2008-2009 Graduate Student Handbook

Guidelines for program planning

On this page:

• Guidelines for program planning
  • Minimum credit and grade requirements
  • Foundational core courses in educational psychology
  • Filing and revising the Degree Program form
  • Checklist for filing the Degree Program form

Guidelines for program planning

Graduate students have the opportunity to develop a flexible curriculum and select courses and practicum/internship placements that are appropriate, given specific interests and career directions. You design your program of study in consultation with your adviser(s) and under the guidelines of the educational psychology graduate program and the Graduate School. Degree programs vary depending on the interests and background of the individual student and the particular requirements of your track or program area.

Minimum credit and grade requirements

The Degree Program form (page 3 of the Degree Program Transmittal) is your contract with the Graduate School, identifying the courses that you will complete in order to fulfill the requirements for the M.A., specialist, or Ph.D. degrees.

When you fill out the degree program form, you will need to meet the  requirements at each of the four levels of the administrative hierarchy. Graduate School, educational psychology core requirements, track requirements, and requirements set by your adviser and those needed to meet your individual goals (e.g., to meet licensure requirements).

1. The minimum semester credit requirements designated by the Graduate School are listed below. Individual tracks and advisers may set higher minimum requirements.

2. The following restrictions govern the use of thesis credits: (a) no thesis credits completed at the M.A. level at the University of Minnesota or at another recognized graduate institution may be used towards the doctoral requirement; (b) thesis credits completed at the Ph.D. level at another institution are not transferable; (c) thesis credits cannot be double-counted between two master's degrees.
3. Graduate School guidelines stipulate the following grade requirements:
   
   M.A. and specialist: The minimum G.P.A. for courses listed on your official program is 2.80. At least two-thirds of the course credits completed in the Graduate School and included on the Degree Program form must be taken under the A-F system. Grades of A, B, C (including C-), and S are acceptable. An S is not calculated in obtaining GPA, nor is registration for thesis credits (EPSY 8777). Please note that all course work taken toward EPsy core must be graded A-F.
   
   Ph.D.: Grades of A, B, C (including C-), and S are acceptable. At least two-thirds of the course credits completed in this Graduate School and included on the Degree Program form must be taken under the A-F system. An S is not calculated in obtaining GPA, nor is registration for pre-thesis credits (EPSY 8666) nor thesis credits (EPSY 8888). Please note that all course work taken toward EPsy core must be graded A-F.

EPsy degree core requirements (semester)¹

(approved 5/22/97; amended June 1998; further amended May 1999; May 2001; Dec. 2002; May 2005; March 2007)

Courses that have been approved to meet these requirements are listed below.

Foundational core courses in educational psychology

Course content

Coursework in substantive areas (cognition or human learning, social psychology, personality and critical issues) provides you with the broad, theoretical ideas which lie behind professional practice and with the research and research methods on which those ideas are based.

Coursework in the methodological areas (statistics, measurement, and research design/methods) provides you with the basic principles and techniques of quantitative and qualitative research, and measurement.

Coursework is divided into survey and specialized course work.

1. Survey courses broadly cover the topics in one of the substantive or methodological areas. Generally, survey courses will satisfy prerequisites for more advanced courses in the field. Most survey courses fall at the 5xxx level.
2. Specialized courses cover in depth one or more topics within a substantive or methodological area rather than broadly surveying the topics within that area. Normally, a specialized course will have a broad survey course as a prerequisite. Most 8xxx level courses which satisfy the core requirement are specialized courses.

Process for fulfilling the requirement

You should fulfill the core area requirement in ways that further your mastery of educational psychology. Initially this will usually require taking one of the courses listed as survey courses rather than one of those in the specialized category. However, if you can demonstrate by undergraduate transcript that you have already taken an appropriate survey course at the University or another institution, you may take an advanced course to fulfill the requirement with the approval of your adviser.

