Quantitative Methods
Department of Educational Psychology
Designed For
This program is designed for students with strong interests in advanced quantitative analysis and research methodology. It is well suited for individuals who enjoy working with complex data, developing statistical models and engaging in rigorous methodological inquiry within education and the social sciences.
Career Objective
Graduates of the program pursue careers in a wide range of professional settings, including colleges and universities, professional testing organizations, educational research and development agencies, industrial psychology firms, governing agencies of higher education, state departments of education, and research and program evaluation divisions of large school districts.
At a Glance
Program Starts: Fall
Deadline to Apply:
December 1
Length of Program: 48-60 months
Program Location: On campus
GRE Required? No
Advancing Educational Research Through Quantitative Expertise
This Ph.D. program prepares students as professional educational researchers with advanced training in quantitative and psychometric methods. The curriculum emphasizes modern statistical techniques, measurement theory, and research design, equipping students to conduct sophisticated analyses that address complex educational and social questions.
Students engage in both applied and methodological research, gaining experience in developing, evaluating, and refining quantitative models. Through coursework, research projects, and faculty mentorship, students build strong analytical judgment and the ability to critically assess and apply advanced methodologies.
The program fosters a rigorous scholarly environment that supports methodological innovation, precision in quantitative inquiry, and meaningful contributions to the research literature in education and related fields.
Area Chair
Hyeon-Ah Kang
Program Details
Program Requirements
Current students should always defer to their program of work for course requirements and consult with their faculty advisor or graduate advisor for any clarification. Please note required coursework may vary from year to year.
Quantitative Methods (QM) doctoral students are required to complete:
- Foundation courses in Educational Psychology
- QM required competency courses
- QM program electives
- Out-of-specialization courses
- Dissertation
Educational Psychology Foundation Courses (26 Credit Hours)
These courses represent foundational knowledge in educational and scientific psychology, its history of thought and development, research methods and applications.
- EDP 380C.2 Fundamental Statistics
- EDP 480C.6 Statistical Analysis for Experimental Data
- EDP 380D.4 Psychometric Theory & Methods
- EDP 480C.4 Correlation & Regression Methods
- EDP 381C.2 Research Design & Methods for Psychology & Education
- EDP 382F.3 Life Span Development
- EDP 382C.2 Social Psychology
- EDP 382D.4 Psychology of Learning or EDP 382D.6 Motivation & Emotion
QM Required Competency (6 Credit Hours)
- EDP 380C Data Exploration and Visualization in R
- EDP 380C Statistical Modeling and Simulation in R
QM Electives (18 Credit Hours)
An additional 6 QM program electives must also be chosen from the following (or alternative QM program elective approved by area chair)
- EDP 380C Python for Social Science
- EDP 380C.12 Survey of Multivariate Methods
- EDP 380C.14 Structural Equation Modeling
- EDP 380C.16 Hierarchical Linear Modeling
- EDP 380C.18 Applied Bayesian Analysis
- EDP 380C.22 Analysis of Categorical Data
- EDP 380C.23 Missing Data Analysis
- EDP 380D.6 Program Evaluation Models & Techniques
- EDP 380D.8 Item Response Theory
- EDP 380D.11 Computer Adaptive Testing
- EDP 380D.14 Applied Psychometrics
- EDP 380N.11 Machine Learning for Applied Research
- EDP 381C.12 Meta-Analysis
- EDP 381C.14 Causal Inference
- EDP 381E Advanced Item Response Theory
- EDP 381D Advanced Statistical Modeling
Out-of-Specialization Courses (6 Credit Hours)
The Graduate School requires doctoral students to complete 6 hours of coursework outside of their area of specialization for a letter grade.
Out-of-specialization courses give you the chance to explore your interests beyond the QM program and connect with faculty across campus. You’ll choose two courses in consultation with the QM program advisor.
- One course from another EDP program area or another department at UT Austin.
- One course from another department at UT Austin.
Qualifying Process & Dissertation (12+ Credit Hours)
Qualifying Process: EDP 395R Qualifying Process Research (2 semesters)
Dissertation: EDP 3/6/999W Dissertation, beginning the semester following advancement to doctoral candidacy.
Faculty
Investigates issues of access and equity for disabled people, with a special focus on systems change, research translation, and assessment.
Studies the mindsets and behaviors that motivate learning, achievement and well-being; develops psychologically precise, scalable interventions to empower people, improving lives and societies.
Student academic motivation; motivational beliefs about ability and effort; growth and fixed mindset; teacher, parent, and peer effects on student motivation; Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) contexts
Accepting new students
Studies predictors of risk for mental health problems in early childhood.
Studies how cultural beliefs and values shape parent-child relationships, parental socialization, and children's and adolescents' development and learning.
Studies the cognitive underpinnings of learning and instruction (memory & metacognition), integrated with social-psychological processes (motivation & mindset), in direct applications to classroom practices, online instruction, and self-regulated lea...
Additional Information
