Educational Psychology Ph.D. Program

Multiple career options are available to you when you earn a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology. Graduates of the program become educational researchers and university teachers. In addition, many take leadership positions with government agencies and private industry. We offer students an integrative research and training program with strengths in cognitive development, quantitative, and qualitative methods. Many of our faculty conduct research in classrooms with teachers and students to better understand how to improve current educational practice. Furthermore, many of our faculty are also involved in interdisciplinary efforts with faculty from other departments at UC Riverside, such as the Bourns College of Engineering, working to examine how to improve disciplinary educational practices (e.g., computer science education). 

UC’s Riverside campus in inland Southern California is ideally located for students to conduct research among the dynamic and ethnically diverse K-12 student populations in the region. As a Ph.D. student, you will collaborate with professors and other doctoral students on grant-funded research projects designed to enhance learning and the educational experience for students not only throughout California, but nationwide.

This program is not designed for school counselors or school psychologists. If you are interested in becoming a school psychologist, please see our Ph.D. School Psychology program.