In our Learning Sciences and Educational Psychology PhD program, you will gain the depth of knowledge and methodological sophistication necessary for original research that contributes to educational psychology and the learning sciences.
Program Overview
Students will develop and demonstrate their knowledge of learning theory and design principles in the context of research and design projects. Your program advisor will help guide you through the requirements for degree completion.
Minor Area
As part of the Learning Sciences and Educational Psychology Ph.D. program, you will also complete a minor (12 s.h.) in a complementary area of interest to help you achieve your career and educational goals. Some minor areas include STEM education, educational measurement, and psychology. You will work with your program advisor to develop the right plan of study for you.
Pre-candidacy research project
Prior to your comprehensive examination, you will complete a research project of your choice under the direction of a faculty member. You will present your work in both oral and written form to the program's faculty and students. This experience provides you the opportunity to conduct a pilot study that will strengthen your thesis in terms of methods, instruments, theoretical grounding, or focus of research question.
Dissertation
As the culmination of your program, you will prepare and defend a dissertation on your research and its findings. Your dissertation provides an important juncture in the research trajectory of being a PhD graduate student, doctoral candidate, and educational professional.
Admissions and Application
Application Deadline: January 15
Late applications are allowed but may not be considered for funding.
- A bachelor’s degree from a Regionally Accredited American College or University, or an equivalent degree from another country as determined by the Office of Admissions.
- Undergraduate grade-point average (GPA) of 3.00 or better on a four-point scale.
- Graduate GPA or 3.00 or better on a four-point scale.
- One of the following two items: GRE scores (preferred) OR an academic or professional writing sample (e.g., academic paper (coursework or publication), project report, research proposal, creative work that includes a written component). Please note that the GRE is not required for graduate assistantships, teaching assistantships, or research assistantships within the College of Education, nor is it required for Graduate College fellowships. The GRE is a requirement for Special Graduate Assistantships (SGAs) offered through the Iowa Measurement and Research Foundation.
- English Proficiency Requirements (international applicants)
- Copies of official transcripts of all previous college work, graduate and undergraduate.
- Personal Statement addressing motivation for attending graduate school in general and the University of Iowa specifically; motivation for seeking advanced degree in Learning Sciences and Educational Psychology; potential research interests (Ph.D. applicants); and specific things you have done that are relevant to your desire to attend and potential success in graduate school
- International students: Official TOEFL scores may be required for some non-native speakers of English
- 3 academic or professional references who will be prompted by our admissions system to provide letters of recommendation. You will be asked to give the contact information of your recommenders, including their email, on your Admissions Profile. The recommender will then get an email with instructions on how to upload the recommendation letter and/or form.
Following an initial review of your application, you may be asked to participate in a Zoom interview with one or more of our LSEP faculty members. There is nothing to prepare for this interview. It provides our faculty an opportunity to better understand your graduate school goals and provides you an opportunity to ask questions about our LSEP program.
- Review of applications begins February 1, when applicants who wish to be considered for fellowships and other awards are screened. Admission decisions are announced approximately six weeks after the application deadline.
- Applicants who accept admission or financial aid and do not relinquish either one on or before April 15 may not solicit or accept another offer. Offers made by the program after April 15 include the provision that the offer is void if the applicant has accepted and continues to hold a previous offer from another program listed in the American Psychological Association publication Graduate Study in Psychology and Associated Fields. This policy is consistent with standards set by the association's Board of Educational Affairs.
Apply Now
Please review the required supplemental documents above before starting the general graduate application.
Contact Us
Questions?
Application questions can be directed to: Anne Sparks, 319-335-2146, anne-sparks@uiowa.edu.
We look forward to receiving your application!