Educational Psychology

Educational Psychology

Visit Educational Psychology's Website   →

Bachelor of Science in Educational Psychology

Concentrations Offered

7 Emphasis Areas: Developing Child, Law & Order, Counseling & Clinical Applications, Youth & Teen Studies, Human Resources & Industrial Applications, Kinesiology, Applied Behavioral Analysis, Speech/Language Pathology (most courses taken at MUW)

Top 5 Reasons to Study

01

Prepares you to improve the lives of children and youth in educational, psychological and community settings

02

Offers a dynamic, interdisciplinary curriculum focused on understanding how people learn, develop and thrive

03

Provides a strong foundation in cognitive, emotional and social development

04

Leads to career paths in education, mental health, youth services and human development

05

Offers hands-on experience working with children in campus labs, centers and clinics

Core
Skills

  • A strong understanding of human development, learning theories and motivation across various populations
  • Effective communication and interpersonal skills for collaborating with educators, students and families
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving abilities to address challenges in learning, behavior and student support

Sample
Jobs

  • Case Worker
  • Speech Language Pathologist
  • Child Welfare Worker
  • Parent Educator
  • Youth Ministry

Successful Career Outcomes

MSU educational psychology students have a 96% successful career outcome rate 2023-24 First Destination Survey Report

Top
Employment
Industries

  • Local school systems
  • Healthcare, including mental health
  • Social services
  • Nonprofit organizations
  • Government agencies

Brag
Points

  • Our educational psychology program is the only undergraduate degree of its kind nationwide.
  • Psychology in Europe, the largest study abroad program at MSU, is led by an educational psychology faculty member.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

- Faculty research labs
- T.K. Martin Center for Technology and Disability
- Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic (ADDC)
- Imaginarium Creativity & STEAM Discovery Center
- Pediatric Feeding Lab

Spotlight

A distinctive feature is our applied learning experience, where you will engage in service-learning projects, classroom observations and research activities that connect psychological theory with real-world educational settings. These opportunities—combined with the flexibility to tailor coursework through electives in counseling, special education or behavioral sciences—equip you for a wide range of graduate study or career paths.

Educational Psychology

2025-2026 Major Map

Bachelor of Science in Educational Psychology

Get the Courses You Need

1st Year

General Ed Curriculum
EPY 3503 - Principles of Educational Psychology
EPY 2513 - Human Growth and Development

2nd Year

General Ed Curriculum
EPY 3543 - Psychology of Adolescence
EPY 3063 - Psychology of Individual Differences and Exceptional Ability
PSY 3623 - Social Psychology
EPY 3513 - Writing in the Behavioral Sciences
 

3rd Year

EPY 4073 - Personal and Motivational Factors in Education
EPY 4214 - Educational and Psychological Statistics
EPY 4553 - Creativity/Innovation
EPY 4683 - Advanced Issues in Educational Psychology
*EPY Emphasis Area Courses

4th Year

EPY 4033 - Application of Learning Theories
EPY 4313 - Measurement and Evaluation
EPY 4513 - Introduction to Research in Educational Psychology
*EPY Emphasis Area Courses
 

Hands-On Learning

1st Year

Get involved in relevant student organizations on campus to build your network, gain deeper insight into the field and collaborate with others who share your interests.

2nd Year

Explore summer jobs and experience related to educational psychology, either independently or with the help of your advisor/Career Center. Take on leadership roles in student associations to build relevant skills. 

3rd Year

Seek leadership roles in student organizations. Work with your advisor to secure opportunities to complete your supervised experience. Start applying to graduate programs if applicable.

4th Year

Identify any skill gaps and seek out volunteer work or related job opportunities to strengthen those areas. Schedule a final meeting with your advisor to ensure you're on track for graduation and to plan your next steps.

Connect with Community

1st Year

Volunteer on or off campus with community organizations, such as MSU's Imaginarium, T.K. Martin Center, Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic, and local school systems to gain hands-on experience and give back to the community.

2nd Year

Continue involvement in community organizations to build skills that will continue throughout your education and career. Connect with faculty about gaining experience with their research labs. 

3rd Year

Attend student conferences when possible and connect with educational psychology-related alumni to expand your professional network and explore potential job opportunities. Continue working with faculty research labs, community organizations, etc.

4th Year

Attend student conferences when possible and connect with educational psychology-related alumni to expand your professional network and explore potential job opportunities.

Explore the World

1st Year

Educational psychology majors have multiple study abroad opportunities available during the academic year to travel throughout Europe and learn about the development and history of psychology in various countries including England, Spain and Greece. One 3-credit-hour study abroad course will satisfy a requirement within the curriculum.

2nd Year

Explore study abroad opportunities at MSU. Attend a study abroad fair or self-enroll in the free Study Abroad 101 Canvas course.

3rd Year

Consider and prepare for study abroad opportunities.

4th Year

Take advantage of study abroad opportunities.

Launch Your Career

1st Year

Meet with your advisor for guidance and identify your Career Center liaison. Explore the Career Center website. Job shadow professionals in potential career paths to begin developing the skills needed for success. Explore opportunities for your emphasis area.

2nd Year

Connect with educational psychology professionals and alumni to learn from their experiences. Job shadow in various potential roles related to your emphasis area opportunities. Schedule a meeting with your advisor or the Career Center for additional support and guidance. Attend Career Center events, workshops and information sessions, including ones on professional dress and writing cover letters. Create/update your resume tailored to your accomplishments and skills.

3rd Year

Work with your advisor to identify potential clinical experience opportunities. Build transferable skills by taking on leadership roles in student organizations and other activities. Develop an action plan for post-graduation goals. Participate in mock interviews. Begin researching/applying to graduate schools.

4th Year

Finalize plans for graduate school and/or employment. Attend conferences to gain field experience and strengthen employability skills. Collaborate with your advisor to fine-tune a strong resume and participate in workshops to enhance your interview skills. Meet with your Career Center liaison about job search strategies, navigating job offers, etc. Apply for jobs or graduate schools.

Alumni
Success

MSU's educational psychology alumni are well prepared for a wide range of careers in the growing human services and helping professions fields. Our graduates are making a meaningful impact as psychiatric assistants, child welfare and youth workers, community mental health case workers, human resources specialists, outreach coordinators, substance abuse counselors, preschool caregivers and military officers. Many of our alumni also continue their education by entering graduate programs in educational psychology, counseling and school psychology.

Student
Testimonial

“My undergraduate experience with the educational psychology department was second to none. The student-centered curriculum and career-focused courses greatly contributed to my success. The dedication of the EPY faculty was instrumental, and my advisors provided invaluable one-on-one support throughout both my undergraduate and graduate studies.”
- Sam Stewart
Educational Psychology | Edwardsville, IL

Learn More

Curriculum GuideDepartment of Counseling, Higher Education Leadership, Educational Psychology, and Foundations WebsiteCollege of Education WebsiteApply to MSU