Accredited by: American Psychological Association (APA), National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), Masters in Psychology and Counseling Accreditation Council (MPCAC), and Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges (NASC)
Mailing Address: 1721 Campus Center Drive Rm. 3220, Salt Lake City UT 84112-8914
Office Hours: 8:00am-4:30pm
Website: ed-psych.utah.edu
Phone: 801-581-7148
Email: EDPS@Utah.edu
Department Chair: Keith Radley, Ph.D., BCBA-D, NCSP
Undergraduate Director: Julia Hood, Ph.D., BCBA-D
Graduate Director: (OPTIONAL; Name)
Undergraduate Advisor: Mandy Halloran
Graduate Advisor: Sophie Sticht
Contact for Prospective Students: EDPS@Utah.edu, 801-581-7148
Mission Statement
The Educational Psychology Department produces high-quality basic and applied scholarship while offering outstanding undergraduate and graduate education in the areas of Counseling/Counseling Psychology, Learning Sciences, Reading and Literacy, and School Psychology. We strive to foster collaboration. We support differing perspectives and equal access and opportunity while serving our students, the University, and the community.
Overview
We deliver top-notch research and hands-on learning in four key areas. We're committed to collaboration, inclusivity, and providing equal opportunities for all while supporting our students, the university, and the community.
Types of Degrees
Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science
Minor
Undergraduate Certificate
Educational Specialist
Masters of Science
Masters of Education
Masters of Statistics
Doctor of Philosophy
Undergraduate Programs
Our undergraduate program in Educational Psychology provides students with hands-on training and expertise in behavioral and mental health services desperately needed here in Utah and across the country.
We offer coursework and field experiences that lead directly to competitive, high demand employment opportunities in a variety of fields. Our program also serves as a pipeline for master’s and doctoral programs in school counseling, school psychology, counseling psychology, clinical mental health counseling, and clinical psychology.
Our undergraduate programming includes:
BA/BS and Minor in Educational Psychology
Our BA/BS and Minor in Educational Psychology provides students with hands-on training and expertise in behavioral and mental health— services desperately needed here in Utah and across the country. We offer coursework and field experiences that lead directly to competitive, high-demand employment opportunities in a variety of fields. Our program also serves as a pipeline for master’s and doctoral programs in school counseling, school psychology, counseling psychology, clinical mental health counseling, and clinical psychology.
The Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB) is a national agency that credentials professionals in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA). These credentials are most often associated with working with children with autism spectrum disorder, but the principles can be applied across a variety of contexts. Training in the concepts, principles, and application of ABA can benefit students across a variety of majors who plan to go into all professions. ABA is the science of behavior change and the application of this science to human behavior. Students can take the coursework to qualify for the educational requirements for the following national credentials:
Registered Behavior Technician (RBT)
Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst (BCaBA)
The State of Utah recently added two new licenses to behavioral health licensing. The Behavioral Health Technician license if for those with an Associate’s degree who have completed necessary coursework and Behavioral Health Coach is a license for those with a Bachelor’s degree who have completed necessary coursework. All students who major in Educational Psychology will have the coursework necessary to qualify for these licenses.
https://ed-psych.utah.edu/programs-and-degrees/undergrad/index.php
Undergraduate Certificate in Positive Psychology
Positive Psychology is a branch of psychology that emphasizes the study of human strengths, positive emotions, well-being and resiliency. Students earn our certificate for personal or professional development, specialization, and to upgrade their skill set and stand out in a competitive job market. Positive psychology principles are universal and can be applied to any work context or major. The undergraduate certificate program requires 20 credits hours; three courses are required and students can choose the remaining credits from a host of rotating electives.
https://ed-psych.utah.edu/certificates/positive-psych-certificate/index.php
Graduate Programs
The Department of Educational Psychology offers seven graduate degree programs organized into four broad areas of study: Counseling/Counseling Psychology, School Psychology, Literacy, Language, & Learning, and Learning Sciences.
