Educational psychology focuses on how kids learn and how to enhance their learning through improved instructional designs, methods, and pedagogy. Though educational psychologists might not get as much credit for helping shape students’ minds as teachers do, they are nonetheless an integral part of any school system.
The advantage of studying educational psychology is that your education can be used in many different settings, from public schools to government agencies to private clinical practice. Studying this field in Texas offers further advantages, namely that you have your pick of varying programs from schools across the state.
Additionally, schools in Texas tend to be affordable, especially if you ae a Texas resident, so earning your psychology master’s or doctorate degree in Texas can often be done without amassing an enormous load of student debt.
Educational Psychology Programs in Texas
Below are some of the popular schools offering educational psychology programs in Texas:
- University of North Texas
- Grand Canyon University
- Texas A&M International
- Lamar University
- University of Texas at San Antonio
- Capella University
- The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
University of North Texas (UNT)
When the University of North Texas was founded in 1890, it was a teacher’s college to train educators for the state’s burgeoning education system. Back then, Denton, where the school is located, had just a few thousand residents. Today, UNT and Denton have both grown into substantial institutions.
Not only does UNT have over 42,000 students enrolled, but it also has hundreds of thousands of alumni that have gone on to have successful careers as a result of their education.
UNT has 14 schools and colleges that offer hundreds of degrees and programs to undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students. Though most of UNT’s students are pursuing bachelor’s degrees, a growing population of students are enrolling at UNT to get their master’s degree, doctoral degree, or professional certification. One such program is the Master of Science in Educational Psychology discussed in detail below.
Educational Psychology Program Information
The Master of Science in Educational Psychology from UNT is a 33-credit program that readies you to make a positive difference in the lives of students of all ages. The program focuses on intervention strategies, research, and measurement – all critical tools you need to do your job and do it well.
The coursework you take is dictated by the specialization area you choose. You can opt for one of the following:
- Family policy and program administration
- Gifted and talented
- Learning and development
- Research, measurement, and evaluation
Each specialization offers the benefit of an accelerated format with two eight-week terms in the fall and spring and three terms of different lengths (three weeks, five weeks, and ten weeks) during the summer session. By taking classes year-round and in each term, you can finish your degree in as little as 15 months.
There are also five start dates throughout the year to make this program even more accessible. This is a great option if you’re currently a teacher or working in another professional position in a school system or school-related organization.
You must fulfill the following requirements before being admitted to this program:
- Meet UNT’s general graduate student requirements for admission
- Submit official GRE scores (must be less than five years old)
- Submit a curriculum vitae or a resume
- Provide a personal statement regarding your goals for the program and your reasons for applying
- Provide two letters of recommendation from professional or academic sources
Texas A&M University
As they say, everything is bigger in Texas, which certainly applies to Texas A&M University. With nearly 70,000 students on a campus that’s well over 5,000 acres, A&M is as diverse as it is big. But A&M isn’t just about being one of the largest schools in the nation – it has hundreds of high-quality programs you can choose from to prepare yourself for your future occupation.
When A&M was founded in 1876, the first professors and students would have had no way of knowing that their school would become a top research university. Yet, that’s the case today, as A&M is one of only a few Tier 1 research universities in the Lone Star State.
With research playing an important part in most of the school’s hundreds of undergraduate and graduate programs, you’re sure to learn skills in research, statistics, and critically evaluating information that enable you to be the best educational psychologist you can be.
Educational Psychology Program Information
Texas A&M’s Educational Psychology department offers five different master’s degrees, each of which focuses on a different aspect of educational psychology. One popular option is the Master of Education in Educational Psychology with an emphasis on School Counseling.
This program is entirely online and includes synchronous and asynchronous formats to best fit your needs. It is designed to take two years of full-time study, during which time you’ll take courses in:
- Foundations of School Counseling
- Planning and Organizing Comprehensive Guidance Programs
- Issues in Child and Adolescent Development
- School Counseling Group Interventions
- Assessment in School Settings
Additionally, you will participate in two field practicums (one in the fall of the program’s second year and another in the spring of the second year). During the practicum, you are required to participate in 400 on-site hours of training and counseling activities. You must also complete one hour of supervision each week.
Since this is an online program, Texas A&M will work with you to find appropriate practicum placements near where you live. Texas and non-residents must complete the practicum experiences in a Texas Education Agency-approved school.
If you want to apply to this program, you must do so by February 15th. You must apply to Texas A&M as well as the Department of Educational Psychology. Additionally, you must:
- Submit three letters of recommendation
- Provide evidence of two years of classroom teaching experience (not required, but highly preferred)
- Have a valid teaching certificate from the Texas Education Agency
- Have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher (again, not required, but highly preferred)
No GRE score is required to apply.
