How To Become An Educational Psychologist
There are various routes that students can choose to become an educational psychologist, but all of them require graduate studies. There are many universities that offer programs related to this field, but it is important to note that most, if not all of them require students to possess a Bachelor’s degree in psychology before applying. Once admitted into a particular program, students will have the option to choose from different tracks that will give them the necessary preparation to enter the field and contribute to a particular niche.
Some choices can include working with schools to develop better teaching strategies, more effective curriculum or specialized services that targets the needs of individual learners. Graduates can work for schools, school districts, boards of education, curriculum design services or other areas where their focus will primarily be on developing and integrating resources and applications that will make learning more effective.
Educational Requirements
This is an advanced and very specialized field in psychology, and most programs introduce students to advanced courses in areas such as social and cognitive development. Additionally, students will be required to develop and complete a research thesis related to their area of interest. Some universities offer PhD programs as well, which will enable students to continue to develop their research and ultimately make a unique and original contribution to the profession.
There are many options to consider when pursuing this degree and career track, and students will be able to develop their own area of study as they progress through their degree program. In fact, many students are not sure of how they want to specifically orient their careers until they enter into their graduate-level studies. Some choose to focus on developing learning strategies for a certain age group or student population. Others focus on developing methods that will help schools and teachers more effectively teach.
Common Career Options To Consider
Upon graduation, educational psychologists can orient their careers in a number of different directions. Some work in schools where they have daily interaction with students, whereas others prefer to focus their attention and training on research. Those who chose to work in schools tend to provide students as well as staff with supportive services that can include anything from developing individualized learning strategies to counseling. They can work with students who have developmental disabilities or those with emotional problems, to creating programs and learning strategies that will be most effective for the general student population.
On the other hand, there are also many who prefer to work towards developing new learning methods, tools and resources that will help educators improve their effectiveness. Some educational psychologists become teachers in their own right, training educators on how psychology relates to learning, which will ultimately impact how material is presented in a classroom setting.
Students who are interested in more information about how to become an educational psychologist should contact colleges and universities which offer this degree program. They can provide more specific resources that will enable students to orient their studies to align with their overall career goals and objectives.
