Doctor of Philosophy Education with a Concentration in Educational Psychology and Program Evaluation (PhD)
2300 Education Building
757-683-5163
Linda Bol, Graduate Program Director
Doctoral students pursuing the Ph.D. in Education with a Concentration in Educational Psychology and Program Evaluation (EPPE) at Old Dominion University will develop a strong foundation in theories of learning, human development, cognition, motivation, self-regulation, and assessment as well as training in applied quantitative and qualitative research methods. Educational psychologists study learning across the lifespan and apply psychological principles to formal and informal educational settings in order to promote the success of students in these learning environments. Program evaluators collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data in order to examine the effectiveness of programs and policies. Our program is designed for students who are interested in teaching, research, administrative, and program evaluation-oriented careers. For example, students may be interested in careers as university faculty, researchers in non-profit research organizations, higher education administrators that focus on student learning and development, or program evaluators in university research and evaluation centers.
We include two emphasis areas: educational psychology and program evaluation. Students will complete core coursework in research methods and learning theories. Then, students will specialize in coursework and experiences tailored for positions in educational psychology or program evaluation. Along the way, students may take electives that could prepare them for work in PK-12, Higher Education or Instructional Design.
Options for Admission
There are two paths for admission into the EPPE Program: entrance with a Masters' degree and entrance with a Bachelor's degree (but no Master's). Applications are accepted and students may start the program year-round. That is, we have rolling admissions.
Option 1 with earned Master's:
Applicants should have earned a Master's degree in psychology, education, statistics, higher education or other related field from a regionally accredited institution. Submitted transcripts for your Master's degree must show that the degree was conferred and a date of completion. We will also consider an applicant for provisional admission who is in the process of completing a related Master's degree. The total credits required for the Ph.D. program is 60 credits.
Option 2 with earned Bachelor's:
For the second option, applicants should have earned a Bachelor's degree in a related field from a regionally accepted institution. The submitted transcripts should show that the degree was conferred and the date of completion. An additional 18 credit hours will be required for students who pursue this option in addition to the 60 credit Ph.D. program (total credits 60 + 18 = 78).
Admission Requirements
Prospective students seeking admission to the Ph.D. in Education with a Concentration in Educational Psychology and Program Evaluation should submit an application that meets the following guidelines:
- Submit transcripts from all colleges and universities previously attended. (See information above).
- GRE scores are optional. We are interested in your verbal, quantitative and analytical skills. GRE scores are just one means of demonstrating your aptitude in these areas. If you do not submit your GRE scores, we will look for evidence of these aptitudes in your transcripts, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, writing samples and interview responses (see below for descriptions).
- Complete a Statement of Purpose essay that shows evidence of motivation, competence, and potential as a graduate student and scholar. Address why you think you fit this program, which faculty you would like to work with and why, as well as how this degree will help you achieve your goals (e.g., your career goals).
- Submit three letters of recommendation from professional sources capable of commenting on your readiness for advanced graduate study. These letters are very important in the selection process so you may consider sharing your Statement of Purpose with your references so they can candidly comment on your preparation and purpose for attending this program. Please ask your references to address your verbal, quantitative, and analytical skills as well as your dispositions as they relate to collegiality, ethics, and a commitment to social justice and equity.
- Submit a scholarly writing sample that showcases your verbal and analytical skills. It may also demonstrate your quantitative skills. Examples include a course paper, technical report, conference paper, journal article, or a Master's thesis. If you do not have a scholarly paper to submit or think that you could submit a higher quality original writing sample, we can provide you with a prompt for you can respond to as the writing sample.
- We encourage applicants whose native language is not English to apply. Applicants whose native language is not English must submit a current score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL).
- Selected applications will be asked to participate in a 30-minute phone interview with program faculty to discuss your goals, qualifications, and interest in the program.
- Prior course work is assumed in statistics and research methods for Master's degree students. If that coursework has not been completed, then additional coursework will be added to the candidate’s graduate program of study. For students admitted directly from a Bachelor’s program your initial coursework will include Master's level research methods and statistics.
- Complete and submit an online application. There is a non-refundable application fee for application to any ODU graduate program.
- Up to four courses may be transferred from another regionally accredited university at the discretion of the Instructor of Record and the Graduate Program Director. They cannot have been used in conferral for another degree unless they undergo an additional review through the Prior Learning Assessment process. Courses that were part of an ODU certificate program can be considered for acceptance.
- EPPE is committed to social justice and equity. We encourage submissions from diverse applicants. That is, we encourage diversity in terms of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, class, disability, and age, among others.
Applications are accepted in fall, spring, and summer. Therefore, students may start the program year-round.
Curriculum Requirements
Program Requirements
Option 1 - With Earned Master's Degree
Students entering the program with an earned master's degree will complete the 12 credits of shared Ph.D. in Education program core courses, 12 credits of research and professional preparation courses, 12 emphasis area course credits, and a minimum of 12 elective course credits. Lastly, students will complete a minimum of 12 credits of dissertation research. The total credits for this option is 60 credit hours. See the required courses below.
