Background Image Alternative Text: Educational Psychology

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Educational Psychology

Overview

Educational psychology is the science of learners and learning: how people differ, and how they develop and change over time. Those differences are biosocial, cognitive, and psychosocial. Educational psychologists study what shapes students' learning and achievement: motivation, individual differences in ability, exceptionalities, creative thinking, and personality. The field also relies on the methods that produce this knowledge: tests and measurements, statistics, and research design. Your coursework is built to teach you both.

Educational Psychology is an undergraduate degree program in the Department of Counseling, Higher Education Leadership, Educational Psychology, and Foundations (CHEF). It is a non-teaching major: it leads to a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in educational psychology, not to teacher licensure. It suits students who want to work in the helping professions across a range of ages and settings, but who are not seeking to become classroom teachers.

You should consider an educational psychology major if:

  • you enjoy helping and working with others,
  • you want to understand why people think and act the way they do, and
  • you seek enriching courses in human development, learning, and other topics relevant for applying psychology to teaching, coaching, counseling, and other professions.

The B.S. in Educational Psychology can also be completed fully online. Our online program offers flexibility for students who want to build a solid foundation in educational psychology on their own schedule.

Program information, including the handbook, curriculum guide, and emphasis area course list:

Curriculum

The B.S. in Educational Psychology requires 124 hours (121 for catalog year Fall 2024 and later), combining general education requirements, the educational psychology major, one emphasis area, and general electives. For the full course-by-course breakdown, see the curriculum guide for your catalog year, linked above.

Program Policies

  • You must earn a C or better in each course in the educational psychology major core.
  • You may transfer no more than 62 hours from junior or community colleges.
  • You must have a GPA of 2.25 or above on a 4.00 scale to transfer into or graduate from the program.

Planning Your Program

  • To finish in four years without summer school, plan on 15–16 hours each regular semester.
  • If this is your first term at MSU and you have not yet carried a full load at a senior college, consider limiting your first semester to 12–15 hours.
  • Your degree program is your responsibility. Get to know your advisor early, meet with them during each preregistration period, and keep your program plan current.

Educational Psychology Faculty

Employment Opportunities

There are many exciting jobs for graduates of the B.S. degree in Educational Psychology. You may view some of these work opportunities at "What Can I do With an Educational Psychology Degree?"

Accelerated Master's Program in Educational Psychology

Highly qualified undergraduates at Mississippi State University are encouraged to apply to the Accelerated Master’s Program in Educational Psychology. This program allows motivated students to begin graduate coursework early, saving time and reducing tuition costs while completing both degrees more efficiently.

Program Structure

Students may take up to 15 hours of graduate-level coursework during their final two years of undergraduate study. Of these, a maximum of 9 hours may be applied toward both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs (dual credit). The remaining hours (up to 6) may count only toward the master’s degree requirements after the student is formally admitted to the graduate program.

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for admission, students must:

  1. Have completed at least 60 hours of graded undergraduate coursework (junior classification).
  2. Hold a cumulative GPA of 3.50 or higher on a 4.00 scale.

Application Process

  • Deadlines
    • November 1 (to begin in the Spring semester)
    • May 1 (to begin in the Fall semester)
  • Application materials
    • A statement of purpose (500-750 words) describing reasons for applying to the program.
  • Submit your application online

Transition to Graduate Study

  • Students remain classified as undergraduates until all undergraduate degree requirements are met.
  • Students must apply formally to the EPY graduate program through the Graduate School.
  • Students may opt out of the accelerated program at any time, in which case only the undergraduate portion of coursework will apply.

Please contact Dr. Elaine Wei (ewei@colled.msstate.edu) for any questions you may have.

Minor in Educational Psychology

Students not majoring in educational psychology may wish to select a minor. An EPY minor provides students with a general background of psychological topics and principles as they relate to education. A minor consists of 18 hours of coursework in educational psychology. This includes 18 hours of EPY courses.

For the 18-hour minor in EPY, students may choose to complete any 18 hours from the following approved course list: 
EPY 2513, EPY 3063, EPY 3143, EPY 3253, EPY 3503, EPY 3543, 
EPY 4033, EPY 4073, EPY 4313, EPY 4513, EPY 4553, EPY 4683.

Contact Dr. Elaine Wei (ewei@colled.msstate.edu) for any questions you may have.