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Doctorate Educational Psychology – The Top Online Programs

Doctorate Educational Psychology

Do you enjoy teaching and learning? Do you find the mental processes behind teaching and learning fascinating? If yes, then an online doctorate educational psychology is a great option for you to consider. Practitioners in this field are open to myriads of employment opportunities. Also, experts in this field easily find employment in higher education settings, federal and state agencies, etc.

Based on their experience level, the PayScale report shows that educational psychology graduates earn between $69,000 and $150,000 per year. Let’s get started as we uncover different doctorate in educational psychology programs available to prospective candidates.

What is Educational Psychology?

Educational Psychology is a field of study that employs a wide range of viewpoints to describe and decipher how people behave and function. Educational psychologists help learners examine fundamental aspects of psychology, such as cognitive, developmental, social, and biological psychology. They consider how individual differences affect learning and performance. Also, students will examine how these concepts interact with educational philosophies and theories by studying modern and historical ideas in these fields.

General Overview: Doctorate Educational Psychology Online Programs

This section will consider the admission requirements, courses to expect, and program funding options available to prospective candidates.

What To Expect

Most online degree programs in psychology allow practitioners in this discipline to earn their Ph.D. in educational psychology without giving up their current position. Most online programs are developed with working professionals in consideration and let students finish their coursework on their schedule while still holding down a job. Some institutions design their research and dissertation for working individuals to suit students’ pace. As such, they urge learners to focus their writings on issues they encounter in the real world.

Doctorate Educational Psychology Online Courses

Before enrolling in their specialist courses, candidates must have a solid foundation of advanced techniques in educational psychology. Because of this, doctoral programs that provide educational psychology curriculum attempt to offer a selection of 5 to 7 core lectures that provide an insight into psychology’s basic ideas before surveying the discipline from a broad angle. Some of these courses are:

  • Quantitative Analysis
  • Instructional Design
  • Human Motivation
  • Theories of Development and Learning
  • Assessment and Evaluation of Learning Programs
  • Qualitative Techniques for Applied Education Research
  • Resource Allocation and Strategic Planning

Admission Requirements

To be admitted into a Ph.D. in educational psychology program, applicants must have:

  • A Master’s in Educational Psychology or any other related field
  • Minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
  • Letters of recommendation (not applicable in some institutions)

Acquired Skills

In this program, doctoral candidates will gain skills to analyze and comprehend complex educational concepts, solve problems, consistently make conclusions, and use excellent judgment to make the right decisions. Also, they will acquire the leadership abilities required to understand, develop and lead projects as organizations or institutions need. In addition, students will gain the research skills necessary to identify a problem, set procedures, identify beneficial resources, cite the academic work of others, and offer solutions.

How Long Does it Take to Earn a Doctorate in Educational Psychology Online?

Depending on the student’s level of commitment, It takes between 3 years (full-time students) to a maximum of 8 years for graduates to obtain their doctoral degree in educational psychology.

Paying For Your Degree

The first move for graduates looking for funding for their doctorate in educational psychology involves completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Through the FAFSA, applicants who qualify can access a range of financial aid options, such as scholarships, work-study programs, and loans.

Note: Students do not repay federal scholarships and income from work-study programs but must repay loans.

How To Choose the Right Psychology Doctorate Online

Before you enroll in any institution, students must consider the following factors before paying the program’s application fee.

Cost

The cost of an educational psychology doctorate depends on the cost-per-credit of the respective institution. While some colleges charge as low as $550 per credit hour, others charge as high as $1200 per credit. However, your tuition cost will reduce if you qualify for financial aid related to the degree.

Admission Requirements

Most institutions offering Ph.D. in educational psychology programs require applicants to hold a master’s degree. Although, a few of them accept candidates with merely a bachelor’s degree. In addition, applicants must maintain a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher in their Bachelor’s or Master’s degree.

Program Format

Most doctorate in educational psychology degrees are available in hybrid, on-campus, and online learning formats. However, online degrees give learners a chance to complete their coursework on their schedules. This makes them ideal for international or non-traditional applicants such as those with family or work obligations.

Location

Location is another crucial factor to consider when choosing psychology doctorate online programs. This is not a problem for international applicants since the online format is not location-dependent.

Accreditation

Accreditation is a credible indicator of a college’s academic reputation. It ought to be an unnegotiable consideration in your decision-making process. The institution’s accreditation status validates the worth of your doctorate and the standard of your education, which also facilitates your eligibility for government financial aid. Therefore, it’s advisable for candidates to only enroll in recognized and accredited institutions.

Certification Opportunities

Check whether the institution you choose offers certification options during the program. It will cost less to obtain such a certificate during the doctoral program.

Top 9 Doctorate Educational Psychology Online Programs

The comprehensive list below comprises institutions providing top educational psychology Ph.D. programs.

