Counseling and Psychology in Education-Human Development and Educational Psychology (Ph.D.)

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Program Overview

Become an expert in school and human service organizations with an advanced degree in counseling and psychology in education. You may pursue an M.A., Ed.S., or Ph.D. in human development and educational psychology. Our small class size allows you to develop one-on-one relationships with faculty as you gain the necessary skills to serve the educational and mental health needs of children. Learn more at usd.edu/cpe.

DELIVERY: On campus

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

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 at least 80% of the course work toward a PhD is completed, preferably in the final year of coursework.
- For two consecutive years students must enroll in at least 6 credit hours of coursework, predominantly hybrid in modality.
- 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

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
AHED 882 - Seminar in College Teaching 3 cr
Must complete one of the following:
AHED 710 - Social Justice and Cultural Issues in Adult Education 3 cr
AHED 751 - College Curriculum 3 cr
EDER 862 - Multivariate Statistics 3 cr
LT 716 - Systematic Design of Instruction 3 cr
PSYC 506 - Cognitive Psychology 3 cr
PSYC 775 - Multivariate Statistics 3 cr
SPSY 782 - Instructional Strategies, Assessment, and Intervention 3 cr

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

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

Electives: 15 credit hours

Dissertation: 15 credit hours minimum

EPSY 898D - Dissertation (Ph.D.) 1 to 15 cr (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.

General Application Requirements

Completed application
$35 application fee
Official transcripts*
Letters of recommendation*
Statement of purpose
Resume/CV*

*Requirements for admission vary by program and may require different documentation and have different deadlines. This list is not all-inclusive, to view specific program requirements and submission deadlines, follow the “Admissions Information” hyperlink at the top of this page OR visit the specific program/dept. page found here: link.usd.edu/grad-catalog

Location Matters for Non-Licensure Track Programs

This program is not designed or advertised to lead to a professional license or certification required for employment.

USD is permitted to operate under the terms of the National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA) policies and standards in offering online courses/degree programs to residents in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. Online courses/programs may also be offered to residents of California (a non-SARA state) because it does not regulate out-of-state public institutions.

Additionally, this program is authorized to offer supervised field study experiences (internship, externship, clinical, rotation, practicum, independent study, study away, etc.) in South Dakota. Please be aware that there may be some restrictions on your ability to engage in supervised field study outside of South Dakota. Please contact a program representative if you have questions regarding supervised field study.

Distance education courses or programs will not be offered outside of the United States without prior written approval from the University, which may be withheld for any reason. If you are taking distance courses while physically located outside of the United States, it is your responsibility to confirm the following: (a) if the country will recognize an online degree; (b) the availability of supervised field study opportunities in the country; and (c) if the country charges any additional taxes, withholdings or fees associated with online distance education programs.

For more information, please visit USD’s State Authorization page or contact your admissions counselor.

Questions?

Division of Counseling and Psychology in Education
605-658-6623 | cpe@usd.edu | usd.edu/cpe

Graduate Admissions
605-658-6140 | gradadmissions@usd.edu | usd.edu/grad