Program Overview

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Introduction to the Master of Arts in Psychological and Quantitative Foundations

The Master of Arts program in Psychological and Quantitative Foundations offers two subprograms: Educational Measurement and Statistics, and Learning Sciences and Educational Psychology. Both subprograms require a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate credit.

Educational Measurement and Statistics Subprogram

Overview

The Educational Measurement and Statistics subprogram provides students with basic knowledge of educational measurement and research methodology. Graduates find employment in large school systems, state departments of education, test publishing organizations, and research centers.

Required Courses

• PSQF:4143 Introduction to Statistical Methods (or equivalent with advisor approval) - 3 hours
• PSQF:6220 Quantitative Educational Research Methodologies (or equivalent with advisor approval) - 3 hours
• PSQF:6243 Intermediate Statistical Methods - 3 hours
• PSQF:6246 Design of Experiments - 3 hours
• PSQF:6255 Construction and Use of Evaluation Instruments - 3 hours
• PSQF:6257 Educational Measurement and Evaluation - 3 hours

Required Concentration Areas

Measurement

• At least one of the following:
  • PSQF:6249 Factor Analysis and Structural Equation Models - 3 hours
  • PSQF:6258 Theory and Technique in Educational Measurement - 3 hours
  • PSQF:6260 Diagnostic Assessment - 3 hours
  • PSQF:6262 Item Response Theory - 3 hours
  • PSQF:7355 Seminar: Educational Measurement and Evaluation - 3 hours
  • PSQF:7358 Equating and Scaling of Educational Tests - 3 hours
  • PSQF:7375 Topics in Educational Measurement and Statistics - 3 hours
  • PSQF:7455 Generalizability Theory - 3 hours

Statistics

• At least one of the following:
  • PSQF:6248 Research Synthesis and Meta-Analysis - 3 hours
  • PSQF:6250 Computer Packages for Statistical Analysis - 3 hours
  • PSQF:6252 Introduction to Multivariate Statistical Methods - 3 hours
  • PSQF:6254 Causal Inference and Observational Designs - 3 hours
  • PSQF:6270 Generalized Linear Models - 3 hours
  • PSQF:6271 Longitudinal Multilevel Models - 3 hours
  • PSQF:6272 Clustered Multilevel Models - 3 hours
  • PSQF:7355 Seminar: Educational Measurement and Evaluation - 3 hours
  • PSQF:7375 Topics in Educational Measurement and Statistics - 3 hours

Related Courses

• One of the following:
  • PSQF:5165 Introduction to Program and Project Evaluation - 3 hours
  • PSQF:6200 Educational Psychology - 3 hours
  • PSQF:6204 Foundations of the Learning Sciences - 3 hours
  • PSQF:6214 Design of Learning Environments: Theory, Practice, and Method - 3 hours
  • PSQF:6281 Cognitive Theories of Learning - 3 hours

Electives

Nonthesis students choose 3 semester hours from any of the courses in the preceding lists or another course approved by the advisor. For students completing a thesis, PSQF:7393 MA Thesis in Psychological and Quantitative Foundations (3 semester hours) is required.

Final Examination

Nonthesis

Nonthesis students must complete a written and an oral final examination at the end of their program of study. The exam will emphasize the required core courses of the degree program and provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate their depth of learning from the program.

Thesis

Thesis students will complete a written thesis and an oral final examination. The thesis should report the results of original research in a manuscript style that is suitable for potential submission for publication.

Learning Sciences and Educational Psychology Subprogram

Overview

The Learning Sciences and Educational Psychology subprogram has a strong emphasis on how theory and research inform the understanding of learners, learning, instruction, and the technology and environments in which learning and instruction occur. The program requires a minimum of 30 semester hours of graduate credit.

Required Courses

• PSQF:6200 Educational Psychology - 3 hours
• PSQF:6203 Tools and External Representations in Individual and Social Learning - 3 hours
• PSQF:6204 Foundations of the Learning Sciences - 3 hours
• PSQF:6205 Design of Instruction - 3 hours
• PSQF:6214 Design of Learning Environments: Theory, Practice, and Method - 3 hours
• PSQF:6281 Cognitive Theories of Learning - 3 hours
• PSQF:6299 MA Project: Portfolio/Internship/Practicum - 3 hours
• One of the following:
  • PSQF:6208 Digital Media and Learning - 3 hours
  • PSQF:6215 Online Instruction: Design and Facilitation - 3 hours

Electives

Elective opportunities allow a student to choose an area of interest to develop a multidisciplinary specialization. Students choose 6 semester hours from any of the following courses.