Graduate coursework taken at other institutions can be used to fulfill parts of the core requirement if it is clearly the equivalent of University of Minnesota coursework.  An Internal Petition must be submitted prior to filing the Degree Program. There is one specific exception to this general rule: Ph.D. students are expected to take the two-semester 8261-8262 sequence in statistical methods. This sequence assumes an introductory course in statistics as a prerequisite.

Courses fulfilling the distributional core area requirements
in educational psychology under the semester system
(Approved at GAC Mtg., 6/99; amended 5/01; further amended 12/02, 5/05)

Issues in educational psychology
M.A.: NA
S.C.: NA
Ph.D.: 3 semester cr

Learning
M.A.: 3 semester cr in learning
S.C.: 3 semester cr in learning
Ph.D.: 3 sem cr in learning for those entering fall 2003. (4 sem cr for those entering prior to fall 2003)

• Survey
  • EPSY 5101—Intelligence and Creativity
  • EPSY 5112—Knowing, Learning, and Thinking
  • EPSY 5114—Psychology of Student Learning
  • EPSY 5115—Psychology of Adult Learning and Instruction
  • Psy 5014—Psychology of Human Learning and Memory
• Specialized
  • EPSY 5113—Psychology of Instruction and Technology
  • EPSY 5117—Problem Solving and Decision Making
  • EPSY 5616—Behavior Analysis and Classroom Management
  • EPSY 8111—Seminar: Human Expertise and Its Development
  • EPSY 8115—Psychology of Instruction and Technology
  • CPSY 8301—Developmental Psychology: Cognitive Processes
  • Psy 5015—Cognition, Computation, and Brain

Research methods
M.A.: NA—
S.C.: 3 semester cr in research methods
Ph.D.: 6 semester cr in research methods; in addition, pre-dissertation research project

• Survey
  • EPSY 5216—Introduction to Research in Educational Psychology
  • EPSY 8215—Quantitative and Qualitative Methods in Educational Research
  • EPSY 8431—Master's Research Seminar: CSPP (CSPP students only)
  • EPSY 8694—Research in Special Education
• Specialized
  • EPSY 8216—Seminar: Research Processes in Psychological Foundations
  • EPSY 8411—Advanced Counseling Research
  • EPSY 8694—Research in Special Education
  • EPSY 8706—Single Case Designs in Intervention Research
  • EPSY 8822—Seminar on Research in School Psychology

Social or personality (for those with official start date effective fall 2003 or later) M.A., S.C., and Ph.D.: 3 semester credits in social or personality

Social (for those with official start date effective fall 2001 to summer 2003)
M.A., S.C., and Ph.D.: 3 semester credits in social

Social and personality (for those with official start date prior to fall 2001)
M.A., S.C., and Ph.D.: 4 semester credits in social and personality

SOCIAL

• Survey
  • EPSY 5141—Aggression in the Schools
  • EPSY 5153—Social Development in Pre-K to Secondary School
  • EPSY 5157—Social Psychology of Education
  • Psy 5204—Psychology of Interpersonal Relationships
  • Soc 8721—Theories of Social Psychology
• Specialized
  • EPSY 5135—Human Relations Workshop
  • EPSY 5151—Cooperative Learning
  • EPSY 5152—Psychology of Conflict Resolution
  • EPSY 5155—Group Dynamics and Social Influence
  • CPSY 8302—Developmental Psychology: Social and Emotional Processes
  • Psy 5202—Attitudes and Social Behavior
  • Psy 5205—Applied Social Psychology
  • Psy 5207—Personality and Social Behavior
  • Psy 5702—Psychological Foundations of Individual Behavior in Organizations
  • Psy 8107—Cross-Cultural Study of Personality
  • Psy 8201—Social Cognition
  • Psy 8202—Close Relationships
  • Psy 8208—Social Psychology: The Self

