COMBINE YOUR PASSION FOR EDUCATION WITH YOUR INTEREST IN HUMAN COGNITION
Learning and cognition are vital to human development. The Ph.D. in Educational Psychology offers an interdisciplinary perspective on education. In this program, you will interact with a variety of sub-disciplines and grow your confidence in statistics and writing for publication. You will have the opportunity to learn from accomplished faculty and conduct hands-on lab research, preparing yourself for success in your field. Start the next step of your journey and apply today!
4 to 7 years
No foreign language credits required
90 hours
Dissertation is required

Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Psychology :: Focus Your Passion
Focus Your Passion
Prior to beginning the program, doctoral students must choose a track. Discover which option works best for your research interests and career goals.
Educational
The educational track is focused on human learning, cognition and instruction, and learning technology.
Experimental
The experimental track is focused on advanced cognition, social cognition and neural mechanisms.
Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Psychology :: WHAT YOU WILL LEARN

What You Will Learn
A Ph.D. in Educational Psychology will offer you the opportunity to:
- Receive training in statistics and research methods
- Learn to conduct psychological research
- Test hypotheses through experimental and non-experimental methods
- Become familiar with a variety of sub-disciplines including educational, cognitive, social and developmental psychology
- Write research results for peer-reviewed publications
Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Psychology :: Careers
Careers
Gain the recognition you deserve with a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology. Our program opens many opportunities within the community, in education and beyond.
Career Possibilities and Current Median Salaries
US DOL Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2018
Back to menu Scroll to topDoctor of Philosophy in Educational Psychology :: FEATURED COURSES
Featured Courses
Back to menu Scroll to topDoctor of Philosophy in Educational Psychology :: Course Delivery and Resources

Course Delivery
Designed for full-time students and working professionals, our flexible program offers online and in-person courses at the main campus location.
Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Psychology :: Student Organizations
Student Organizations
A&M-Commerce proudly hosts Psi Chi, the international honor society in psychology. Psi Chi’s purpose is to encourage, stimulate and maintain excellence in scholarship and to advance the science of psychology. The A&M-Commerce chapter provides psychology students with an academic community and professional development opportunities.