University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA)
While the University of Texas at Austin is the largest institution in the University of Texas System, it’s one of 13 institutions. The University of Texas at San Antonio is one of those institutions that make the UT system one of the nation’s largest and most well-respected collegiate systems.
UTSA has many features that make it a unique place to get your education. The school is a Carnegie Foundation R1 research facility with high research activity. UTSA is also recognized for improving the social mobility of its students while maintaining affordable tuition rates.
Another unique feature is that UTSA has a very large Hispanic population. It ranks ninth among all colleges and universities for the number of degrees conferred to students of Hispanic heritage.
Educational Psychology Program Information
The master’s degree program in Applied Educational Psychology from UTSA blends the study of multiple disciplines to prepare you to make a positive impact on learners’ lives. As you progress through the program, you will explore topics like:
- Human development
- Motivation
- Learning
- Research methods
- Statistics
In addition to the core coursework for the degree, you must also take elective courses that focus on a specialty of your choice. You can specialize in varying areas, including teaching, sociology, social work, public policy, or psychology.
Since this is an applied degree program, it’s designed for students who are already experienced educators. The coursework is intended to build off your existing expertise and help you gain advanced knowledge of educational psychology methods.
However, the skills you gain aren’t just applicable to school settings. Instead, you can apply what you have learned in clinical settings, community organizations, and homeschool settings, to name a few.
This program has a rigorous application process. In addition to having an undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited school and a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher, you must:
- Have at least 18 credits of psychology-related coursework, 12 of which must be upper division.
- Submit transcripts from each college or university you’ve attended.
- Submit GRE scores (less than five years old)
- Submit a personal statement
- Submit two letters of recommendation
Additionally, international students must submit TOEFL scores.
University of Texas at Austin
If you are drawn to a large, diverse school with deep pockets for research, the University of Texas at Austin is a prime choice. UT-Austin was founded in the 1880s and quickly became a destination for students who wanted a high-quality education. The same holds true today as UT-Austin consistently ranks among the best colleges in the nation and the world.
For example, UT-Austin ranks 31st in the world for reputation, 33rd in world university rankings, and is in the top 50 global universities. It also ranks 10th in the U.S. among top public schools and ranks 38th among national universities. The school also boasts many top-ranked programs in its 18 schools and colleges. This includes many top 10 business, engineering, and computer science programs.
Educational Psychology Program Information
If you are in the first or second year of your bachelor’s degree program and want to explore educational psychology as a potential graduate program, UT-Austin has the program for you. The university offers an undergraduate minor that enables you to take several educational psychology courses to see if it’s a good fit for your future.
The program requires that you complete 15 credits in educational psychology, six of which must be upper-division classes. You need not take the courses in any particular order, and you can choose from a wide range of classes to fulfill the required credits. This flexibility means you can tailor the minor program to your specific interests.
Some of the courses you might take include:
- Introduction to School Psychology
- Statistical Reasoning and Literacy
- Cognition, Human Learning, and Motivation
- Adolescent Development
- Mindfulness, Compassion, and the Self
As you can see, the breadth and depth of these courses expose you to many aspects of the educational psychology field. Many other options are available for rounding out the 15 credits required to complete the minor.
You must be a University of Texas at Austin student and have a declared major before you can begin this minor program. To apply as a first-year student, you must submit the following:
- An application for admission with a $75 application fee
- An essay
- Answers to required short answer prompts
- High school transcripts that indicate your class rank
- Any college transcripts from coursework completed at other schools
Educational Psychology Work Opportunities in Texas
The work opportunities ahead of you as an educational psychologist in Texas largely depend on the educational psychology degree you pursue.
For example, if you are still an undergraduate and you complete the minor program in educational psychology from UT-Austin, your work opportunities will be limited. Educational psychologists must have at least a master’s degree and, in many cases, must also be licensed. However, you may find post-undergraduate internship opportunities to gain experience or classified positions in a school system that helps you get relevant experience.
If you have a master’s degree in educational psychology, your work options are much broader. Any of the master’s programs discussed above prepare you for positions in private or public school settings in Texas. In some cases, you might work with specific populations (e.g., special education students or gifted students). In other cases, as a school psychologist in Texas, you might work more broadly with the entire student population of a school.
Other Texas jobs in educational psychology are available in non-school settings. For example, the Texas Education Agency employs educational psychologists to help guide decision-making regarding curriculum and instruction, student support programs, and intervention strategies for at-risk students.
In other words, an educational psychology degree from a Texas school offers you different opportunities for working with today’s learners. The knowledge and skills you acquire in your program will be invaluable for your education and the education of the children with whom you work.
Contact Us
Privacy Policy