Admission Requirements

• Doctor of Philosophy

Degree Requirements

• Doctor of Philosophy

Mailing Address:
College of Education (MC 147)
1040 West Harrison Street
Chicago, IL 60607-7133

Campus Location: 3145 EPASW
Telephone: (312) 996-4532
Program Code: 20FS0210PHD
E-mail:ewilson@uic.edu
Web Site: http://education.uic.edu/index2.cfm
Program Coordinator: Theresa Thorkildsen
Director of Graduate Studies: Theresa Thorkildsen

The PhD in Educational Psychology prepares students to conduct research on psychological processes as they affect student learning and successful teaching in urban settings. Graduates become research experts and innovators in one of two focus areas; Human Development and Learning or Measurement, Evaluation, Statistics, and Assessment. Interdepartmental concentrations in Gender and Women’s Studies and Violence Studies are available to students in this program.

Admission Requirements

Applicants are considered on an individual basis. Applicants must submit transcripts from the last 60 hours of undergraduate work and from all postbaccalaureate work. In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, applicants must meet the following program requirements:

Doctor of Philosophy

• Baccalaureate Field No restrictions.
• Grade Point Average At least 3.00/4.00 for the final 60 semester hours (90 quarter hours) of undergraduate study and for all postbaccalaureate course work.
• Tests Required GRE General; minimum of 1000 on combined verbal and quantitative, or equivalent.
• Minimum English Competency Test Score
• TOEFL 550 (paper-based); 213 (computer-based); 80, with subscores of Reading 19, Listening 17, Speaking 20, and Writing 21 (iBT Internet-based), or equivalent. Note: Total score is higher than the sum of the subscores. OR
• IELTS 6.5, with subscores of 6.0 for all four subscores, or equivalent.
• Letters of Recommendation Three letters from faculty members or others familiar with the applicant’s previous academic training, academic and research ability, and experience are required.
• Personal Statement This required statement must address the applicant’s professional and scholarly goals.

• Other Requirements A College of Education application form must be submitted as well as the official university application. This program requires two packets of admissions materials. One set of transcripts and the official university application must be sent to the Graduate Admissions Office. A second set of materials must be sent directly to the College of Education, including a copy of the official UIC application, the College of Education application, a second set of transcripts, GRE scores, three letters of recommendation, and the personal statement.

• Admission Deadlines The application deadline for this program is January 1 for admission in summer or fall terms

Degree Requirements

In addition to the Graduate College minimum requirements, students must meet the following program requirements:

Doctor of Philosophy

• Minimum Semester Hours Required 96 from the baccalaureate or 64 hours beyond the master’s degree.
• Course Work Research Design and Methods Core: 16 semester hours: Required; ED 500, 501, 502, and EPSY/ED 503. Recommended; EPSY 509.
• Educational Psychology Core: 10 semester hours: EPSY 500, 501 or 529, 502.
• Area of Specialization: 14 semester hours of approved courses selected in consultation with the faculty advisor, are required. Of the 14 hours, a minimum of 3 hours must focus on Psychology. A minimum of 14 hours is taken in this area of specialization if the student has a master’s degree, 46 hours if admitted without a masters degree.
• Preliminary Examination A three step process involving a written examination, dissertation proposal, and oral defense of the student’s readiness to complete a dissertation are required.
• Dissertation 16 semester hours: Students are required to register for doctoral thesis research for at least 16 semester hours.
• Other Requirements 8 semester hours:  Students participate in a research project in collaboration with a faculty member or a team of faculty members and students. Eight semester hours of credit are awarded for the project, requiring at least two semesters to complete. Students must complete a training course sponsored by the Office for the Vice Chancellor for Research on the ethics of conducting research with human subjects. Students are required to submit an annual report of their academic and professional progress.

Interdepartmental Concentration in Gender and Women’s Studies

Students earning a graduate degree in this department may complement their courses by enrolling in a concentration in Gender and Women’s Studies after consulting with their graduate advisor. See Gender and Women’s Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section of the catalog for more information.

Interdepartmental Graduate Concentration in Violence Studies

Students earning a graduate degree in this department may complement their courses by enrolling in a concentration in Violence Studies after consulting with their graduate advisor. See Violence Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences section or the Jane Addams College of Social Work section for more information.