Education and Psychology
The Combined Program in Education and Psychology doctoral program is supported through a collaboration of the Marsal Family School of Education and the Department of Psychology in the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. You will have the opportunity to work with faculty from both schools to research processes in development, learning, and motivation in the context of schools, families, and communities.
The program focuses on processes related to cognition and instruction in school content areas, particularly literacy, math, and science, as well as the cognitive processes involved in teaching and learning. This area blends a focus on individuals’ cognition with a focus on social learning and sociocultural theories. Much work includes the development and use of innovative technologies to foster cognition and learning and to study teaching and learning.
The study of self-regulatory processes emphasizes understanding links between motivation and cognitive development. Students drill down to explore individual, peer, and classroom characteristics that influence motivation, including cultural, cross-cultural and international comparative perspectives.
Students consider processes related to the promotion of positive academic, social, and psychological development across the life-span. Students gain understanding of how some individuals considered “at risk”—socially, cognitively, economically, and/or psychologically—overcome the odds to show positive academic, social, and psychological adaptation outcomes.
Moreover, you will understand the development of the self and identity within and across contexts and over the life-span. They study links among personal and social identities and human achievement. This also includes psychosocial achievement outcomes, such as social competence, socio-emotional development, civic engagement, and psychological well-being.
Additional Certificate and Endorsement Opportunities
Requirements
Proseminar credits
Students complete the following courses:
- EDBEHAVR 800 (PSYCH 861) – Proseminar in Education and Psychology I
- EDBEHAVR 801 (PSYCH 862) – Proseminar in Education and Psychology II
CPEP core credits
Students complete the following courses:
- EDUC 708 (PSYCH 708) – Cognition and Instruction in the Classroom
- EDUC 721 (PSYCH 723) – Human Development and Schooling
Education and psychology core credits
Students complete the following courses:
- One core course in Education
- One core course in Psychology
- A third core course in either Education or Psychology
Introductory methods/statistics credits
Students choose from the following courses:
- PSYCH 613 – Advanced Statistical Methods I
- PSYCH 614 – Advanced Statistical Methods II
- EDUC 792 – Methods of Educational Research: Qualitative
- EDUC 793 – Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Educational Research
Students typically complete these credits in year one.
Methods of research credits
Students choose courses focused on a range of methodological approaches offered in education, psychology, and other academic units.
Professional Issues in Psychology credits
Students complete the following courses:
- PSYCH 506 – Professional Issues in Psychology (1 credit)
This required course for all University of Michigan graduates is usually taken in the first year (Winter term).
Post-candidacy credits
Students complete the following courses:
- EDUC 898 – Professional Development Seminar (1–2 credits)
- EDUC 716 – Advanced Seminar on Issues in Education and Psychology (3 credits)
Students typically complete these credits in year four or five.
Candidates must be enrolled in the following courses in the full term in which their oral defense of their dissertation is given:
- EDUC 995 / PSYCH 995 – Dissertation, Candidacy (8 credits; may be elected more than once)
Questions?
Frequently Asked Questions
Prospective Students
CONNECT WITH CPEP
Contact
(734) 763-0680
[email protected]
Location
610 E. University Avenue
Room 1413
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1259
Office Hours
Monday–Friday
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Application Deadline
Application Process
To submit a successful application for admission, you need to provide the following:
- Academic Statement of Purpose
- Personal Statement
- Three (3) letters of recommendation
- Resume or CV
- Test Scores (See test details in Step 5 below)
- English proficiency scores (for non-native speakers of English only)
- GRE Test Scores are not required for admission
Create an account with Rackham Graduate School.
This program, like all of the Marsal Family School of Education's graduate programs, is administered through the University of Michigan's Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studies. Rackham offers a host of resources and administrative support to help see you through from submitting your application to completion of your degree.
- After completing page 5 of the application, you will receive an e-mail with your U-M ID. A U-M ID number will be issued to you via email within 5 business days of completing pages 1-5 and advancing to page 6 of the ApplyWeb application. Having your U-M ID number to include on all your application materials ensures accurate and timely processing, so we encourage you to complete pages 1-5 early in the process.
- If you need to submit your application before you receive your U-M ID number, you may still complete the application. Include your date of birth and the program’s name on your application materials.
- Current and former U-M Ann Arbor students, alumni and employees: You do not need to obtain a new U-M ID number. Use your previously obtained U-M ID number.
- If your personal information has changed (for example, legal name, gender), make sure the personal information you submit with your application matches your previous Ann Arbor campus record. If your previous Ann Arbor campus record does not display your current personal information, contact the Registrar’s Office or the Shared Services Center to change your personal information before you apply.
Include at the top of each document:
- The type of document (Academic Statement of Purpose, Personal Statement, or Curriculum Vitae or Resume)
- Your name
- The name of the graduate program
- Your 8 digit U-M ID (if known)
Make sure margins are at least one-inch so nothing is cropped when you upload the documents to the application.
- TOEFL, MELAB, ECPE, or IELTS scores (for non-native speakers of English only; valid 2 years from test date)
- Information regarding English Proficiency tests and exemption guidelines can be found on the Rackham Graduate School website.
- GRE Test Scores
- GRE test scores are not required for admission, but scores (valid 5 years from test date) can be included with your application.
- Provide ETS with the U-M Institutional Code of 1839 and your scores will be sent directly to the university.
- Test scores must be sent directly from the testing center to the Rackham Graduate School. We recommend starting this process early as it can take up to two weeks for the scores to be received.
- A scanned/electronic copy of the official transcript will be used for initial review by our admissions committee. You will be required to have your official transcript sent to the Rackham Graduate School only if you are recommended for admission.
- Information for submitting transcripts can be found on the Rackham Graduate School website.
- Check the status of your letters of recommendation, change a recommender, or resend the notification email to your recommender using the ApplyWeb Activity Page
- Please reach out to [email protected] if there are any questions regarding the submission of the letters of recommendation.
Check on your application status. If you’ve been accepted, you will receive an email with information on how to send your official transcripts.
- If you have been accepted, congratulations! You may accept or decline the offer of admission in your U-M Friend Account.
- For international students that accept offer of admission, Rackham prepares immigration documents for visas.
For questions regarding the doctoral program application in Education and Psychology:
Phone: 734.647.0626
[email protected]
Quick Facts
GRE general exam scores
Application fee waiver
Prior master's degree
Financial aid
Online, evening, or weekend courses
Entry term
CONNECT WITH US
CONTACT
Admissions & Recruitment
[email protected]
LOCATION
610 E. University Avenue
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-1259
OFFICE HOURS
Monday–Friday
8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Careers
CPEP graduates from 2014–2018 obtained the following positions after graduation:
- Tenure-track faculty (27%)
- Postdoctoral / Traineeship / Fellowship (31%)
- Non-tenure track faculty / University Researcher / University Administrator (31%)
- Business / Industry (8%)
- Other professional employment / Government / Nonprofit (4%)