Counseling and Psychology in Education-Human Development and Educational Psychology (M.A., Ed.S., Ph.D.)

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Degree Requirements for Master of Arts in Counseling and Psychology in Education - Human Development and Educational Psychology Specialization

The Master’s degree offers two options: Plan A, which requires a thesis, and Plan B, a non-thesis alternative that requires a significant research project. Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average throughout the program. For terminal master’s degree students, a final written comprehensive examination is required before thesis or project hours may be taken. Students in Plan A must successfully defend a master’s thesis. Students admitted to the Ph.D. program must pass a qualifying exam upon completion of the master’s degree in order to continue studies through the Ph.D.

Plan A (thesis): Total 33 credit hours

Human Development and Educational Psychology core 15 credit hours
Human Development and Educational Psychology electives 6 credit hours
Thesis 3 credit hours (
EDER 798 Thesis
or
EPSY 798 Thesis
) and Graduate Project 3 credit hours ( EDER 788 - MASTER’S RESEARCH PROB/PROJECT (C) )
Supporting courses outside of area 6 credit hours

Plan B (non-thesis): Total 33 credit hours

Human Development and Educational Psychology core 15 credit hours
Human Development and Educational Psychology electives 9 credit hours
Graduate Project 3 credit hours (
EDER 788 Master’s Research Prob/Project
)
Supporting courses outside of area 6 credit hours

Human Development and Educational Psychology core coursework (M.A.): 15 credit hours

EDER 761 - GRADUATE RESEARCH & DESIGN (C) [online] 3 cr hrs
EDER 762 - FOUNDATIONS OF STATISTICS [online] 3 cr hrs
EPSY 741 - COGNITIVE APPROACHES TO EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY [online] 3 cr hrs
EPSY 727 - INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT IN CONTEXT [online] 3 cr hrs
Select one of the following for 3cr:
EPSY 735 - CHILD/ADOLESCENT LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT [online only] 3 cr hrs
EPSY 776 - CURRENT ISSUES IN DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 3 cr hrs

Preliminary Examination

Upon successful completion of the first 9 credit hours of coursework, students will complete a preliminary examination and interview with program faculty to discuss progress and objectives.

Degree Requirements for Specialist in Counseling and Psychology in Education - Human Development and Educational Psychology Specialization

The specialist degree requires a minimum of 36 hours beyond the master’s degree in a related field. The requirements can be tailored to the student’s needs and career goals with the approval of their graduate committee.

Specialist in Education, Human Development and Educational Psychology: A minimum of 36 credit hours beyond a conferred master’s degree.

Master’s Degree
Human Development and Educational Psychology Specialist core 21 credit hours
Research Project 6 credit hours (EDER 888S - SPECIALIST RESEARCH PROBLEM/PROJECT (C) or EPSY 898S - THESIS (Ed.S.)
Supporting courses 9 credit hours

Note

- Master’s degree must include USD’s 15 credit-hour core or its equivalent.

Human Development and Educational Psychology core coursework (Ed.S.): 21 credit hours

EDER 711 - EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENTS (C) 3 cr hrs
EDER 763 - QUALITATIVE METHODS OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH 3 cr hrs
EDER 860 - ADVANCED STATISTICS I 3 cr hrs
ELED 766 - TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION FOR EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION [online] 3 cr hrs
Or its equivalent
EPSY 721 - RESEARCH IN EARLY CHILDHOOD PSYCHOLOGY 3 cr hrs
EPSY 743 - ADVANCED ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY 3 cr hrs
EPSY 842 - RESEARCH IN MOTIVATION 3 cr hrs

Note

- As a culminating activity, students complete a six credit-hour research project EDER 888S or EPSY 898S 6 cr hrs. This project will be designed to meet individual interests and needs and is guided by the student’s advisor.

- Upon successful completion of nine credit hours of coursework, students will complete a preliminary examination and interview with program faculty to discuss progress and objectives.

- A final defense of the research project is required before graduation.

Degree Requirements for Doctorate in Counseling and Psychology in Education - Human Development and Educational Psychology Specialization

Doctor of Philosophy, Human Development and Educational Psychology: Total 93 credit hours or a minimum of 60 credits hour beyond a conferred master’s degree.

Master’s degree
Education Psychology Doctoral core 30 credit hours
Supporting courses 15 credit hours
Dissertation 15 credit hours minimum

Note

- Upon successful completion of the first nine credit hours of coursework, students will complete a preliminary examination and interview with program faculty to discuss progress and objectives.
- The Ph.D. degree requires a minimum of 60 credit hours beyond the master’s Degree.
- Students may earn a master’s degree during completion of the Ph.D. requirements.
- Students who earn an M.A. during completion of the Ph.D. must take and pass qualifying exams after all coursework for an M.A. degree has been taken.
- Upon successful completion of required coursework, and prior to taking dissertation hours, students must pass comprehensive exams.
- Two consecutive years are required in-residence, which means that during this time students must maintain full-time student status, predominantly on campus.
- Candidates are required to complete a specified core of courses covering human development, learning theory, computer methodology and application, measurement, statistics and research design.
- Candidates are required to obtain professional experience in teaching, research, and service activities as outlined in the specialization’s graduate handbook.

Required Coursework:

USD HDEP M.A. or equivalent.

Human Development and Educational Psychology remaining core coursework (Ph.D.): 30 credit hours

EDER 711 - EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENTS (C) 3 cr hrs
EDER 763 - QUALITATIVE METHODS OF EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH 3 cr hrs
EDER 860 - ADVANCED STATISTICS I 3 cr hrs
EDER 861 - ADVANCED STATISTICS II 3 cr hrs
EDER 862 - MULTIVARIATE STATISTICS 3 cr hrs
Or
PSYC 775 - MULTIVARIATE STATISTICS 3 cr hrs
ELED 766 - TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION FOR EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION [online] 3 cr hrs or ANY 3 HOURS OF TET/LT COURSEWORK
EPSY 721 - RESEARCH IN EARLY CHILDHOOD PSYCHOLOGY 3 cr hrs
EPSY 743 - ADVANCED ADOLESCENT PSYCHOLOGY 3 cr hrs
EPSY 842 - RESEARCH IN MOTIVATION 3 cr hrs

Select one of the following 3 credit hour electives that may be used towards an emphasis:

Educational Psychology Emphasis must complete one of the following courses:

PSYC 506 - COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY 3 cr hrs
SPSY 782 - INSTRUCTIONAL STRATEGIES, ASSESSMENT, AND INTERVENTION 3 cr hrs

Human Development Emphasis must complete the following course:

SPSY 850 - PSYCHOPATHOLOGY IN K-12 CHILDREN 3 cr hrs

Research and Statistics Emphasis must complete 3 hours from among the following courses:

EDER 890 - SEMINAR (C) 3 cr hrs
EDER 891 - INDEPENDENT STUDY 1 to 6 cr hrs (3 cr required)
EDER 893 - WORKSHOP 1 to 9 cr hrs

Electives: 15 credit hours (Electives must include at least 9 credit hours from a selected area of emphasis)

Dissertation: 15 credit hours minimum

EPSY 898D - DISSERTATION (Ph.D.) 1 to 15 cr hrs (minimum 15 credit hours required)

Recommended Elective for All Areas of Emphasis:

Students may choose from a variety of supporting courses within and outside of the department. All students are encouraged to take:

COUN 740 - PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY FOR THE NONMEDICAL MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL [online]

Note

- With the aid of their advisor and approval of their graduate committee, students can tailor their program to fit their areas of expertise and career goals. This is done through elective course work, independent studies and practicum experiences.

Students may take up to 9 dissertation hours prior to proposal