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. Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average throughout the program. For Plan B students, a final written comprehensive examination is required prior to graduation. Students in Plan A must successfully defend a master’s thesis. Students continuing toward a Ph.D. should complete Plan A.

Plan A (thesis): Total 33 credit hours

Human Development and Educational Psychology core 15 credit hours
Graduate Project 3 credit hours (EDER 788 - Master’s Research Prob/Project (C) ); course must be completed before taking Thesis credit hours
Thesis 3 credit hours (
EDER 798 Thesis
or
EPSY 798 Thesis
)
Supporting courses 12 credit hours

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

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

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

EDER 761 - Graduate Research & Design (C) 3 cr hrs
EDER 762 - Foundations of Statistics 3 cr hrs
EPSY 741 - Cognitive Approaches to Educational Psychology 3 cr hrs
EPSY 727 - Individual Development in Context 3 cr hrs
Select one of the following for 3cr:
EPSY 735 - Child/Adolescent Learning and Development 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.

Student Learning Outcomes (M.A.)

Students will be able to explain and synthesize key information from human development.
Students will be able to explain and synthesize key information from educational psychology.
Students will be able to explain and synthesize key information in research and statistics.
Students will demonstrate strong written and oral communication skills within educational roles.

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 3 cr hrs
Or its equivalent
EPSY 721 - Research in Early Childhood Psychology 3 cr hrs
EPSY 743 - Psychology of Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood 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.

- 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 or 30 credit hours master-level coursework
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.
- 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.
- Comprehensive examinations must be completed after a majority of the course work toward a PhD is completed, preferably in the final semester of coursework.
- Two consecutive years are required in-residence, which means that during this time students must enroll in at least 6 credit hours of coursework, predominantly on campus or hybrid.
- Candidates are required to complete a specified core of courses covering human development, learning theory, measurement, statistics and research design.
- Students may take up to 9 dissertation hours prior to proposal.

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
ELED 766 - Technology Integration for Effective Instruction 3 cr hrs
EPSY 743 - Psychology of Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood 3 cr hrs
EPSY 842 - Research in Motivation 3 cr hrs

Complete 9 hours in one area of emphasis:

Educational Psychology and Adult Learning Emphasis must complete the following courses:

AHED 701 - Adult Learning Theories 3 cr hrs
AHED 882 - Seminar in College Teaching 3 cr hrs
Must complete one of the following:
AHED 710 - Social Justice and Cultural Issues in Adult Education 3 cr hrs
AHED 735 - Instructional Strategies for Adult Education 3 cr hrs
AHED 751 - College Curriculum 3 cr hrs
EDER 862 - Multivariate Statistics 3 cr hrs
PSYC 506 - Cognitive Psychology 3 cr hrs
SPSY 782 - Instructional Strategies, Assessment, and Intervention 3 cr hrs
PSYC 775 - Multivariate Statistics 3 cr hrs

Human Development Emphasis must complete 9 credits from the following courses:

PSYC 523 - Aging 3 cr hrs
Select one of the following courses:
EDER 862 - Multivariate Statistics 3 cr hrs
PSYC 775 - Multivariate Statistics 3 cr hrs
Must complete one of the following:
EPSY 721 - Research in Early Childhood Psychology 3 cr hrs
SPSY 850 - Psychopathology in K-12 Children 3 cr hrs
SPSY 768 - Consultation 3 cr hrs

Electives: 15 credit hours

Dissertation: 15 credit hours minimum

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

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.

Student Learning Outcomes (Ed.S. and Ph.D.)

Students will be able to explain and synthesize key information from human development.
Students will be able to explain and synthesize key information from educational psychology.
Students will be able to explain and synthesize key information from research and statistics.
Students will demonstrate strong written and oral communication skills within educational roles.
Students will conduct research within an area of expertise.

State Authorization - It Matters Where You Live

If your learning placement course (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) or your online course will be taken outside South Dakota, please reference the State Authorization webpage.

State Authorization