Psychology has become one of the most popular fields of study in college, so if you’re heading down this path, you need to find a way to stand out. When facing competition during your job hunt, the best way to stand out in this field is to possess a PhD in Educational Psychology.
Earning a PhD online has never been easier and if you attend one of the top seven schools listed below, you can count on reviewing the best education possible. Give yourself an edge upon graduation by earning a PhD in Educational Psychology online from the comfort of your home and through one of the following schools.
Best Online PhD in Educational Psychology Programs
To earn a PhD in Educational Psychology from one of these schools, you will first need to be admitted into the program. In order to do that, you will likely need to possess a master’s degree education, a GRE score of 285 or higher, and a GPA of 3.0 or higher, Most schools also require reference letters and work experience. Once you have all of that in order, start applying to the following programs.
Regent University
At Regent University, students can earn an online Doctor of Education (EdD) in Educational Psychology. This program is taught from a Christian perspective, which is good for anyone of the Christian faith or is interested in learning more about other perspectives.
While the program itself is online, students are required to complete two residencies lasting four days each prior to graduation. Students will also be required to complete a dissertation based on their own research, providing an excellent opportunity to do some hands-on learning before completing the degree.
University of Georgia
Through the University of Georgia, students can enroll in an education specialist (EdS) online program with a concentration in the foundations of educational psychology. While this is a bit different from a PhD in Educational Psychology, it is a good option for those who want to learn both.
In this program, students focus on educational work with gifted young students. Students learn skills necessary to help these young people learn in a different style and at a different pace than their peers. The program can be completed in about three years for full-time students.
Capella University
If you enroll at Capella University, you can earn an online PhD in Educational Psychology. For those interested purely in the psychology behind education, particularly in children, this degree is a great choice. This program offers courses that focus on areas such as child development, teaching methods, and cognitive development.
On average, it takes students about four years to graduate from this program. Prior to graduation, students are required to complete a dissertation under strong mentorship to ensure the student’s best potential is reached.
Southern California Seminary
At Southern California Seminary, students can earn an online doctor of psychology (PsyD) that focuses on subjects relative to educational psychology. This degree is a good choice for those who would like to focus more on the psychological aspect of their degree with education as more of a side note.
Southern California Seminary has an average ratio of eight students to every one professor, guaranteeing plenty of opportunities for one-on-one learning. For practice in hands-on work, students are required to complete at least one course on-campus prior to graduating, though the rest of the program can be completed entirely online.
University of Missouri-Saint Louis
If you enroll at the University of Missouri in Saint Louis, you can complete an online PhD in Education program with an emphasis in educational psychology. This is a good degree option for anyone who wants to have options in education that are not limited to psychology.
This program is heavily research-based and does require a research internship to be completed prior to graduation. There is also an opportunity for students to take accelerated courses and complete their degree early. To do this, students would take eight-week courses instead of the traditional 16-week courses.
Texas Technical University
At Texas Technical University, students can enroll in an online PhD in Educational Psychology program that allows them to design their own degree plan. Students can either tweak an already planned path or they can build their own based on their interests and career goals.
If students choose to take the route for school psychology, they will focus on conducting research to benefit others. They will also be required to prove they can find credible research on their own. After about four years, students will graduate with expert knowledge of educational psychology research.
Walden University
At Walden University, you can enroll in an online PhD in Educational Psychology program that puts a heavy focus on theories and best practices. Students can choose to specialize in one of six areas including health psychology, social psychology, and teaching in psychology. There is also an option to design your own specialization.
Prior to graduating, students will learn how to use newer technology to best help their clients learn. This program also helps educate their students in how both people and organizations learn, proving the usefulness of this degree in all industries.
What Can I Do with a PhD in Educational Psychology?
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After earning a doctorate, you can get pretty much any job you want. However, it is likely you are pursuing a doctorate to qualify for jobs that require one, or maybe you are searching for that nice salary bump. Either way, the following jobs are some of the most popular and in-demand for those with a PhD in Education Psychology.
School Psychologist
This job entails working with faculty, students, and students’ families in elementary, middle, and high schools. You would be responsible for identifying issues that are causing academic struggles. After identifying any problems, school psychologists work to come up with a plan and get the student back on track.
As a school psychologist, you could expect to earn around $79,000 per year. By 2028, all psychologist jobs are expected to grow by about 14 percent, meaning they are in very high demand. With a PhD, finding a job as a school psychologist would be easy.
Career Trainer and Development Manager
If you would rather work with adults, you could become a career trainer and development manager. Working this job, you would use your expertise to help evaluate employee training programs. You would then advise employers about how they could best add to or completely redesign their training systems to help employees learn easier.
Working as a career trainer and development manager, you would easily make around $110,000 per year. These jobs pay well and are expected to grow 8 percent by 2028 because they are in high demand. Every business has to train employees and you could be the key to making it happen.
Professor of Psychology
As a professor of psychology, you would teach college and university courses about psychology. This would give you the opportunity to pass down all of your knowledge and experience to younger generations. You would also be able to do a lot of research through the institution you teach at.
If you became a professor of psychology, you could expect to earn around $74,000 per year. Since there are always new college students and always a need for more research, this job is in high demand. In fact, it is expected to grow 12 percent by 2028, meaning there will be a lot of available jobs by the time you earn your PhD.
These are only three of the hundreds of jobs available to you if you earn a PhD in Educational Psychology. As you can see, there are options to work with all types of people and in many different industries. Psychology may seem like a specialized degree, but it is actually quite versatile and you could easily reap the benefits of that versatility by earning a PhD.
Conclusion
Earning a degree online is a great way to keep your life moving in the direction you want while continuing your education. With online degree programs, you can continue working alongside your schooling, making for a flexible schedule. There are also more options for completing the degree at your own pace. Online degrees may sound intimidating, but they are actually one of the best options for most students.
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When all is said and done, having earned a PhD in Educational Psychology is a decision you will never regret. If you decide to earn one from one of the top programs listed above, you will get the best education possible. You will be able to earn your degree in a flexible and comfortable environment and go onto great jobs with high salaries.
The jobs available to a holder of a PhD in Educational Psychology are endless. You can work with children, adults, businesses, and learning institutions. After earning this degree online, there is a whole new world of possibilities open to you.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
