There are two graduate degrees in Educational Psychology with an area of concentration in Giftedness, Creativity, and Talent Development: the Master of Arts (M.A.) and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). The Ph.D. program is intended for persons who wish to become researchers, state department consultants, authors, university professors, and other types of leaders in the fields of gifted education, creativity, and talent development. Specific course requirements for the M.A. and Ph.D. programs in this area of concentration include those listed below as well as requirements determined by the student’s advisory committee consistent with the minimum requirements.
Modality
Requirements
The Ph.D. program includes requirements for coursework, examination, and research as outlined below. It does not have a related area or foreign language requirement, unless one is specified by the advisory committee. Some courses below may be waived based on prior graduate course experience, as documented through program faculty review of the student’s transcript.
Required Courses
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| EPSY 5510 | Learning: Its Implication for Education | 3 |
| or EPSY 5530 | Theories of Learning, Cognition and Instruction |
| EPSY 5605 | Quantitative Methods in Research I | 3 |
| EPSY 5610 | Applied Regression Analysis for the Education Sciences | 3 |
| EPSY 5850 | Introduction to the Science of Creativity | 3 |
| EPSY 6601 | Methods and Techniques of Educational Research | 3 |
| EPSY 6710 | Conceptions of Human Potential | 3 |
| EPSY 6730 | Contemporary Issues in Giftedness, Creativity, and Talent Development | 3 |
| EPSY 6770 | Concepts in Curriculum and Instruction for Talent Development | 3 |
| EPSY 6780 | Affective Issues in Achievement and Talent Development | 3 |
| EDCI 6000 | Qualitative Methods of Educational Research | 3 |
| GRAD 6950 | Doctoral Dissertation Research (minimum of 15 credits) | 15 |
| 3 |
| Construction of Evaluation Instruments | |
| Hierarchical Linear Modeling |
| Qualitative Methods of Educational Research II | |
| Total Credits | 48 |
Additional Requirements
Students without prior coursework in gifted education will be expected to complete or show competence in the content below as guided by the advisory committee.
Course List
| Course |
Title |
Credits |
| EPSY 5710 | Introduction to Gifted Education and Talent Development | 3 |
| EPSY 5720 | Developing Schoolwide Enrichment Programs | 3 |
| EPSY 5740 | Strategies for Differentiating the Grade Level Curriculum | 3 |
| EPSY 5760 | Improving Students' Thinking Skills | 3 |
| EPSY 5780 | Social and Emotional Components of Giftedness and Talent Development | 3 |
Required Examinations
Ph.D. students are required to complete three components for their comprehensive examination: students must pass the M.A. level content examination (unless previously passed as part of an M.A. degree); students must pass a program-required statistics examination; and students must complete a combined written and oral examination for program faculty demonstrating competence in the field and readiness for future professional positions. Students must pass each component of the examinations within two attempts.
Dissertation Proposal
Students must submit a dissertation proposal and defend it before their advisory committee and readers. Students must complete all other dissertation requirements as specified by the Educational Psychology Department and the Graduate School.
