Overview
This program is suitable for students that are seeking to gain expertise in the fundamental areas of research, application, and practice related to learning and development. Within this program, students choose from either Plan 1: thesis option, or Plan 2: no thesis option. See below for summary of degree and program requirements, including information about courses offered.
Admission Requirements
Statement of purpose and letters of recommendation consistent with goals of the program, GRE score of at least 300 or a MAT score in the 50 percentile or above and a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale are needed for regular admission.
Application Process
- Complete the Application Form.
- Pay the application fee. The application fee is $65 for U.S. citizens and permanent residents and $80 for international students. Please note that application fees are non-refundable. The application fee is waived for the following groups:
- Veterans and current members of the US military (please email your DD 214 or current assignment orders to gradschool@ua.edu).
- Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program students (please email gradschool@ua.edu for more details).
- University of Alabama undergraduates applying to a graduate program in the same subject area. To qualify for this application fee waiver a student must have no time break between the undergraduate and graduate program and have an overall GPA of 3.0 or greater.
- Applicants who have previously enrolled in Graduate School at The University of Alabama.
- Within 48 hours of completing steps 1 and 2 you will receive an email with your Campus Wide Identification (CWID) number. It is VERY important that you keep this number somewhere safe.
- Submit supporting documents and check application status by selecting Manage Documents.
Program Requirements
The core of training for the M.A. programs is attained through the successful participation in and completion of coursework. The M.A. programs require completion of 30 credit hours; progress in completion of coursework is documented through the student’s Program Planning Record (see “Program Outcomes” section below).
Courses offered in the M.A. Program in Educational Psychology include:
- BEP 500 Advanced Educational Psychology
- BEP 505 Motivation and Self-Regulation
- BEP 541 Foundations of Learning and Cognition
- BEP 550 Life-Span Development (or HD 501 Child Development)
- BEP 561 Social and Cultural Basis of Behavior
- Specialization Course (for Non-Thesis option)
- BER 500 Intro Educatn Research
- BER 540 Statistical Methods In Educ
- BEP 598 Non-Thesis Research or BEP 599 Thesis Research
All degree requirements in the M.A. programs in Educational Psychology are carefully designed according to program outcomes. Program outcomes are the areas of knowledge and skill that students are expected to demonstrate upon successful completion of degree and program requirements. Program outcomes for each student are identified and monitored in the Program Planning Record, a document developed with the faculty member assigned as the student’s advisor. Each student is appointed a temporary advisor upon enrollment in the program, and may select a permanent advisor after beginning coursework. Program Advisors assist students with planning and registration for courses, completing program planning records, and guidance through the thesis and research processes, if applicable.
Procedure and Timeline for Completing Masters with Thesis
| Step | Procedure | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Consult with your advisor about your thesis topic and start to prepare your thesis proposal | 2nd semester |
| 2 | Enroll in 3-6 thesis hours | Beginning of the 3rd semester |
| 3 | Determine your research committee. The committee includes at least 1 chair (your advisor/s), 1 faculty in your department, 1 faculty out of your department. | Beginning of the 3rd semester |
| 4 | Determine the date and location to present your thesis proposal to the committee. | 3rd semester |
| 5 | Inform the committee about the date and location for your thesis proposal. Send your thesis proposal to the committee at least 2 weeks before the presentation date. | 3rd semester |
| 6 | Present your thesis proposal to the committee and receive their signature LINK | 3rd semester |
| 7 | Applying to the IRB if it is necessary | 3rd semester |
| 8 | Consult with your advisor about your thesis and start to conduct and write your thesis | 3rd semester- 4th semester |
| 9 | Determine the date and location to present your thesis defense to the committee | 4th semester* |
| 10 | Inform the committee about the date and location for your thesis defense. Send your thesis to the committee at least 2 weeks before the defense date. | 4th semester* |
| 11 | Defend your thesis to the committee -if passed, get signature from the committee on the presentation form to submit it to the graduate school LINK and move to 12 -if failed, see program coordinator | 4th semester* |
| 12 | Make necessary corrections on your thesis. Submit your thesis to ProQuest | 4th semester* |
| *Check the graduate school website for due date |
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.
Deadlines to Meet Degree Requirements
Each semester, the Graduate School publishes dates by which the students must meet degree requirements, submit forms, and engage in other activities necessary for awarding degrees. Some of the deadlines occur early in the semester in which 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.
Please visit the Graduate School Departmental for more information about degree requirements.
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.
For more information on these programs, please contact Dr. Hyemin Han.