Doctoral Program
For the 2025-2026 academic year, the Faculty of Education will only consider applicants to the PhD program with full-time status if they meet one of the following conditions:
- Remains professionally employed at or above .5 FTE (this includes four over five arrangements) during their studies.
- Has a supervisor who has expressed in writing the ability and intention of funding the student to $25,000 for each of the first two years (this includes financial co-sponsorship with another faculty member).
- Is applying as an Indigenous student (1 studentship) or a member of an equity-denied group (1 studentship).
- Is sponsored by an external agency at or above $25,000 per year or has an external scholarship at or above $25,000.
Program Requirements
Students entering the Psychological Studies in Education PhD program will normally have completed a Master's degree in educational psychology or in an equivalent area (e.g., psychology or educational research). This program requires two years in residence. The maximum time allowed for the completion of the program is six years, but it is anticipated that students will typically complete the program in four years. Normally, course work will be completed by the end of the second year of residence.
Effective Fall 2014, students in this doctoral program will complete a minimum of 15 course credits. Students who are missing certain prerequisite courses when beginning the program may be required to take additional course credits. In addition to completing 15 credits of course work, students must pass an oral candidacy examination; conduct dissertation research; and then write and defend a dissertation.
Required Core Courses *15
Three advanced research methods courses from the following list:
- EDPY 507 (*3) Measurement Theory I
- EDPY 601 (*3) Advanced Doctoral Research Seminar
- EDES 601 (*3) Narrative Inquiry
- EDPY 604 (*3) Mixed Methods
- EDPY 605 (*3) Quantitative Methods II
- EDSE 611 (*3) Phenomenological Research and Writing
- EDPY 612 (*6) Research Practicum in Psychological Studies in Education
- EDPY 615 (*3) Program Evaluation
- EDEL 665 (*3) Qualitative Research Methods in Education
OR an alternative course in consultation with supervisory committee
Two advanced content courses from the following list:
- EDPY 610 (*3) Selected Topics in Learning, Cognition, and Instruction
- EDPY 614 (*3) Social and Emotional Development
- EDPY 616 (*3) Achievement Motivation
- OR an alternative course in consultation with supervisory committee
*PSE PhD Research Stream - Technology Specialization
Required Core Courses *12
- EDPY 605 (*3) Quantitative Methods II
- EDPY 610 (*3) Selected Topics in Learning, Cognition and Instruction
- EDPY 517. EDSE 503, or EDPS 690 (*3) or an educational background course as approved by the student's supervisor
- EDPY 612 (*6) Research Practicum in Psychological Studies in Education OR EDPY 615 or 503 (*3) or a research methods course as approved by the student's supervisor AND an additional elective
Elective Course Credits*12
Students will choose their elective courses with the advice of and subject to the approval of their dissertation supervisors. These courses should enable students to expand their knowledge and expertise in their area of focus. Students are encouraged to consult the University Calendar for other courses in the Faculty of Education and the university that might be appropriate. Some possible elective courses are listed below.
- INT-D 500 Introduction to Community-Based Research and Evaluation (*3)
- EDIT 578 - Internship in Educational Technology
- EDPY 614 (*3) Social and Emotional Development
- EDPY 697 (*3) Academic Motivation
- EDPY 697 (*3) Advanced Qualitative Research Seminar
- EDEL 605 (*3) Theories and Models of Language
- EDEL 665 (*3) Qualitative Research Methods in Education
- EDSE 611 (*3) Phenomenological Research and Writing
- EDPS 690 (*3) Social Learning and Responsibility in Adult Education
- SOC 616 Structural Equation Modeling with Lisrel
- PSYCO 622 (*3) Topics in Developmental Psychology
- EDPY 524: Psychology of Technology-based Learning
- EDES 501/544: Exploration of Web 2.0
- EDES 501/543: Multiliteracies
- EDPY 597: Assistive Technology
- EDSE 577: Pedagogy of Technology: Teachers and Students as Cyborgs
- LIS 534 : Web Design
- LIS 536: Digital Reference and Information Retrieval
- HUCO 500: Survey of Humanities Computing
- HUCO 520: Technical Concepts & Approaches in Humanities Computing
- REHAB 510: Assistive Technology