Counseling Psychology
Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology: https://ed-psych.utah.edu/programs-and-degrees/counseling-psych/index.php
M.Ed. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling: https://ed-psych.utah.edu/programs-and-degrees/clinical-mental-health-counseling/index.php
M.Ed. in School Counseling: https://ed-psych.utah.edu/programs-and-degrees/school-counseling/index.php
School Psychology
Ph.D. in School Psychology: https://ed-psych.utah.edu/programs-and-degrees/school-psychology-phd/index.php
Ed.S. in School Psychology: https://ed-psych.utah.edu/programs-and-degrees/school-psychology-eds/index.php
Learning & Cognition
Ph.D. in Learning Sciences: https://ed-psych.utah.edu/programs-and-degrees/learning-sciences-phd/index.php
M.Ed. in Instructional Design & Educational Technology: https://ed-psych.utah.edu/programs-and-degrees/instructional-design/index.php
Literacy, Language, & Learning (L3)
Ph.D. in L3: https://ed-psych.utah.edu/programs-and-degrees/reading-literacy-phd/index.php
M.Ed. in Literacy Education: https://ed-psych.utah.edu/programs-and-degrees/literacy-education-med/index.php
Graduate Certificate in Statistics
Statistics and related quantitative skills are some of the most valued by employers. US News & World Report listed statistician as one of the top jobs in the US in their latest survey. The Department of Labor lists median pay in 2015 for statisticians (at the masters level) as $81,950, with employment growth of 33% over the ten years from 2016 to 2026, which is much faster than average. The Graduate Certificate in Statistics provides graduate students with training in statistics and related skills (e.g., data science) that will help prepare them to be competitive in today’s job market.
Website: https://ed-psych.utah.edu/certificates/statistics-certificate/index.php
Clinics and Labs: https://ed-psych.utah.edu/labs-centers/index.php
Additional Information
Facilities, Centers, Labs
Mountain Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC)
Center Director: Dr. Jason Burrow-Sanchez
The Mountain Plains Prevention Technology Transfer Center (PTTC) is a partnership between the Department of Educational Psychology in the College of Education and the School of Dentistry at the University of Utah. Our mission is to strengthen the workforce pipeline for pre-professionals and professionals in the substance misuse prevention and health care fields by delivering evidence-based Trainings and Technical Assistance (TA) in the six-states (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Wyoming) comprising Region 8.
Educational Assessment and Student Support Clinic (EASSC)
Clinic Director: Dr. KayLeigh Brennan
The EASSC is a training clinic housed within the University of Utah’s Educational Psychology Department and provides services to children, adolescents, and their families. We offer comprehensive psychoeducational evaluations, including assessment for concerns such as learning difficulties, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorder, among others. In addition to our evaluation services, we have the capacity to provide individual therapy services for children and adolescents.
Utah Community Mental Health Clinic
Clinic Director: Dr. Jenna McGinnis
The Utah Community Mental Health Clinic provides individual therapy services to adults aged 18 and older. While we are housed at the University of Utah, we serve the larger community of Utah and services are not limited to just students. We offer accessible, low-cost individual counseling during the academic year.
Cognition, Learning and Technology (CLT) lab
Lab Director: Dr. Robert Zheng
CLT lab focus broadly on cognition and learning technologies including multimedia and web-based learning, individual differences, online social network and communication, and complex problem solving. We are interested in observing (a) the constraints of human cognitive capacity in highly demanding tasks such as multiple rule-based problem solving and (b) how learning technologies can alleviate such constraints by reducing, for example, the working memory load associated with complex learning.
EARLY Lab
Lab Director: S. Claire Son
The EARLY Lab is actively investigating early development of reading behaviors, engagement, and learning. We are also interested in identifying important predictors of early literacy, including various technologies and teaching practices in home, classroom, and community contexts. Current projects attempt to integrate academic research, community outreach, and policy initiatives, and empower local educational and community agencies.
MIND (Multimedia and Instructional Design) Lab
Lab Director: Dr. Kirsten Butcher
Researchers in this lab explore how multimedia materials, online interactions, and instructional scaffolds influence learning processes and outcomes. Research studies focus on how features of educational technologies can be leveraged to engage learners in the higher-order cognitive processes that result in deep, long-lasting understanding.