1. University of West Georgia

Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
Degree Offered: Doctor of Education in Professional Counseling and Supervision
Course Duration: 3 years

The University of West Georgia provides an online Doctor of Education in Professional Counseling and Supervision to eligible graduate students. Via this program, graduates are equipped with the abilities required for success in counseling-based roles. The curriculum enhances graduates’ expertise by focusing on program assessment, administrative and clinical supervision, advocacy, and leadership, while also building on the knowledge and competencies gained via earlier degrees in counseling. Before completing the program, candidates will defend an advanced practice doctoral thesis designed to improve and evaluate pertinent issues in professional counseling.

View More About This Degree

2. Capella University

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Degree Offered: Ph.D. in Advanced Studies in Human Behavior
Course Duration: 3 years

Capella University offers an online Ph.D. in Advanced Studies in Human Behavior. The online Ph.D. in Advanced Studies in Human Behavior focuses on integrative leadership theory, program evaluation and development, advanced research, and societal influences on human performance (growth). After completing this doctorate educational psychology program, students will be equipped to use advocacy, leadership, evaluation, and assessment and evaluation to bring about change for people, communities, and organizations.

Coursework areas in this program include:

  • Quantitative Analysis and Design
  • Interdisciplinary Leadership in Behavioral and Social Sciences
  • Families, Diversity, and Disability
  • Advanced Program Evaluation and Design
  • Resiliency and Risk in Diverse Populations
  • Issues in Grief, Aging, and Bereavement
  • Addictions: Paradigms, Diversity, and Social Policy
Could not look up degree for "Capella University" using "261817"!

3. Walden University

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC), Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA)
Degree Offered: Doctor of Psychology in Behavioral Health Leadership
Course Duration: 2.75 years

Walden University provides an online Ph.D. in Behavioral Health Leadership. The online Ph.D. in Behavioral Health Leadership helps and equips students with the leadership and interdisciplinary abilities necessary to oversee and enhance the provision of integrated healthcare without needing a license. In this program, graduates will acquire interdisciplinary knowledge, management and business skills, and hands-on experience. These can all be applied to help influence the fast-evolving integrated healthcare environment.

After the program, students will be able to:

  • Analyze successful leadership and management to enhance behavioral health initiatives for various groups.
  • Use analytical reasoning to find solutions to issues in situations related to behavioral health.
  • Examine leadership and behavioral healthcare in a range of societal and organizational contexts.
View More About This Degree

4. Liberty University

Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
Degree Offered: Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction -Educational Psychology
Course Duration: 2.5 to 3 years

Liberty University offers a Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with Emphasis on Educational Psychology. The program is designed to provide students with the knowledge and abilities they need to enhance teaching methods and foster educational achievement in their institution. In this curriculum, candidates will learn about crucial facets of human psychological growth and how to use that knowledge in their work as an educator. Additionally, learners will be able to strengthen their research skills to tackle numerous issues in the industry.

To create a robust approach to instructional design and curriculum development, graduates will study a variety of coursework which comprise:

  • Advanced learning theory
  • Advanced educational psychology
  • Survey of educational research
  • Cognition and motivation and cognition in learning
  • Research and theories in developmental psychology
  • Strategies for enhancing student achievement
  • Research techniques
View More About This Degree

5. Michigan State University

Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
Degree Offered: Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Technology and Educational Psychology
Course Duration: 3 to 4 years

Michigan State University provides an online Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Educational Technology. The Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Educational Technology curriculum focuses on academic study and various analytical viewpoints on education, growth, and technology ingrained in culture and society. Through this doctorate in educational psychology program, professors will train candidates to work in leadership positions in public and private sectors, design instructional technologies, and academic research and teaching.

The coursework areas in this course include:

  • Quantitative Methods
  • Educational Inquiry
  • Cognitive Development
  • Qualitative Methods
Could not look up degree for "Michigan State University" using "6246"!

6. Endicott College

Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
Degree Offered: Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Behavior Analysis
Course Duration: 3 years

Endicott College offers an online Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis to prospective applicants worldwide. The program prepares learners to function or work as a scientist-practitioner or instructs at the college/university level.

Curriculum areas in the program include:

  • History of Behavior Analysis
  • Behaviorism and Philosophy of Science
  • Learning and Conditioning
  • Verbal Behavior and the Science of Human Behavior
  • Ethical and Professional Issues in Behavior Analysis
  • Applied Behavior Analysis and Research Methods
  • Experimental Analysis and Design
  • The technology of Teaching Seminar

Upon completion of the program, learners will be able to:

  • Create research inquiries that are consistent with a problem-centered framework.
  • Design problem-based research programs to offer definitive proof approaches to globally severe issues.
View More About This Degree

7. California Coast University

Accreditation: Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC)
Degree Offered: Doctor of Education in Educational Psychology
Course Duration: 3 to 5 years

California Coast University offers an online Ph.D. in Educational Psychology. In this program, candidates must thoroughly grasp the theories, industry standards, empirical findings, and postulations of past professionals in the field. Through this, they can have an advanced view of education and profer solutions that have a far-reaching impact on society.