PERSONALITY

• Survey
  • Psy 5101—Personality Psychology
• Specialized
  • EPSY 8131—Development of Moral-Political Judgment
  • EPSY 8132—Personality Development and Socialization
  • CPSY 8302—Developmental Psychology: Social and Emotional Processes
  • CPSY 8606—Advanced Developmental Psychopathology
  • Psy 5135—Psychology of Individual Differences
  • Psy 5207—Personality and Social Behavior
  • Psy 5604—Abnormal Psychology
  • Psy 8107—Cross-Cultural Study of Personality

Statistics, measurement, evaluation
M.A.: 4 semester cr in statistics and measurement
S.C.: 4 semester cr in statistics and measurement
Ph.D.: 12 semester cr in statistics, measurement, or evaluation (6 credits must be in statistics at the 8xxx level, 3 must be in measurement area) (10 sem cr in statistics and measurement for those entering prior to fall 2003)

STATISTICS

• Survey
  • EPSY 5231—Introductory Statistics & Measurement in Education*
  • EPSY 5261—Introductory Statistical Methods
• Specialized
  • EPSY 8261—Statistical Methods I: Probability and Inference
  • EPSY 8262—Statistical Methods II: Regression and the General Linear Model
• EPSY 8264—Advanced Multiple Regression Analysis
• EPSY 8265—Factor Analysis
• EPSY 8266—Statistical Analysis Using Structural Equation Methods
• EPSY 8267 Applied Multivariate Analysis
• EPSY 8268 Hierarchical Linear Modeling in Educational Research
• EPSY 8282 Statistical Analysis of Longitudinal Data

MEASUREMENT

• Survey
  • EPSY 5221—Principles of Educational and Psychological Measurement
  • EPSY 5231—Introductory Statistics & Measurement in Education*
  • Psy 5862—Psychological Measurement: Theory and Methods
• Specialized
  • EPSY 5222—Measurement and Analysis: K-12 Education Accountability
  • EPSY 5614—Foundations of Special Education II
  • EPSY 8221—Psychological Scaling
  • EPSY 8222—Advanced Measurement: Theory and Application
  • Psy 5865—Advanced Psychological and Educational Measurement

EVALUATION

• Survey
  • EPSY 5243—Principles and Methods of Evaluation
  • EPSY 5244—Survey Design, Sampling, and Implementation
  • EPSY 5247—Qualitative Methods in Educational Psychology

  Specialized

  • EPSY 8247—Advanced Interviewing and NVIVO

*Not appropriate for some students, i.e., those M.A. students planning to continue to Ph.D. Please check with your adviser.

EPSY electives (required in addition to core)
Courses taken with EPSY designator. Check with your adviser/program area coordinator for courses appropriate to your area of emphasis.

M.A.: NA
S.C.: 6 semester cr EPSY coursework
Ph.D.:  9 sem cr EPSY course work for those entering fall 2003 (9 semester cr for those entering prior to fall 2003)

Filing and revising the degree program form

A copy of the Degree Program Transmittal form is available from the Grad School Web site (www.grad.umn.edu/Current_Students/forms/gs89a.pdf).

Four types of information are required in completing and filing the Degree Program Transmittal: (1) identification and degree program information, (2) coursework information, (3) recommended committee members, and (4) approval signatures.

Step I. Identification and degree program information

1. On the Degree Program Transmittal, complete the requested identification information in full.
2. Indicate the degree sought: master of arts (M.A.), specialist certificate (S.C.), doctorate (Ph.D.)
3. Indicate major field and track (program area): Educational psychology —(e.g., CSPP, PsyF, QME, SchP, SpEd).
4. M.A. students: Check minor or related fields; also indicate Plan A or B.
   Ph.D. students: Indicate minor program or supporting program.
   Specialist students: Indicate specialty (e.g., CSPP, SchP, SpEd).

