Department Programs - [ Educational Psychology Program ]

Bachelor Of Science in Educational Psychology

Educational Psychology is an undergraduate degree program in the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education. It leads to a B. S. degree in educational psychology. It is generally referred to as the EPY major. This handbook will give you information about the degree requirements and other useful information you will need to know as you complete your degree program.

• Educational Psychology Undergraduate Handbook

Educational Psychology offers these concentrations:

• Corrections
• Human Development Child and Family Studies
• Counselor Education
• Physical Education
• Psychology with applied/Industrial/Human Resource

Educational psychology is the science of learners and learning, including their differences and their development as they grow and change. These differences include changes that are biosocial, cognitive, and psychosocial. They also include differences involving their exceptionalities--for example, whether their intellectual abilities would classify them as gifted or mentally retarded. Individuals differ in a number of other ways as well. Educational psychology also involves learning the techniques of the scientific method that apply to our field--using tests and measurements, statistics, and research methodology. Thus, educational psychology involves a wide range of topics about people, and your major courses are designed to help you learn about your chosen field.

Educational psychology is a Bachelor of Science degree program within the College of Education at Mississippi State University. It is designed for people who enjoy helping and working with others. It offers:

• a non-teaching major that does not lead to certification as a teacher (though it is possible to seek alternate certification upon graduation);
• enriching courses in human growth and development, learning, measurement, personality theory, exceptional populations, research methods, and psychology;
• a curriculum that prepares you to work in a number of different positions within many helping professions.

You should consider educational psychology if:

• you are a people person, but you do not want to be a teacher in K-12 settings;
• you are interested in working with people of all ages;
• you would like to work with individuals in challenging settings.

Curriculum

You will complete the following as part of your 124 hour degree program:

• a general education core of 48 hours
• a 43 hour curriculum in educational psychology
• and a concentration area that you choose (18-24 hours) which consists of support courses that complement the major and your career goals.

Planning for your B.S. Degree:

• To graduate from MSU, you will need 124 hours. "Hours" refers to courses that carry credits. For courses taken at MSU, you can usually tell by looking at the last digit of a course (for example, EPY 2513 would carry 3 hours of credit).
• You must have a GPA of 2.00 on a 4.00 scale to enter the program.
• To finish the B.S. degree in EPY in four years with no summer school, you will need to take 15-16 hours each regular semester. If this is your first term at MSU and you've not yet taken a full load at a senior college, it would be a good idea to limit your first semester to 12 hours or 15 hours maximum.
• You may only transfer 62 hours from junior or community colleges.
• It is most important that you get to know your advisor and see that faculty member during preregistration times. Your degree program is your responsibility. Make sure your folder contains all transcripts. Keep your program up to date each time your visit your advisor.

Location

Administratively, your program is located in the Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education, P.O. Box 9727, Mississippi State, MS 39762. The phone is (662) 325-3426. Your departmental offices are located on the fifth floor of Allen Hall. Your department Head is Dr. Tom Hosie (Room 508), and the program coordinator is Dr. David Morse (Room 511D). You will be assigned an advisor when you enter the program.

Educational Psychology Faculty

• Anastasia Elder, Ph.D. Assistant Professor
• Donna Gainer, Ph.D. Lecture
• Linda W. Morse, Ph.D. Professor and Coordinator, Programs in Educational Psychology
• David T. Morse, Ph.D. Professor of Educational Psychology and Psychology

Employment Opportunities

There are many exciting jobs for graduates of the B.S. degree in Educational Psychology. You may view some of these work opportunities at "What Can I do With an Educational Psychology Degree?"

The B.S. Degree Program

You may print an Educational Psychology B.S. degree curriculum sheet and planning guide. While this information is very helpful, it does not substitute for the information you receive when you meet with an advisor. Always consult your advisor when considering changes or substitutions in your program of study.

Prior to graduation, review your academic progress with your advisor to verify that you have completed all requirements for graduation. You may view the Undergraduate Graduation Checklist to check your academic course work.