2016-2017

Educational Psychology - Learning and Instruction, Doctor of Philosophy

Department of Educational Psychology

College of Education

This plan gives you a strong foundation in the basic content areas of learning and instruction, human development, research and statistics, and applied psychometrics.

Our doctoral curriculum includes coursework in psychological foundations, educational foundations, specialization, and research and statistics. Our goal is to prepare you to assist institutions in creating bridges between the knowledge base of educational psychology and the application of that knowledge base to educational endeavors.

This plan will not be available to new students after Summer 2017

  • To receive a Doctor of Philosophy Degree (PhD) at Northern Arizona University, you must complete a planned group of courses, from one or more disciplines, ranging from at least 60 - 109 units of graduate-level courses. Most plans require research, a dissertation, and comprehensive exams. All plans have residency requirements regarding time spent on the Flagstaff campus engaged in full-time study.

    The full policy can be viewed here.

In addition to University Requirements:

  • At least three to four years of full-time equivalent coursework beyond the bachelor's degree
  • Two consecutive semesters (Fall and Spring) of full-time residency
  • A preliminary exam
  • A comprehensive exam
  • College-teaching fieldwork experiences
  • The completion of one semester of fieldwork in an applied setting
  • The preparation of a dissertation

Minimum Units for Completion 91
Additional Admission Requirements Required
Dissertation Dissertation is required.
Comprehensive Exam Comprehensive Exam is required.
Oral Defense Oral Defense is required.
Fieldwork Experience/Internship Required
Research Individualized research is required.
Student Teaching/Supervised Teaching Required

Additional Admission Requirements
  • Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

Doctoral Requirements
    • EPS 698 in "Learning and Instruction" (3 units)
    • A focus area to be determined with your advisor, which may include additional units of Fieldwork Experience (12 units)
    • EPS 608, with at least 3 units in "College Teaching" (6 units)
    • EPS 625, EPS 664, EPS 685, EPS 724, EPS 725, EPS 798 (18 units)
    • ECI 730 (3 units)
    • Select one course from: EPS 739; EDR 611, EDR 725, EDR 730, EDR 736 (3 units)
    • EPS 799, for the research, writing, and oral defense of an approved dissertation. You may end up taking more than the 9 units of dissertation credit you can count toward your degree because you must register for it each semester while you are working on your dissertation. (9 units)
    Please be aware that the necessary coursework for this plan is only available at Northern Arizona University-Flagstaff.

    For more information about residency and other requirements that pertain to this degree, see Doctoral Requirements Policy.

  • Be aware that some courses may have prerequisites that you must also successfully complete. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.