STEP II. Coursework information

1. Courses to be transferred from another institution should be listed first. Then list, in chronological order, the University of Minnesota courses as they appear on the transcript, followed by courses yet to be taken. Be sure to refer to the minimum credit requirement chart (above).
   1. Major coursework refers to all courses completed in educational psychology; that is, all courses having the EPSY designator.
   2. Other program coursework refers to all courses taken outside of EPSY (i.e., no EPSY designator). If you are declaring a minor, you need the approval of the director of graduate studies for the minor program prior to submitting the degree program to Educational Psychology.
      
      Internal minor: Because of the diversity of courses within our program, the Graduate School allows educational psychology students to declare an internal minor; that is, students may take EPsy courses that are outside their specific track and use them to meet the requirement for “Other Program Coursework.” In order to declare an internal minor, you must indicate courses on your degree program that are outside your specific track requirements as other program courses. You must take at least one course from outside the Department of Educational Psychology and one member of your examining committee must hold membership on a graduate faculty outside of educational psychology.

   Notes:
   List number of credits.
   
   The work to be transferred from other institutions must be graduate level (postbaccalaureate), must have been taken for graduate credit, and must have been taught by faculty members authorized to teach graduate courses. In addition, they must have been taken as an enrolled, graduate-degree-seeking student and must appear on official graduate school transcripts of the institutions.
   
   4xxx and EDHD 5xxx courses may not be included.

2. Indicate instructor's name (or name of institution if course is transferred). The Graduate School uses this information to determine the membership of your examining committee.
3. Attach unofficial copy of transcript showing grades for all transferred courses. If you do not have a copy of the transcript for coursework being transferred from other institutions, you may request a copy of your original transcript from your adviser or program office. Original transcripts are not required when you submit your program to the DGS in the Department of Educational Psychology, unless the course is taken after your formal admission to the University.
4. Transfer of course work is subject to the following Graduate School regulations:
   
   Master's degree:
   See "Master’s Degree" in the Graduate School Catalog. Up to 40 percent of the course credits may be transferred from other recognized graduate schools; non-degree graduate registrations (99PRD) at the University; adult special, summer session, and College of Continuing Education registrations at the University before Spring Semester 2001 (such registrations taken Spring Semester 2001 or after will not be accepted for transfer); registrations through other University units (e.g., College of Education and Human Development, Law School) in pursuit of graduate-level degrees that were not awarded.
   
   Specialist:
   See "Specialist Certificate in Education" in the Graduate School Catalog. With the approval of the adviser, the DGS, and the Graduate School, the transfer of up to 50 percent of the degree program courses from any combination of the following is permitted: non-degree graduate registration (99PRD) at the University; adult special, summer session, and College of Continuing Education registrations at the University before Spring Semester 2001 (such registrations taken Spring Semester 2001 or after will not be accepted for transfer); registrations through other University units (e.g., College of Education and Human Development, Law School) in pursuit of graduate-level degrees that were not awarded.
   
   Doctoral degree:
   See "Doctor of Philosophy Degree" in the Graduate School Catalog. Transferred credits are limited.
   • From other graduate institutions—Graduate credits earned at other recognized graduate institutions may be applied to doctoral degrees if the course is graduate level and was taught by faculty authorized to teach graduate courses. The number of credits accepted for transfer is determined by the graduate program faculty.
     
     In the case of a transfer from a non-U.S. institution, the credits must have been earned in a program judged by the Graduate School to be comparable to a graduate degree program of a regionally accredited institution in the United States. (See Graduate School Catalog for further details.)
   • From awarded U of M graduate-level degrees—Graduate credits earned while completing a University graduate-level degree (such as an M.Ed.) may be applied to doctoral degrees. The number of graduate credits accepted for transfer is determined by adviser and the DGS.
     
     Graduate credits taken while pursuing a University graduate-level degree (offered by a unit other than the Graduate School) that was not awarded may be applied to doctoral degrees; however, such credits will be included in the 12-credit transfer maximum described immediately below.
   • From non-degree status, adult special, summer session, College of Continuing Education (CCE), and 99PRD registrations—A maximum of 12 semester credits of completed graduate-level courses from any combination of non-degree graduate registration (99PRD) at the University, adult special (prior to Spring 2001), summer session (prior to Spring 2001), and CCE (prior to Spring 2001).