Curriculum areas in this doctorate educational psychology program comprise:

  • Public Policy
  • Group Dynamics
  • Learning and Motivation
  • Legal Aspects of Education
  • Educational Measurement
  • Advanced Educational Psychology
  • Analysis of Current Problems in Education
  • Adaptive Leadership and Organizational Behavior

After completing the curriculum, graduates will be able to:

  • Analyze course content regarding ethical considerations, global citizenship, social responsibility, and civic participation
  • Examine significant theories and concepts connected to the program’s curriculum, and utilize academic writing and critical thinking abilities
  • Utilize quantitative theory techniques alongside research methods to evaluate, gather, and carry out educational research
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8. The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

Accreditation: Western Association of Schools & Colleges Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
Degree Offered: Doctor of Education in Educational Psychology and Technology
Course Duration: 3 years

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology provides a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology and Technology. The coursework empowers students to become leaders in the rapidly developing field of educational technology. Graduates can assess teaching and learning issues, critically evaluate practical training, and judge the creation and adoption of novel technology-driven techniques that improve instructional objectives. Through this program, students will gain in-depth knowledge on how to employ technology to boost corporate environmental and social performance while enhancing individual learning outcomes. Furthermore, learners can choose any of these specializations:

  • Higher Education Technology and Learning
  • K-12 Education Technology and Learning
  • Instructional Design
View More About This Degree

9. Regent University

Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC), Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).
Degree Offered: Doctor of Philosophy in Education / Educational Psychology
Course Duration: 3 to 5 years

Regent University provides an online Ph.D. in Educational Psychology for eligible applicants. The curriculum prepares learners to apply and produce the most relevant and up-to-date research and theories to enhance their and others’ behavioral and academic success.

Coursework areas in this program include:

  • Advanced Human Learning
  • Communities, Culture, and Education
  • Practice, Issues, and Theories in Educational Psychology
  • Collaborative Research

After finishing the program, students will be able to:

  • Teach and research at the collegiate level
  • Publish and conduct vital research
View More About This Degree

Licensing and Certification

Almost all 50 U.S States require an independent psychologist to hold a valid license. Although the requirements differ by state, to become licensed, most applicants must have a Ph.D., complete an internship, and accumulate the ideal hours of supervised practice. Additionally, graduates can obtain their certification through the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP), which certifies most practicing psychologists in different specialty areas within the field of psychology.

Best Ph.D. Careers in the Field

1. Development and Training Manager

Development and Training Managers help to assess the need for staff training, devise a plan, and implement the right strategy that fits in with the institution’s objectives and goals. In most cases, they supervise the affairs of Instructional designers and program developers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average yearly salary for training and development managers as of May 2021 was $120,130. Also, employment for specialists in this field is estimated to increase by 11% between 2020 and 2030.

2. Student Specialist and Counselor

Because of their robust understanding of student psychology concerning academics, educational psychologists are often employed as school counselors. In this role, they help students deal with and overcome psychological problems that may affect their studies and academic performance. They assist students with social difficulties, problems related to complexes, and other mental health issues. As student specialists, they represent the school as that informal person that looks after students’ interests and assists them in their decision-making processes. A student specialist has an average annual salary of $60,612, while that of a student counselor is $60,510.

Educational Psychology Graduate Salaries

According to BLS, the median annual wage for Educational Psychology graduates working in secondary and elementary schools is $78,830 as of May 2021. In this field, the top 10% make above $133,890 per year, while the lowest 10% earn below $47,850.

Professional Organizations

FAQs

Is a doctorate in educational psychology online worth it?

Yes, a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology online is worth the time and effort. By obtaining a doctorate in this field, graduates are better equipped to produce new scientific information/facts about psychological factors that influence human growth, performance, and learning.

Are online psychology degrees respected?

Yes. Online psychology degrees are typically on par with their on-campus counterparts in terms of quality. Most employers rate traditional and online psychology degrees equally.

Are psychology degree online accredited programs worth it?

Yes, psychology degree online accredited programs provide value for money, and most employers recognize it.

How long is the educational psychology doctorate program?

Most educational psychology doctorate takes between 3 to 8 years to finish.

Is an online Ph.D. respected?

Yes, an online Ph.D. is well recognized and highly valued.

Are APA-accredited online programs expensive?

No, they are not.

​​Is Educational Psychology the same as school psychology?

Educational Psychology aims to understand the psychology of human education. In contrast, school psychology addresses the challenges and dilemmas kids and teenagers have when learning.

Where do educational psychologists work?

Educational Psychologists work in different federal agencies focusing on higher learning in various colleges and universities. They also work in academic research centers and highly established mentorship organizations.

Is Educational Psychology the same as school psychology?

No, they are different.

Do top educational psychology Ph.D. programs offer TESOL courses?

No, they don’t.

Final Notes

The need for educational psychology specialists continues to skyrocket. Because of this, it is an excellent idea for students to obtain their doctorate in educational psychology online within the shortest possible time. At GetEducated.com, you can further explore our educational resources to access up-to-date degrees in other academic disciplines.

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