a student does not complete the master’s degree requirements within six years of the date of their original registration, the student may be required to have their credits re-evaluated by the academic department(s) of their degree in keeping with catalog requirements in force during the year of their graduation.

The following are minimum requirements for all master’s degrees awarded by Eastern Michigan University. Some programs require more than the minimum in one or more areas below.

  • A master’s degree must require a minimum of 30 credit hours.
  • No more than six credits of independent study courses and no more than 12 credit hours of special topics and independent study courses combined may be applied to a graduate degree.  
  • Residency Requirement:
    • For students admitted to master’s degree programs of 36 or fewer required hours, at least 24 new graduate hours beginning the semester of acceptance and enrollment into the degree program must be earned at EMU. The remaining program requirement hours may be met through transfer or prior degree credit (EMU or elsewhere). 
    • For students admitted to master’s degree programs of 37 or more required hours, at least 30 new graduate hours beginning the semester of acceptance and enrollment into the degree program must be earned at EMU. Minimum degree hours must still be met for graduation. The remaining program requirement hours may be met through transfer or prior degree credit (EMU or elsewhere).
    • Residency and enrollment in multiple programs: Students enrolled in multiple master’s/specialist degree programs must have 24 unique credit hours in each degree program.
  • Only credits from one completed graduate certificate may be applied to a master’s or specialist degree in a relevant field of study, as determined by the Graduate School and with the approval of the degree-granting academic department, and be included in the residency hours above.
  • Students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA in all graduate-level courses taken at EMU and in their program of study to remain in good academic standing and be eligible for graduation. Students do not need to be registered for classes during the semester of graduation.
  • The Graduate School does not permit the use of undergraduate courses (499 and below) to meet degree requirements on graduate programs of study.
  • Some master’s programs require a thesis; others require a special project or internship; others require students to pass a final exam. See the Graduate School website for Thesis and Dissertation Manuals, all forms, and information about research and human subject approval. Every completed thesis or dissertation must be submitted to Digital Commons. Any form of graduate student work submitted to Digital Commons must first be approved by a faculty advisor and the Graduate School.