If a transferred course is to be used toward EPsy core area requirements, please note that an Internal Petition form is required.

STEP III. Examining committee

1. The number of committee members to be recommended is listed below:
   
   

   Type of committee	Internal examiners (representing Educational Psychology)	External examiners* (representing minor, supporting or related field)
   M.A. students	2	1
   Specialist students	3	**
   Ph.D. students—Prelim oral	3	1
   Ph.D. students—Final oral***	3	1

   * Your EPsy adviser may not be used as an external member even though they may hold graduate status in another department.
   ** Specialist students must have three members on their committee; at least two must be on the Department of Educational Psychology graduate faculty. The third member may be from Educational Psychology or may be external; however, no external examiner is required.
   *** Doctoral students must obtain faculty approval for their final oral committee at the time they submit their Thesis Panel Approval form, Thesis/Project Proposal form, and Statement to the DGS. (These documents are submitted after successfully completing the prelim oral examination.) The final oral committee listing must also designate reviewers and a chair. Note: The adviser may not chair the final oral exam. The chair must be a senior member of the graduate faculty.

2. Criteria for selection of examiners: In general, the constellation of examiners should be representative of the courses on your program.
   

   M.A. students (Final Oral) Ph.D. students (Final Oral)	Final approval of the examining committee is made by the dean of the Graduate School based primarily on the courses listed on the Degree Program form and secondarily on the content of the final project or thesis.
   Specialist students (Final Oral) Ph.D. students (Prelim Oral)	Final approval of the examining committee is made by the dean of the Graduate School based on the courses listed on the Degree Program form.

   Graduate faculty status: To serve on the examining committee, faculty must have member (M), member advising (M2), or senior (SM) membership status on the graduate faculty. Inquiries about any faculty member's graduate faculty status may be directed to the director of graduate studies or the DGS assistant, or the Graduate School faculty roster at www.grad.umn.edu/roster/step1.asp.
   
   Committee member not holding graduate faculty status: If you and your adviser feel there is a University employee who is not on the graduate faculty (or faculty member employed elsewhere) who is very closely related to your area of research, you may request they be allowed to serve on your committee. Your adviser must prepare a petition indicating the person's area of expertise and its match to your project and include a copy of their vita indicating they hold a Ph.D. degree and related publications/research activities. It will be reviewed by the DGS and, if approved at that level, forwarded to Graduate School for their review and approval.

STEP IV. Signatures

1. Sign the Degree Program Transmittal.
2. Secure adviser's signature on the Degree Program.
3. With your adviser's approval, obtain the necessary signatures (or e-mail agreement) for the Examining Committee Consent form (not on the Degree Program Transmittal).
4. If seeking a minor, secure the signature of the director of graduate studies in the minor field before submitting the program to the DGS in Educational Psychology.
5. Submit the Degree Program Transmittal and the Examining Committee Consent form to the DGS assistant for review. Upon review of the Degree Program form, the DGS will sign the form and forward it to the Graduate School.
6. Please note: If it becomes necessary to change the composition of your committee, you must obtain signature (or e-mail) approval from the new member(s) to be assigned. Submit the agreement(s) to the DGS assistant so she may officially notify Graduate School of the requested change. Be sure to notify the replaced committee member of the change.

Deadlines for submitting the degree program form

Students must submit degree program forms according to the following timelines:

M.A.: After completing 10 credits (ordinarily no later than the second semester of your first year).

Specialist: After completing 20 credits (ordinarily no later than the second semester of your first year).

Ph.D.: After completing 4 semesters. (The educational psychology program requires doctoral students to submit their Degree Program to the DGS prior to taking the written general preliminary examination in educational psychology. This should be by the end of the second year of graduate study, and at least one semester prior to the term in which you plan to take the prelim oral exam.)