Option 2 - With Earned Bachelor's Degree
Students entering the program with an earned bachelor's degree (but without a master's degree) must take an additional 18 credit hours in research and elective courses at the 600, 700, or 800 levels in addition to the course/credit requirements for entry with an earned Master's degree (see option 1). These electives will be selected in consultation with an advisor and approved by the graduate program director. For example, the courses may be in introductory statistics, research methods, psychology, higher education, teaching and learning, or instructional design and technology. The total credits for this option is 78 credit hours.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite Coursework* | ||
| FOUN 611 | Introduction to Research Methods in Education | 3 |
| or FOUN 612 | Applied Research Methods in Education | |
| FOUN 722 | Introduction to Applied Statistics and Data Analysis | 3 |
- *
Students who do not have equivalent coursework or appropriate educational experiences must complete the prerequisite courses as listed above or equivalent as approved by the Graduate Program Director.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Shared PhD in Education Core (12 Credits) | ||
| FOUN 812 | Quantitative Research Design in Education | 3 |
| FOUN 820 | Intermediate Applied Statistics and Data Analysis | 3 |
| TLCI 814 | Qualitative Research Design in Education | 3 |
| TLCI 815 | Design and Analysis in Qualitative Research | 3 |
| Additional Research Requirements (6 Credits) | ||
| FOUN 821 | Multivariate Applied Statistics and Data Analysis | 3 |
| FOUN 840 | Survey Design and Educational Measurement | 3 |
| Professional Preparation Courses (6 credits) | ||
| FOUN 830 | Theories of Learning and Instruction | 3 |
| FOUN 850 | Sociological and Philosophical Foundations of Education | 3 |
| Emphasis Areas | ||
| Select one of the following: | 12 | |
Educational Psychology (12 credits): | ||
| Human Development in Education | ||
| Motivation in Education | ||
| Metacognition and Self-Regulated Learning | ||
| Assessment for Learning | ||
Program Evaluation (12 Credits) | ||
| Program Evaluation in Education | ||
| Analysis with Large Datasets | ||
| Assessment for Learning | ||
| Topics in Education (Grant Writing) | ||
| Elective Courses Chosen with Advisor (12 Credits) | 12 | |
| Dissertation Research Project (12 Credits) | 12 | |
| Dissertation | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 60 | |
Additional Requirements
Continuance
Students must meet all department, college, and university policy requirements for continuation in their academic program.
Exit
In order to complete the program, students must fully comply with the curriculum and with all requirements noted elsewhere in the University Catalog for graduate students. It is the responsibility of the student to obtain these materials and comply with required portions.
Advancement to Candidacy Policy for all EFL Programs
In the Educational Psychology and Program Evaluation concentration of the Ph.D. in Education program, advancement to candidacy is a formal step that occurs after the student 1) completes all required coursework, 2) passes the Ph.D. written and oral comprehensive examinations, and 3) has approval for their dissertation topic by their dissertation chair.
Continuance Policy and Procedures
The Educational Psychology and Program Evaluation concentration of the Ph.D. in Education program follows the ODU Graduate School policy on continuance. Please see the Graduate Policies & Procedures of the Graduate Catalog for more information.
Per the Graduate School Policy, the following actions affect a student’s continuance:
- Probation occurs when a student’s grade point average (GPA) falls below 3.00.
- Suspension occurs when a student is unable to raise the GPA above 3.00 within the next 12 credit hours taken, thus preventing the student from registering for additional courses; reinstatement from suspension occurs only if the student is permitted to return to the graduate program after submitting an approved plan of study.
- Separation occurs when a student withdraws voluntarily from a graduate program.
- Deactivation occurs when a student fails to register for three or more consecutive semesters without permission or an approved leave of absence.
- Dismissal may occur for a variety of academic reasons or for infractions committed against the Code of Student Conduct.
Students who are placed on probation are still eligible to participate in all extracurricular activities as governed by the rules of the specific activity. However, students who are separated, deactivated, suspended, or dismissed from a graduate program are ineligible to participate in any extracurricular activities.
Probation and Suspension Policy for Degree-Seeking Students
A degree-seeking student on probation will have 12 credit hours to raise their cumulative GPA to 3.00. The student and Graduate Program Director should meet to discuss a plan for earning the return to good standing. The student must achieve a cumulative GPA of 3.00 after completing the next 12 credit hours. If not, they will be placed on indefinite suspension and prevented from enrolling in graduate courses. This does not affect the student’s status with regard to undergraduate courses.
A student who believes the probation or suspension was due to an error in a grade assigned should contact their instructor.
Early Suspension for Degree-Seeking Students
If the Graduate Program Director determines the student cannot mathematically raise the GPA to 3.00 within 12 hours, the limit for degree-seeking students, they may discuss with the student whether an early suspension is warranted. If so, with the student’s written approval, the Graduate Program Director can request early suspension in writing to the Dean of the Graduate School, so that the student may consider reinstatement options.