Graduate Program Cost
PROGRAM COSTS
Tuition and fees for graduate students taking nine credit hours are $3,594 for Texas residents and $6,897 for non-residents.
ADMISSIONS REQUIREMENTS International/Domestic Tabs
Admission
Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Psychology :: Program Admission Requirements
Deadlines
Fall Semester
- Priority admission consideration
- ApplyTexas application submission deadline is January 15
- All required admission documents must be submitted by January 31
- Interviews by invitation only to be held third Friday of February
- Final admission consideration
- ApplyTexas application submission deadline is May 15
- All required admission documents must be submitted by June 1
- Interviews by invitation only to be held third Friday of June
Spring Semester
- ApplyTexas application submission deadline is October 1
- All required admission documents must be submitted by October 15
- Interviews by invitation only to be held third Friday of October
Summer Semester
- ApplyTexas application submission deadline is March 1
- All required admission documents must be submitted by March 15
- Interviews by invitation only to be held fourth Friday of March
Your Path to Becoming a Lion
Step 1. Submit Application
Submit your application through ApplyTexas.
- Select “Create a new graduate school admissions application.”
- Select “Texas A&M University-Commerce (Commerce)” as your “Target University.”
- Select “Educational Psychology, PHD” as your “Major.”
- Pay the $50 application fee.
Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.
- After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Step 2. Submit Documents
Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.
- Upload your documents at myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores or email your documents to your graduate coordinator, [email protected], unless otherwise specified below.
Official Transcripts
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to [email protected].
- We recommend that you request transcripts for all of your academic work.
To be considered for admission one of the following is required
- a bachelor’s degree with an overall GPA of 2.75 or higher,
- a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in the last 60 hours, or
- an awarded master’s degree with an overall GPA of 3.4 or higher.
If you have a non-thesis master’s degree, you must complete a thesis prior to doctoral candidacy (empirical thesis can be completed in our program en route to the dissertation and doctoral candidacy).
Postal Alternative
If your institution is unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Attn: Graduate School
PO Box 3011
Commerce, Texas 75429-3011
We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact [email protected] for more information.
Statement of Goals Form
Submit the Statement of Goals Form found in the Application Packet. An additional page can be added.
Resume or CV
Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which includes your academic and professional history and achievements.
Three Letters of Recommendation
Request three signed letters of recommendation, on letterhead, from professionals who can attest to your goals and ability to succeed in the program.
- At least one of the references should hold a doctoral degree.
Those individuals should
- Email the letter to [email protected] or
- Send the letter to you. Then, you will utilize the upload system: myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores
Test Scores
Submit official General Test GRE scores
- Request that your GRE®scores be sent to Texas A&M University-Commerce (6188) when you register for the test. If you have already taken the GRE®, you can order additional score reports.
Review the Application Packet for more information.
Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status
- Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.
Step 3. Apply for Financial Assistance
- Apply for FAFSA and TAFSA financial aid through the state and federal governments during the admission application process. Use code 003565.
- Apply for outside scholarships once you are admitted to A&M-Commerce.
- Check your financial aid and scholarship info through myLeo > Student Resources > Financial Aid Information.
Step 4. Register for Classes
Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your graduate enrollment specialist is here to help you complete registration.
- View your degree plan in DegreeWorks.
- View the Schedule of Classes.
- To register for classes, go to myLeo > Student Resources > Registration Menu.
Contact your graduate enrollment specialist if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.
Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Psychology :: Program Admission Requirements, International
Deadlines
Fall Semester
- Priority admission consideration
- ApplyTexas application submission deadline is January 15
- All required admission documents must be submitted by January 31
- Interviews by invitation only to be held third Friday of February
- Final admission consideration
- ApplyTexas application submission deadline is May 15
- All required admission documents must be submitted by June 1
- Interviews by invitation only to be held third Friday of June
Spring Semester
- ApplyTexas application submission deadline is October 1.
- All required admission documents must be submitted by October 15.
- Interviews by invitation only to be held third Friday of October
Summer Semester
- ApplyTexas application submission deadline is March 1
- All required admission documents must be submitted by March 15
- Interviews by invitation only to be held fourth Friday of March
Your Path to Becoming a Lion
Step 1. Submit Application
Submit your application through ApplyTexas.
- Select “Create a new graduate school admissions application.”
- Select “Texas A&M University-Commerce (Commerce)” as your “Target University.”
- Select “Educational Psychology, PHD” as your “Major.”
- Pay the $50 application fee.
Wait to receive an application confirmation email before proceeding to the next step.
- After you submit your application, the Graduate School will send a confirmation email within two business days to the personal email account you used for ApplyTexas.
Step 2. Submit Documents
Submit the following documents after you receive an application confirmation email.
- Upload your documents at myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores or email your documents to your graduate coordinator, [email protected], unless otherwise specified below.
Official Transcripts
Contact your previous institution(s) and request that they send your official transcripts to [email protected].
- We recommend that you request transcripts for all of your academic work.
To be considered for admission one of the following is required
- a bachelor’s degree with an overall GPA of 2.75 or higher,
- a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of 3.0 or higher in the last 60 hours, or
- an awarded master’s degree with an overall GPA of 3.4 or higher.
If you have a non-thesis master’s degree, you must complete a thesis prior to doctoral candidacy (empirical thesis can be completed in our program en route to the dissertation and doctoral candidacy).
Postal Alternative
If your institution is unable to submit a digital copy, hard copies may be mailed to:
Texas A&M University-Commerce
Attn: Graduate School
PO Box 3011
Commerce, Texas 75429-3011
We will need official/original documents. If those documents are the only copies you have, the Graduate School can mail them back to you upon request. Contact [email protected] for more information.
Statement of Goals Form
Submit the Statement of Goals Form found in the Application Packet. An additional page can be added.
Resume or CV
Submit a resume or curriculum vitae (CV) which includes your academic and professional history and achievements.
Three Letters of Recommendation
Request three signed letters of recommendation, on letterhead, from professionals who can attest to your goals and ability to succeed in the program.
- At least one of the references should hold a doctoral degree.
Those individuals should
- Email the letter to [email protected] or
- Send the letter to you. Then, you will utilize the upload system: myLeo > Apps > Check Admissions Application Status & Test Scores
Test Scores
Submit official General Test GRE scores
- Request that your GRE®scores be sent to Texas A&M University-Commerce (6188) when you register for the test. If you have already taken the GRE®, you can order additional score reports.
English Proficiency
You do not need to submit test scores if you have completed (all years) of a bachelor’s or higher degree from a regionally accredited university in the United States.
Request that your scores from one of the following be sent to Texas A&M University-Commerce:
- TOEFL (Minimum Scores: IBT 79, or CBT 213, or PBT 550)
- IELTS (Minimum Score: 6.00 band overall)
- PTE (Minimum Score: 53 overall or higher)
- Duo Lingo (Minimum Score: 105)
*Scores must be less than two years old.
Official Sponsor Documents
Submit these documents to the Office of International Programs once you have been admitted
- Official sponsor statement
- Bank statement from the sponsor with a balance of at least $26,025 USD which is less than 1 year old
Review the Application Packet for more information.
Look for application updates in myLeo > Apps > Check Application Status
- Once an admission decision has been made, you will receive an email to your student email account at myLeo > Apps > Leomail.
Step 3. Apply for Financial Assistance
- Apply for FAFSA and TAFSA financial aid through the state and federal governments during the admission application process. Use code 003565.
- Apply for outside scholarships once you are admitted to A&M-Commerce.
- Check your financial aid and scholarship info through myLeo > Student Resources > Financial Aid Information.
Step 4. Register for Classes
Once registration opens and you are eligible to enroll, your graduate enrollment specialist is here to help you complete registration.
- View your degree plan in DegreeWorks.
- View the Schedule of Classes.
- To register for classes, go to myLeo > Student Resources > Registration Menu.
Contact your graduate enrollment specialist if you have any questions regarding your degree plan and registration.
Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Psychology :: Staff
we are here to help!
Contact Us
- Psychology and Special Education
- 903.886.5631
- [email protected]