Master's Degree

The MEd program in Educational Psychology is directed toward increasing the candidate’s competence in educational inquiry. In general, the domain of inquiry encompasses human learning and development in the context of education. Courses are offered in the areas of: statistics, measurement, and research methodology; and human learning, cognition, and development. The programs prepare individuals to provide instruction and consultation appropriate for all educational levels and conduct basic and applied research and evaluation in public and private educational settings.

Graduate study is primarily oriented toward students with specific professional educational objectives, but it is also applicable to students who find an emphasis in educational psychology congruent with their personal objectives and who wish to engage in elective study to the greatest extent possible while fulfilling degree requirements.

Approximately 50 students are enrolled in graduate programs of study in educational psychology. Although the Department makes significant contributions to undergraduate programs in teacher education, there is no undergraduate major in educational psychology.

The Measurement, Assessment, and Quantitative Methods strand is a 30-credit Master's level program intended to prepare students for job positions in applied research settings in educational agencies, testing organizations, and profit/non-profit institutions. Successful students will be able to identify and evaluate evidence-based practices in education and relevant fields.

In addition to knowledge in introductory psychometrics, basic research methodology and introductory statistics, this strand will provide coursework in more advanced topics such as item response theory, general linear modeling, and multivariate and multilevel methods.  In addition, students may have opportunities to participate in educational projects within the Hawai‘i Department of Education, the Curriculum Research and Development Group (CRDG) and the Center on Disability Studies (CDS) in the College of Education, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.

Upon entrance to the graduate program, each student is assigned a temporary advisor to facilitate the student's progress through the program. The graduate chair will be the advisor for students if no one else is specified. Initial assignment or choice of a temporary advisor in no way obligates the student to select the temporary advisor as his/her program advisor (MEd, Plan B) or to include the temporary advisor as a thesis (MEd, Plan A) committee member. Likewise, the temporary advisor has no obligation to become the advisee’s program advisor or to serve on his/her thesis committee. The system of temporary advisors is merely a way of identifying a specific faculty member the student can call upon for advice. The temporary advisor can be changed at any time.

Each advisee should contact his/her advisor upon acceptance into the program.

After admission, the student and his/her temporary advisor detail a program of study which includes a minimum of 30 credits for Plan A (Thesis) and Plan B (Non-thesis) candidates. This program of study is forwarded to the graduate chair.

Courses at or above the 400 level may be applied to an individual's program of study, though a minimum of 18 credits must be earned in courses numbered 600-798. Up to 12 credits completed prior to admission to the program may be transferred for credit toward the degree.

All students in the MEd program are required to take EDEP 416, EDEP 429, EDEP 408 or 608, EDEP 611, EDEP 661, and a graduate seminar (EDEP 768) as part of their 30 credits. Students in the Measurement, Assessment, and Quantitative Methods strand have additional requirements of EDEP 601, EDEP 604, EDEP 616 and two elective courses from the following: EDEP 605, EDEP 606, EDEP 768D, EDEP 768E, EDEP 768G, or EDEP 768H.

For Plan B candidates, not more than 9 credits in directed reading/research (EdEP 699) may be applied to meet degree requirements. A minimum residency of two semesters of full-time study or the equivalent in credits at UH Manoa is required.

Relatively soon after entering the program, students are expected to choose between Plan A or Plan B options.