PhD in Educational Psychology
| Title | PhD in Educational Psychology |
| Course Code | W165 P/T W166 F/T |
| Major Code | n/a |
| Duration | 5 year (P/T) 3 year (F/T) |
| Closing date of Entry | No new applicants being admitted in 2010 |
| Contact | |
| Director |
This PhD in Educational Psychology programme offers practising psychologists a unique opportunity within this country to develop their training to doctoral level. It combines both research and taught components. The taught modules will focus on topics that are of key interest to the practice of Educational Psychology. There is a substantial element of choice in the selection of the taught modules taken by students. The research component consists of advanced training in Research Methods, the conducting of a substantial piece of research and the completion of a thesis.
The objectives of the PhD in Educational Psychology will be met through academic support, the designing and conducting of research, the production of a substantial thesis and a variety of other assessed outputs. In addition to individual research supervision, the academic support will consist of lectures, seminars, workshops, discussion of prior allocated reading and the use of problem-based learning. The emphasis will be on active, participative and collaborative learning. The assessment approaches will be varied. In addition to the production of a substantial thesis, such approaches will include the critique of research papers, the completion of assignments, individual and group presentations, in both oral and poster format, and the writing of research papers. A particular aim of the programme will be a demonstrated ability by participants to apply theory and research findings to the practice of Educational Psychology.
Learning Outcomes
In completing this course, students will:
- acquire an in-depth, up-to-dateand critical knowledge of specific areas that are of particular relevance to the theory and practice of Educational Psychology;
- demonstrate a competent ability to critically evaluate and compare theories, conceptual models and research, with particular relevance to the application of such theories, models and research to the professional practice of Educational Psychology;
- be able to design and conduct a substantial piece of original research that can inform the practice of Educational Psychology and be able to report the findings of their research in an accessible format that is of a standard suitable for publication in national and international refereed journals;
- demonstrate an ability to communicate with their peers, with the larger scholarly community and with society in general in relevant accessible formats, including: oral presentations, poster presentations, written reports, research articles and a thesis;
- show an ability to learn and develop, both at individual and at group level, and a significant ability to further their own learning by independent study and by engaging in substantial original and independent research;
- show an ability to contribute to the learning and development of their class peers and of colleagues within the community of practice of Educational Psychology.
Assessment Procedures
At the end of their doctoral studies students submit their research, in thesis or similar appropriate format, in accordance with international norms, to an Examination Committee established by the university. For the award of PhD the research must contain material of a standard and form appropriate for peer-reviewed publication.
