Educational Psychology Minor

This 19-credit minor is available to all Mason undergraduates and provides students a grounding in topics related to human growth and development, cognition, learning and instruction, motivation, measurement, and research methods.

Educational psychology is the branch of psychology concerned with the scientific study of human learning. Studying learning processes from cognitive, social, emotional, and developmental perspectives allows researchers to understand individual differences in intelligence, cognitive development, affect, motivation, self-regulation, and self-concept as well as their roles in learning. The field of educational psychology relies heavily on research methods such as testing and measurement to enhance educational activities related to instructional design, classroom management, and assessment and to facilitate learning processes in various educational settings across the lifespan.

Educational psychology is interdisciplinary, informed primarily by psychology, neuroscience, sociology, and cultural studies. It in turn informs a wide range of specialties within educational studies, including instructional design, educational technology, curriculum development, organizational learning, decision making, adult education, special education, and management.

An educational psychologist may:

Assess learning and emotional needs by observing and consulting with multidisciplinary teams to advise on the best approaches and provisions to support learning development
Evaluate and analyze teaching methods, training methods, and educational programs
Create and develop new educational methods, instruments, or programs
Formulate interventions that focus on applying knowledge, skills, and expertise to support local and national initiatives
Advise, support, educate, and negotiate with teachers, parents, and other educational professionals
Facilitate meetings, discussions, seminars, and courses
Review and develop policies

Required Courses

EDEP 350: Perspectives on Achievement Motivation (3 credits)
EDUC 302: Human Growth and Development (3 credits)
PSYC 312: Educational Psychology (3 credits)
PSYC 320: Psychological Tests and Measurements (4 credits)

Electives

Select two of the following:

ECED 401: Developmental Pathways of Diverse Learners, Birth-Adolescence (3 credits)
PSYC 211: Lifespan Development (3 credits)
PSYC 313: Child Development (3 credits)
PSYC 314: Adolescent Development (3 credits)
PSYC 322: Behavior Modification (3 credits)
PSYC 335: Psychology of Creativity and Innovation (3 credits)

Total credits: 19

Current Mason undergraduate students should contact their advisor about adding a minor. Students may need to fill out the Minor Declaration form from the Registrar's Office website.

TUITION CLASSIFICATION	COST PER CREDIT
Virginia Resident	$596.50 (includes MSF*)
Non-Virginia Resident	$1,638.00 (includes MSF*)
CEHD Course Fee ($25/credit with higher per credit or flat course fees for internship and select ATEP, RECR, and RMGT courses)	$25 - $257
Total Cost for Virginia Residents per Credit	$621.50 - $853.50
Total Cost for Non-Virginia Residents per Credit	$1,663.00 - $1,895.00
Undergraduate New Student Fee (non-refundable, one-time fee)	$350 \| $275 for transfer students

Please Note: Refer to the Students Accounts Office website for more information on tuition and fees. Various course and lab fees may be assessed depending on the course(s) in which the student is enrolled.

*Mandatory Student Fee (MSF): $163.50

For information on loans and scholarships, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid. For information regarding grants, tuition waivers, and other merit aid, please inquire with your graduate department. Also, many school districts offer tuition reimbursement options. Speak to your employer for more information.

Student Success Center

Contact the Educational Psychology program at edpsych@gmu.edu for advising information. Faculty and staff will answer any questions that you may have about your program or degree.

Primary Faculty

Divya Varier Academic Program Coordinator PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University

Michelle Buehl PhD, University of Maryland, College Park

Anthony Kelly PhD, Stanford University

Anastasia Kitsantas PhD, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York

Angela Miller PhD, University of Missouri-Kansas City

Alexandra Patzak PhD, Simon Fraser University

Kimberly Sheridan EdD, Harvard University

Program Summary