Educational Psychology is a highly specialized area within the education field. Educational psychologists study how people learn and retain knowledge in classroom settings based on emotional, social, and cognitive factors. Educational psychologists strive to understand what goes on in the classroom and how to improve it. According to the Psychology Career Center, educational psychologists primarily have careers in elementary and secondary education schools or engage in research at colleges and universities. They go on to say that "Educational psychologists with doctorate degrees in counseling, school psychology, or related fields generally have the best job opportunities, especially those with expertise in information technology and quantitative research methodology." (source) Because more and more advancements are being made in the education field - including distance learning - educational psychologists are in high demand to help implement smart policies and practices across a brand new industry. Additionally, as large companies and corporations invest more time and finances into their company culture and employee education, they'll be looking to educational psychologists to help make their education programs more effective and increase revenue.
With a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology, you have the potential to make upwards of $100,000 for an annual income, with a median salary of around $87,000 (source). Below is a list of potential career opportunities available for Educational Psychologists:
- Elementary Schools Teacher Training
- Secondary Schools Teacher Training
- College or University Research Programs
- Government Research Programs
- College Professors
- Directing Corporate Employee Programs
- Distance Learning Companies
- Education Policy Regulation
- Development of Instructional Materials
About FSU's Educational Psychology Program
Florida State's Learning and Cognition program is a nationally ranked program focused on preparing students for a career as a researcher or a practitioner in a classroom, organizational, government, or research setting. As a Top 20 Educational Psychology program, countless employers await FSU graduates because they are well prepared for their careers. The Educational Psychology faculty experience spans a wide range of studies, including early childhood psychology, science education, teacher development, and more. Each member of the faculty is nationally and internationally recognized for their research expertise. FSU offers both master's (online and on-campus) and doctorate degrees in Education Psychology, both of which are covered below:
Master's in Educational Psychology
The master's program in Educational Psychology: Learning and Cognition consists of 33- 36 credit hours. Students develop their program of study in conjunction with their advisor and follow one of two tracks: Thesis-track or Exam-track. The Thesis-track is geared toward students who want more practical research training or would like to pursue a Ph.D. The Thesis-track MS takes approximately 3 years to complete, while the Exam-track MS takes less than 2 years. View the M.S. Degree Outline PDF
Ph.D. in Educational Psychology
Our doctoral program is designed to train research-oriented doctoral students who are conversant with current theory and research, and who are competent in methodological and statistical research skills. Students who complete their doctorates in our program become university faculty or researchers in a variety of settings, including with Pre-K-12 education organizations, government, think tanks, and private industry. View the Ph.D. Degree Outline PDF
Learn More About Our Educational Psychology: Learning and Cognition Program
