The Advantages To Earning An Educational Psychology Degree
Degrees in educational psychology allows students to expand knowledge regarding how children and adults learn within educational facilities and institutions. Educational psychology programs give students knowledge regarding classroom dynamics, learning variables, teaching styles, and means of improving teaching methods. Educational psychology degrees train students to develop educational testing, evaluate curricula, and devise teaching and testing changes within schools to increase student performance. Courses within educational psychology programs generally involve research methodology, child and human development, human learning, research, and cognition.
As many students manage job and family obligations in addition to educational responsibilities, many colleges and universities have developed online programs to extend instruction beyond on campus settings. Online programs generally offer virtually the same educational experience as their traditional, on-campus counterparts. Online courses also provide the added benefits of a more personalized degree program, increased flexibility in course scheduling, and 24 hour access to course materials. Online classes generally consist of groups of 25 students who have one on one interactions with instructors and other students. Online degree programs are quite often the most convenient, affordable paths to increasing education
What Students Learn Within An Educational Psychology Degree Program
Educational psychology degrees prepare students for solid understanding of the education system. Programs in educational psychology give students a versatile degree necessary for a variety of careers in education. Most educational psychology graduates complete master’s level degree programs to qualify for employment though many begin studies at an associate level. Many students complete an associate degree in psychology and advance to higher education programs.
Associate’s level courses include: introduction to psychology, introduction to human services methods, interviewing skills and case management, research methods in psychology, abnormal psychology, development psychology, abnormal psychology, contemporary social problems, critical thinking workshop, English composition, oral communication, college Algebra, biology, and introduction to sociology. Associate degree graduates often advance to employment or bachelor degree programs.
Courses at a bachelor level include: psychology of abnormal behavior, drug use and abuse, child welfare services, prenatal and infant development, child development, child care procedures, art of parenting, the family: transactional approach, child health and nutrition, introduction to gerontology, designing child care programs, family public policy, family interaction, consumer aspects of aging, motivation, industrial psychology, principles of management and production, introduction to human resources management, organization communication, production management, compensation management, human resource management, quantitative techniques in psychology using computers, rehabilitation services, developmental counseling and mental health, facilitative skills development, gender issues in counseling, psychology of gender differences, issues in aging, psychology of aging, special topics in educational psychology, behavioral and cognitive interventions, introduction to sign language, psychology of abnormal behavior, adaptive technology and disabilities, and social cognition. Graduates from bachelor degree programs often advance to employment or graduate studies.
Courses at a master’s level include: orientation to graduate learning in psychology, lifespan development, learning theories in psychology, social psychology, ethics in multicultural issues in psychology, tests and measurements, inferential statistics, research methods, data analysis, and principles of educational psychology. Graduates with master’s degrees qualify for employment within administrative occupations or may advance to doctoral studies.
Doctoral courses include: child and adolescent development, program evaluation and measurement, psychology teaching and instruction, orientation to doctoral learning in psychology, history and systems of psychology, lifespan development, learning theories in psychology, ethics and and multicultural issues in psychology, advanced inferential statistics, advanced research methods, cognitive/affective psychology, multivariate statistics: theory and application, qualitative analysis, advanced qualitative analysis, principles of educational psychology, tests and measurements, survey construction and administration, testing and assessment in the workplace, teaching psychology, principles of instructional design, human development, child psychology, and adolescent psychology. Graduates from doctoral degree programs are considered experts within the field.
Prospective Jobs For Educational Psychology Degree Graduates
Educational psychology degree graduates gain skills and knowledge from educational programs necessary and vital for professional and personal success. Employment for graduates within the field is based upon factors like: level of education, area of specialty, and geographic location. Graduates with associate degrees in psychology often work as clerks within social service organizations, aides in nursing homes, assistants to counselors and drug rehabilitation professionals, or patient admissions staff within mental health facilities.
Graduates with bachelor degrees in educational psychology often work as mental health case workers, outreach and community specialists, drug abuse or resistance counselors youth court advocates, geriatric technicians, parent educators, group home residence managers, counseling or psychiatric assistants, or with additional training and licensing, high school psychology teachers. Graduates with master’s degrees often work as school psychologists or as faculty within middle or high schools and community colleges. Many also work as education specialists or administrators within training, testing, or research facilities. Graduates with doctoral degrees are considered experts in the field and generally work as instructors or researchers within higher education institutions and facilities.
Salary Range For Educational Psychology Degree Graduates
Students with educational psychology degrees have earnings based upon level of education, organization of employment, area of specialty, and related work experience. Most graduates with associate degrees employed as social and human service assistants earn $21,860 to $34,590 annually. Graduates with bachelor degrees who work as mental health or social workers within schools generally earn $31,040 to $52,080 annually. Graduates with master’s degrees who as school psychologists earn $48,700 to $82,800 annually. Graduates with doctoral degrees who work as professors earn $41,600 to $83,960 annually.
Career Outlook and Advancement Opportunities For Educational Psychology Degree Graduates
Graduates with educational psychology degrees will find ample, yet competitive, employment opportunities in the field. Employment in educational psychology fields is expected to grow by 12 percent through 2018 at an average rate in comparison to other occupations per reports from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. The demand for graduates with backgrounds in educational psychology is expected to increase as the demand for psychological services within schools, social service agencies, treatment clinics, mental health centers, and private firms increases.
Graduates with advanced degrees who specialize in school psychology, counseling, computer science, quantitative research methods, or health and have previous on the job experiences will find increased employability. Graduates with associate or bachelor degrees with less experience will find decreased employment prospects. Many graduates enter the field of educational psychology with entry level jobs and continue education while gaining work experience to advance to jobs with greater responsibilities. Many educational psychology graduates begin their private consulting or research firms upon gaining adequate funding and experience.