Psychotherapy Science Lab
Lab Director: Dr. Zac Imel
Our work is focused on developing and testing innovative solutions to reducing the burden of mental health problems by improving the quality of behavioral health services. Research spans the full spectrum of mental healthcare from detailed lab based studies to population level evaluations of treatment quality.
Reading Laboratory
Lab Director: Dr. Anne Cook
The Reading Laboratory is located in the BUC building on campus. The Laboratory features an eye-tracker as well as other psychophysiological and response time measurement tools. Research in this lab addresses questions related to cognitive mechanisms involved in reading comprehension, as well as more complex academic tasks and applied domains (e.g., problem solving, internet search, autism, detection of deception, medical expertise).
Science of Learning and Reading (SOLAR) Lab
Lab Directors: Dr. Brendan Schuetze and Dr. Anne Cook
Research in the SOLAR Lab centers on developing and applying quantitative methods to study psychological processes like memory, metacognition, and motivation in self-regulated learning and reading. Dr. Schuetze develops computational models to support lasting learning and evaluate educational interventions, while Dr. Cook investigates the cognitive processes behind reading comprehension and complex thinking. Graduate students gain training in experimental psychology, statistical modeling, and theory development.
SLIC Lab
Lab Director: Dr. Lynne Zummo
Studying Learning in Context (SLIC) Lab studies learning processes in a variety of naturalistic contexts, including museum galleries, the outdoors, digital spaces, and K-12 classrooms. Using interdisciplinary approaches to theory and mixed methods, we examine social, cultural, and cognitive influences on learning process around modern and often socially contentious issues in science. Research aims to support all people in using science to make sense of the world in their daily lives in ways that fit with their ideas of who they are.
STEM Learning Lab
Lab Directors: Dr. Tracy Dobie, Dr. Lauren Barth-Cohen, and Dr. Lynne Zummo
This research group explores student and teacher learning using cognitive and sociocultural theories across formal and informal settings. Recent work focuses on enhancing elementary math and science methods courses with innovative tools for pre-service teachers. Key topics include reasoning in STEM, engagement and power dynamics, and identity and culture in learning. Collaboration with teachers and schools is central. Graduate students gain experience in collecting and analyzing qualitative and quantitative data, with specialized training in mixed methods and access to tools like video equipment and analysis software.
TRAIL Lab
Lab Director: Dr. Chenglu Li
Directed by Chenglu Li, the TRAIL Lab focuses on interdisciplinary research using AI, learning sciences, and learning analytics to design, develop, and evaluate educational technologies and computing models to transform STEM learning. The lab's primary mission is to augment and evolve foundational research, methodologies, and practices, with a strong emphasis on fostering teaching and learning in STEM fields.
U-TTEC Lab
Lab Director: Dr. Aaron Fischer
University of Utah Technology in Training, Education, and Consultation (U-TTEC) Lab is a contemporary research lab in the School Psychology Program. The lab focuses on applying cutting-edge technology to current evidence-based practices in school psychology, pediatric psychology, and applied behavior analysis including consultation, behavior assessment and intervention, pediatric feeding problems, and school mental health. The lab provides high-quality training opportunities in applied research and clinical practice for graduate students across behavior health fields.
Zummo Lab
Lab Director: Lynne Zummo
Dr. Zummo’s research is conducted in both the Educational Psychology Department and the Natural History Museum of Utah. Research examines social, cultural, and cognitive influences on how learners’ make sense of issues that are both tied to scientific concepts and societally contentious, such as the changing climate and what to do about it. Drawing on sociocultural theory, as well as concepts from communication, Dr. Zummo uses mixed methods to understand how people think, learn, and teach about these issues. Her research aims to support all people in using science to make sense of the world in their daily lives in ways that fit with their ideas of who they are.
Admissions Information
Information about admissions to our programs can be found here: https://ed-psych.utah.edu/admissions/index.php
Utah State Board of Education (USBE) Requirements
Utah law (UCA 53A-3-410) requires University students to receive background checks and fingerprinting clearance prior to having significant unsupervised access to children in school settings. Students should contact the Department of Educational Psychology to obtain information about when and how to obtain background and fingerprinting clearance.
Financial Aid, Scholarships, Fellowships and Assistantships
Please contact the department office for details.