Psychological foundations of education

Understand the way people think, learn, and teach

As a student in psychological foundations of education, you’ll study the psychological processes critical to education. Research in our program focuses on cognitive and social-emotional development, including high-level cognition and factors shaping and enhancing learning throughout the lifespan. Our faculty and students do not just conduct laboratory experiments—we also put our research to work: in local schools on programs to improve students’ reading and science outcomes and with members of our diverse communities to help our neighbors succeed at school and work.

Connect with Faculty How to Apply

Get your MA in Educational Psychology with a focus on Psychological Foundations in Education!

This program utilizes a cohort model that develops your knowledge and skill set related to educational psychology with a theoretical focus on cognitive and social psychology, as well as research methods, statistics and educational measurement. The cohort model engages you in an academic community through shared coursework and regular meetings with faculty from psychological foundations of education as well as quantitative methods in education (QME) to help you develop as a scholar and researcher.

The cohort will also pair with a community partner (e.g., school district, not-for-profit organization) to undertake a shared research project. With the support of your MA mentors, you will work together with that partner to deep-dive into the research problem, by reading and synthesizing relevant literature, planning out the research process, and collecting and analyzing the data. This work will serve as the basis for your MA Paper. The program culminates with you presenting your findings to the community partner, relevant stakeholders, and other faculty in the program.

The coursework and experiences in this program will set you up to succeed in the workforce or in further graduate study.

Programs and degrees

Graduate

Masters and PhD students choose between two areas of emphasis:

Learning and cognition / educational technology (MA, PhD)

Study how people think and learn. Research how people learn with technology and design research-based technologies to improve learning.

Careers

Faculty (PhD only)
Research associates at universities
Research scientists at companies
Researchers in:
- Government agencies
- Research and development centers
- Other educational settings (e.g., K-12 school research offices)

Program Info

Social psychological and developmental processes (MA, PhD)

Study how social processes contribute to the success of schools and other educational organizations.

Careers

Faculty (PhD only)
Research scientists at universities and companies
Other educational settings (e.g., K-12 school research offices)
Human and social service organizations
Health care organization evaluator/researcher
Government agencies
Research and development centers

Program Info

Certificates and minors

Learning sciences postbaccalaureate certificate

Shape your teaching and research through better understanding of how people learn. As a student in our new learning sciences certificate program, you’ll study learning theories, methodologies, designs, and evidence-based practices central to teaching and conducting research that supports the learning process.

Program Info

Talent development and gifted education certificate

Develop, implement, and supervise programs to teach gifted and talented students in K-12 and postsecondary schools and other settings.

Program Info

Minor

The Department of Educational Psychology offers a minor in educational psychology with an emphasis in psychological foundations of education.

Program Info

What to expect

Application deadlines

Submit your MA or PhD application for the fall semester following the deadlines below.

December 1

PhD applications

We will not be accepting applications for the Social area PhD at this time.

February 1

MA applications

Curriculum

MA curriculum (33 credits)
PhD curriculum (72 credits)

Tuition and funding

Tuition

Visit the College of Education and Human Development's Finance and Funding page for information on tuition.

Fellowships and awards

Submit your application materials by the December 1 deadline, and you’ll automatically be considered for Graduate School fellowships and departmental awards based on scholastic achievement. Notification of awards will be sent in March.

Graduate assistantships

Get paid to work as a teaching assistant, graduate instructor or research assistant. Graduate assistantships are available through the department, College of Education and Human Development, and the University.

All University of Minnesota graduate assistantships

Note: Applicants who complete their applications by the March 1 deadline will be less likely to receive graduate assistantships than students who meet the December 1 deadline.