Human Development, Culture and Learning Sciences
Department of Educational Psychology
Designed For
Designed for students interested in understanding how people learn, develop and engage across cultural and social contexts our program is ideal for future educators, researchers and professionals seeking a strong foundation in educational psychology and learning sciences.
Career Objective
Graduates are prepared for careers in teaching, research, program design and applied learning settings as well as pursuing doctoral study in educational psychology, learning sciences or related fields.
At a Glance
Program Starts: Fall
Deadline to Apply:
January 10
Length of Program: 22 months
Program Location: On campus
GRE Required? No
Learning Through Community, Research and Practice
The Human Development, Culture and Learning Sciences (HDCLS) master’s program offers a rigorous interdisciplinary foundation in Educational Psychology. Students explore the scientific and theoretical bases of learning through coursework in cognition, development, motivation and social psychology, with the option to earn either a Master of Education (M.Ed.) or Master of Arts (M.A.).
HDCLS emphasizes a learning community model that blends collaborative engagement and mentorship with both peers and faculty across the area. This flexible structure supports diverse academic and professional goals.
Students will have opportunities to engage in additional activities tailored to individual career plans, which may include research, teaching, mentorship, community-based work, and/or other applied learning experiences. Program activities intentionally foster peer connection, faculty collaboration and professional networking—ensuring students graduate with both expertise and a strong scholarly community.
Area Chair
Veronica Yan
Program Details
Admissions
A specific academic background is not required for admission to the master’s program. We welcome applicants from a wide range of disciplines, including those without formal training in psychology or education. However, prior coursework or relevant professional experience in education, psychology or related fields can strengthen your application and help you succeed in the program.
Program Requirements
The master’s degree requires 33–37 credit hours, depending on the selected degree track (M.A. or M.Ed.) and culminating option (portfolio, report or thesis). Course requirements may change annually and may vary based on prior graduate coursework or approved waivers. Students are responsible for meeting the requirements outlined in their approved Program of Work, which serves as the official record of degree expectations.
EDP Foundation Courses (15 Credit Hours)
EDP Foundation Courses (9 credit hours)
- EDP 380C.2 Fundamental Statistics.
- EDP 382F.3 Life Span Development
- EDP 382C.2 Social Psychology
Culture Course (3 credit hours)
Choose 1 (must be approved by the area chair):
- EDP 382G.10 Disability, Culture, and Education
- EDP 382C Social Psychology of Siblings
- EDP 384C.18 Multicultural Counseling
- Or alternative course – must be approved by the area chair
Learning Science Course (3 credit hours)
Choose 1 (must be approved by the area chair):
- EDP 382D.6 Motivation and Emotion
- EDP 382D.4 Psychology of Learning
HDCLS Electives (6 Credit Hours)
Choose 2 from the HDCLS program area. Unused Program Foundation Courses above may also be taken as electives.
- EDP 382C Psychologically Wise Interventions
- EDP 382D.20 Current Issues in Motivation
- EDP 382D Metacognition and Self-regulated Learning
- EDP 382E.2 Biological Basis of Behavior
- EDP 382.10 Mindfulness/Compassion/Self
- EDP 398T College Teaching Methodology
Supporting Coursework (6-10 Credit Hours)
These courses are an opportunity to enhance interests and form relationships with out-of-area and/or out-of-department faculty. Choices must be approved by the area chair.
M.Ed. Option
- 1st Supporting Course (Out-of-Department)
- 2nd Supporting Course (Out-of-Area or Out-of-Department)
M.A. Option
- 1st supporting Course: EDP 381C.2 Research Design & Methods for Psychology & Education OR EDP 381C.8 Qualitative Research Methods
- 2nd Supporting Course (Out-of-Area or Out-of-Department)
Students pursuing the M.A. also must take one of the following additional courses:
- EDP 480C.6 Statistical Analysis for Experimental Data
- EDP 380D.4 Psychometric Theory & Methods
Master’s Portfolio, Report or Thesis Coursework (3-6 Credit Hours)
All students must complete either a portfolio, report or a thesis to complete the master’s degree. An advisor will help students choose the best option for their program.
Master’s Portfolio Option: M.Ed. or M.A. (3 credit hours)
- EDP 394R Individual Supervision
Master’s Report Option: M.Ed. or M.A. (3 credit hours)
- EDP 398R Master’s Report
Thesis Option: M.A. only (6 credit hours)
- EDP 698A Master’s Thesis
- EDP 698B Master’s Thesis
Funding
While funding is not guaranteed for master’s students, there are opportunities to secure financial support. Historically, some M.A .students have obtained teaching assistantships (TA) or graduate research assistantships (GRA). Others have received small fellowships.
All admitted students are automatically considered for eligible university, college, and departmental fellowships—no separate application is required.
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...
Accepting new students
Affiliated Labs
Examines sociocultural and family factors that shape children’s social, emotional and neurological development, including both typical trajectories and early risk for mental health challenges. Integrates developmental, behavioral, sociocultural, psychophysiological and neurological methods to study early life.
Learning and Motivational Beliefs Lab
Studies student motivation and how educators, families and peers create equitable, supportive learning environments by using a social-cognitive lens to examine beliefs and perceptions that shape learning and outcomes. Research focuses primarily on adolescent and college students in STEM contexts.
Motivation and Self-regulation Lab
Explores the mindsets and behaviors that make people effective, and to harness this knowledge to help many more people thrive. By enabling people to think more strategically and to use more effective strategies, we empower them to pursue their goals more effectively.
National Deaf Center on Postsecondary Outcomes
Supports postsecondary outcomes for individuals who are deaf, deafblind, deafdisabled, hard of hearing, or late deafened by drawing on evidence-based strategies to educate and engage with stakeholders across the nation.
Science of Learning and Metacognition Lab
Explores how to empower learners to become motivated and effectively self-regulated learners by integrating research from social, cognitive and educational psychology. Research focuses on both the cognitive toolset that deepen learning and the motivational mindsets that support their use.
Additional Information
