Master of Arts

The M.A. degree in Educational Psychology is designed to provide basic entry level skills. As a result, the program provides less breadth and less depth than the Ed.S. and doctoral programs. There is a generalist approach, with the exception of the specialization in program evaluation. The student who terminates his or her graduate education with the M.A. degree in Educational Psychology is most likely to be employed in public or private schools; however, teaching at 2-year and 4-year colleges is possible. The specialized M.A. program in program evaluation may also lead to employment in business areas or research organizations. It is anticipated that most students will not terminate their education with the M.A. degree and will seek an Ed.S. or doctoral degree.

Three options are available for the MA degree:

General Educational Psychology with a thesis

General Educational Psychology with no thesis

Program Evaluation with no thesis (in collaboration with the Educational Research Program)

Summary of Degree and Program Requirements

A major part of graduate training is successful participation in courses. Coursework requirements for the M.A. degree options in Educational Psychology are listed in this booklet. The M.A. degree requires 30 graduate credit hours.

Coursework requirements are found in "Program Planning Records." Each student is expected to maintain a Program Planning Record with his or her advisor in order to monitor completion of coursework requirements.

Each student is appointed a temporary faculty advisor upon initial acceptance into the program. A student may select a permanent advisor after beginning coursework. Advisors assist students with planning coursework, registering for courses, completing program planning records, portfolio evaluations, and other activities.

Program Outcomes

All degree requirements in the Educational Psychology Program are carefully designed and sequenced according to program outcomes. Program outcomes are the areas of knowledge and skill students are expected to demonstrate upon successful completion of the coursework and other training activities. Students provide evidence of each program outcome during the required portfolio evaluations. Program outcomes for the M.A. degree in Educational Psychology are listed in this booklet.

Transfer of Credit and Use of Previous Graduate Work

The University of Alabama allows students to transfer equivalent courses from other accredited institutions where the student was enrolled in the graduate school. Up to one-half of the required coursework, exclusive of thesis or dissertation credit, may be transferred from another institution. Credits may be transferred only if they were earned during the six-year period prior to admission to the program. Transfer of courses must be approved by the student's advisor. The Dean of the Graduate School must also approve transfer of courses. The Graduate School form to request consideration of transfer of credits is located in the Student Handbook.

Limits on Coursework

Educational Psychology Program requirements exclude credit for undergraduate study, study which is remedial, or study which is designed to remove deficiencies in meeting requirements for program admission. In addition, the program limits the number of courses not open exclusively to graduate students to no more than one-third of a student's program.

Continuous Portfolio Reviews

All students in the Educational Psychology Program are required to participate in a continuous portfolio review process in order to monitory student progress and determine that program outcomes are being achieved. A general description of the portfolio review process, including a portfolio checklist and rating scale, is located in the Student Handbook. Specific requirements for portfolios for the M.A. degree are located in this booklet.

Research Participation

All students in the Educational Psychology Program are expected to obtain skills in research. Each student is expected to join a faculty member's research team during the first semester of graduate study. Masters' and Ed.S. students take a number of research courses and are encouraged to participate in research projects during courses and field experiences.

Comprehensive Examinations

All degree students in the Educational Psychology Programs are required to successfully complete written comprehensive examinations before the degrees will be granted. The specific procedures for comprehensive examinations for the M.A. degree are described in this booklet. The examinations are completed independently on a "take-home" basis, and require students to integrate knowledge and skills obtained during coursework and other training activities. Each student is allowed to take comprehensive examinations only twice.

Admission to Candidacy

As noted in the Graduate Catalog, admission to the Graduate School does not imply admission to candidacy for a degree. Admission to candidacy is contingent upon the recommendation of the student's program and the approval of the graduate dean, after the student has met the formal requirements for candidacy for the degree and demonstrated sufficient preparation to pursue the graduate study and research required for the degree sought. Application forms are supplied by the Graduate School office.

The application for admission to candidacy can be filed with the Graduate School after 12 semester hours of graduate credit have been earned at the University of Alabama. It must be filed by the time of registration for the semester in which requirements for the degree are completed. Approval of admission to candidacy will depend on the quality of the students graduate work, the removal of any special conditions, and the certification of the program that the student is well qualified to continue work toward a degree.

Application for Graduation

Each candidate for a graduate degree must apply for graduation no later than the registration period for the semester of first term of the summer session in which degree requirements are to be completed. The "Application for Degree" from must be obtained from and submitted to the Graduate School.

Deadlines to Meet Degree Requirements

Each semester, the Graduate School publishes dates by which students must meet degree requirements, submit forms, and engage in other activities necessary for awarding of the degrees. Some of the deadlines occur early in the semester in which the degree will be granted; some of the deadlines occur in the semester before the degree will be granted. Graduate School deadlines are posted every semester in the program office in 307 Carmichael Hall. It is the student's responsibility to review and meet all deadlines.

Graduation

Degrees are awarded during fall, spring, or summer semester, and are awarded after the completion of degree requirements. All graduates are encouraged to participate in their official graduation ceremony.