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To view the Spring 2024 Academic Calendar, go to www.sfu.ca/students/calendar/2024/spring.html.
Educational Psychology
Doctor of philosophy (PhD) degrees signify the acquisition of advanced knowledge in a field of specialization and advanced competence in conducting significant and original education research. In this program, students develop specialized knowledge and skills through advanced study in educational psychology. This program does not prepare students for registration with the BC College of Psychologists unless students meet significant additional requirements outside the scope of this program.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must satisfy the University admission requirements as stated in Graduate General Regulations 1.3 in the SFU Calendar. In exceptional circumstances, applicants who do not meet these requirements may be considered if superior scholarly or professional achievement is demonstrated.
Admission is granted to a specific degree and to a particular program or specialization. Application information is available from the Faculty of Education.
Students admitted to the program must have completed academic studies that equate to, or significantly parallel, courses in the master of arts (MA) program in educational psychology. Where gaps exist, an individual program of studies will be developed that includes courses from the master's program as well as other appropriate academic experiences (e.g., directed readings courses).
Program Requirements
This program consists of courses, a comprehensive examination and a thesis for a minimum of 43 units. If EDUC 975 was taken in the MA program, PhD students are not required to retake the course.
Students must complete
In-depth critical analysis of select topics in educational psychology. Prerequisite: EDUC 860. Students with credit for EDUC 865 may not take this course for further credit.
Methods for analyzing multivariate data in educational research, meta-analytic methods, and applications and frailties of advanced quantitative analysis. Illustrations from educational research are used throughout. Prerequisite: EDUC 863 and 864 or permission of instructor. Students with credit for EDUC 865 may not take this course for further credit.
and 12 units of additional course work chosen with the approval of the supervisor
and a comprehensive examination
and a thesis
The comprehensive examination is normally completed in the term in which course requirements are completed, or the term immediately following. A major part of this program is original research. A thesis describing this is submitted and defended. Normally, before the fourth course, a thesis research plan is presented to the supervisory committee.
Program Length
Students are expected to complete the program requirements within 18 terms.
Academic Requirements within the Graduate General Regulations
All graduate students must satisfy the academic requirements that are specified in the Graduate General Regulations, as well as the specific requirements for the program in which they are enrolled.