Technology and Media

• PSQF:4760 Participatory Learning and Media: Creating, Remixing, Making, and Education - 3 hours
• PSQF:6208 Digital Media and Learning (if not taken as a required course) - 3 hours
• PSQF:6211 Universal Design and Accessibility for Online Instruction - 3 hours
• PSQF:6215 Online Instruction: Design and Facilitation (if not taken as a required course) - 3 hours
• PSQF:6216 Tools and Utilities for Online Teaching - 3 hours

Learning in the Disciplines

• EDTL:4630 Psychology of Music - 3 hours
• EDTL:5610 Foundations of Music Education Curricula - 3 hours
• EDTL:6267 Seminar: Current Issues in Art Education - 3 hours
• EDTL:6315 MA Seminar: English Education - 3 hours
• EDTL:6483 Multilingual Education and Applied Linguistics - 3 hours
• EDTL:6570 Foundation of School STEM Curriculum - 3 hours
• EDTL:6757 Learning in the Science Classroom - 3 hours
• EDTL:6758 Writing in the Science Classroom - 3 hours
• EDTL:6833 History and Foundations of Social Studies Education - 3 hours

Human Development and Motivation

• PSQF:4106 Child Development - 3 hours
• PSQF:4111 Human Motivation - 3 hours
• PSQF:4133 The Adolescent and Young Adult - 3 hours
• PSQF:6206 Advanced Child Development - 3 hours
• PSQF:6213 Advanced Lifespan Development - 3 hours

Measurement and Evaluation

• PSQF:4143 Introduction to Statistical Methods - 3 hours
• PSQF:4740 Issues in K-12 Assessment - 3 hours
• PSQF:5165 Introduction to Program and Project Evaluation - 3 hours
• PSQF:6220 Quantitative Educational Research Methodologies - 3 hours
• PSQF:6257 Educational Measurement and Evaluation - 3 hours
• PSQF:6265 Program Evaluation - 3 hours

Admission

Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College, including the minimum grade-point average.

Sample Plans of Study

Psychological and Quantitative Foundations, MA

Educational Measurement and Statistics Subprogram

• First Year:
  • Fall: PSQF:4143 Introduction to Statistical Methods, PSQF:6257 Educational Measurement and Evaluation, Concentration Area course
  • Spring: PSQF:6220 Quantitative Educational Research Methodologies, PSQF:6243 Intermediate Statistical Methods, PSQF:6255 Construction and Use of Evaluation Instruments
• Second Year:
  • Fall: PSQF:6246 Design of Experiments, Concentration Area course
  • Spring: Concentration Area course, Elective course, Final Exam

Learning Sciences and Educational Psychology Subprogram

• First Year:
  • Fall: PSQF:6200 Educational Psychology, PSQF:6205 Design of Instruction, Focus Area elective
  • Spring: PSQF:6215 or PSQF:6208 Online Instruction: Design and Facilitation or Digital Media and Learning, PSQF:6281 Cognitive Theories of Learning, Focus Area elective
• Second Year:
  • Fall: PSQF:6204 Foundations of the Learning Sciences, PSQF:6214 Design of Learning Environments: Theory, Practice, and Method, PSQF:6299 MA Project: Portfolio/Internship/Practicum
  • Spring: PSQF:6203 Tools and External Representations in Individual and Social Learning, PSQF:6299 MA Project: Portfolio/Internship/Practicum, Final Exam

Learning Outcomes

Graduate students will:

• gain course-specific knowledge and skills as required to perform well in their specialties
• demonstrate integrated substantive knowledge and skills that can be applied to solve novel professional-level problems
• demonstrate required clinical practice skills and researcher autonomy
• demonstrate initial engagement with, and commitment to, professional ethics, professional development, lifelong learning, and service to the profession
• demonstrate entry-level professional qualifications
• be qualified for suitable employment or postdoctoral appointments upon graduation

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet the admission requirements of the Graduate College. Completion of at least one college mathematics course and experience as a teacher or researcher are desirable. Applicants who do not meet these requirements but who show offsetting evidence of superior ability may be granted conditional admission.