PLEASE NOTE: A hold will be placed on your record at the request of the DGS if you are in the M.A. program and do not submit your Degree Program form by the time you complete 14 credits; if in the specialist certificate program and do not submit your degree program form by the time you complete 24 credits; if in the Ph.D. program, and fail to submit your degree program form by the time you complete four semesters. You will be unable to register, to obtain a transcript, etc. until the hold is released by the DGS.

Revisions to the program

Do not worry about submitting a Degree Program form too early in your graduate career; it is important to look at the form as a preliminary contract that may be changed at any time until your final oral.

If you wish to make minor changes on the Degree Program form, submit a Petition to this effect. Petition forms are available at www.grad.umn.edu/Current_Students/forms/gs59.pdf or on the 3rd floor of Johnston Hall. When completing this Petition form, please include a brief rationale for the request.

If you wish to change a substantial portion of the coursework, submit a revised degree program form, indicating on a separate sheet the changes being requested.

Time limits for degree/certificate completion

M.A. programs: All requirements for the M.A. degree must be completed and the degree awarded within seven years. This seven-year period begins with the term in which the oldest work listed on the official degree program form was taken, including any transfer work.

Specialist programs: All requirements for the specialist degree must be completed and the degree awarded within 12 years. This 12-year period begins with the term in which the oldest work listed on the official degree program form is taken, including any transfer work.

Ph.D. programs: All requirements for the doctoral degree must be completed and the degree awarded within five years following completion of the oral prelim.

NOTE: You may petition to extend these time limits before the expiration of the time limit. Complete a Graduate School Petition form specifying your rationale for the extension and the anticipated date of graduation, have it signed by your adviser, and submit it to the DGS assistant for DGS review. Graduate School has final authority to approve or deny.

Checklist for filing the Degree Program form

Processing the Degree Program form may take more than six weeks. Errors and/or omissions in completing the form may delay this processing time even further. To minimize unnecessary delays, please go through the following checklist to see whether your Degree Program is complete.

Coursework

___ Courses are listed in chronological order.

___ Courses having the EPsy designator are listed as "Major" coursework; those having another course designator are listed as "Other."

___ Courses meet the following requirements:

___ Instructors' names are listed for those courses completed at the University of Minnesota. College/University is listed for transfer credit.

___ The degree program follows Graduate School guidelines for transferred credits as outlined in this handbook. (These guidelines are also listed in the Graduate School Catalog.)

___ All transfer credits are marked in the appropriate quarter or semester credit column.

___ Credits summed, as requested, at the bottom of the degree program form. Thesis credits are not calculated in the subtotals.

Transcripts

___ Transcript(s) are attached for any transfer work. If an official transcript was submitted with your application materials, a copy may be used at this time.

Committee members

___ Recommended committee members hold member (M), member advising (M2), or senior member (SM) graduate faculty status. If not, Petition has been prepared from adviser and prospective member’s vita is attached.

___ For a Ph.D. committee, the adviser/chair is a senior member of the graduate faculty.

___ Recommended committee members are representative of the courses listed on the Degree Program form.

Note: To determine current faculty status, check the faculty roster at www.grad.umn.edu/faculty_rosters/step1.asp.

Signatures

___ You have signed the Degree Program Transmittal.

___ The Examining Committee Consent form signed by proposed members and chair (or e-mails showing consent) is attached.

___ Adviser's has signed the Degree Program form.

___ If seeking a minor, signature of the director of graduate studies in the minor field is secured.

Please submit your completed Degree Program Transmittal forms, transcripts if necessary, Examining Committee Consent form and Checklist to the DGS assistant for review at the department level. The DGS will approve and forward your Degree Program form to the Graduate School. Upon Graduate School approval, you will be mailed a copy of the Degree Program form.

July 2008