Students can choose the thesis or non-thesis option for their degree. Students intending to pursue a PhD typically select the thesis option.
- The non-thesis option requires a minimum of 34 credit hours of graduate courses.
- The thesis option requires a minimum of 31 credit hours of graduate courses plus six credit hours of graduate thesis work.
- Both programs require at least 17 graduate-level credit hours in education at Purdue University.
- Graduate students in educational psychology or gifted education receive credit for courses in which they earn a grade of “B” or higher.
Plan of Study: Thesis Option
I. Departmental Foundation Requirement
EDPS 53300 – Introduction to Educational Research I: Methodology (3)
II. Primary Area Core Requirements
EDPS 53000 or one of the following three courses in educational psychology (3):
- EDPS 53600 – Achievement, Motivation, and Performance
- EDPS 53700 – Prose Learning and Retention
- EDPS 53800 – School Learning and Instruction
One of the following two courses in measurement (3):
- EDPS 53100 – Introduction to Measurement and Evaluation
- EDPS 50500 – Career Theory and Information
Four credits of enrollment in one or more of the following variable credit seminars (4):
- EDPS 63100 – Applied Educational Research Design Seminar
- EDPS 63200 – Seminar in Research Procedures in Education
- EDPS 63300 – Seminar in Educational Psychology
One of the following two statistics courses (3):
- PSY 60000 – Statistical Inference
- STAT 50100 – Experimental Statistics I
III. Primary Area Specialization
Three (3) electives by advisement from the chosen specialization (9)
IV. Related Area
Two electives by advisement from an area of study outside of educational psychology (6)
V. Thesis Credits
Multiple enrollments in EDPS 69800 (Research MS Thesis) are expected while working on the thesis. Typically, students take 6-12 hours of EDPS 69800 credit for a masters degree. (6+)
Total Credits: 37+
Plan of Study: Non-Thesis Option
I. Departmental Foundation Requirement
EDPS 53300 – Introduction To Educational Research I: Methodology (3)
II. Primary Area Core Requirements
EDPS 53000 – Advanced Educational Psychology (3)
One of the following two courses in measurement (3):
- EDPS 53100 – Introduction to Measurement and Evaluation
- EDPS 53200 – Measuring Educational Achievement
Four credits of enrollment in one or more of the following variable credit seminars (4):
- EDPS 63100 – Applied Educational Research Design Seminar
- EDPS 63200 – Seminar in Research Procedures in Education
- EDPS 63300 – Seminar in Educational Psychology
A graduate-level course in development by advisement (3)
EDPS 59000 – Individual Research Problems (3)
III. Primary Area Specialization
Three (3) electives by advisement from the chosen specialization (9)
IV. Related Area
Two electives by advisement from an area of study outside of educational psychology (6)
Total Credits: 34
