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Educational Psychology — Gifted and Talented Education

Doctoral Program offered in the College of Education

The Educational Psychology Ph.D. with a concentration in Gifted and Talented Education prepares students for a number of careers, including the professoriate, gifted and talented or advanced academics district program coordinator, curriculum specialist, and state education agency director, among others.

The doctoral concentration in Gifted and Talented Education covers advanced theories and research methodologies tailored to understanding how giftedness, creativity, and talent manifest and can be nurtured within educational settings and beyond. Students engage in coursework on topics such as differentiated instruction, curriculum development for accelerated learning programs, and the psychosocial needs of gifted individuals. The doctoral concentration also includes a strong focus on the identification and assessment of giftedness across diverse populations, addressing both traditional intelligence testing and alternative assessment methods to ensure equity and inclusivity. In addition to theoretical and applied knowledge, students would be expected to contribute original research to the field, using qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods approaches to explore new facets of educational psychology that impact gifted and talented education.

Time to complete the program, Full-time & Part-time

The doctoral program in Educational Psychology with a concentration on Gifted and Talented education is designed to accommodate both full-time and part-time students. Full-time students can typically complete the program in approximately 4 years (3 years for coursework, and 1 year for dissertation), although the exact duration may vary depending on each student's starting point and individual study plan. Recognizing that many students balance professional responsibilities alongside their academic pursuits, the program is structured to also support part-time learners, offering them the flexibility needed to advance their education without sacrificing their work or personal commitments. Doctoral courses run in the evenings or online to accommodate all students.

Funding/Assistantships

The Department of Educational Psychology has a limited number of competitive assistantship positions for which admitted doctoral students may apply. These positions are intended for full-time enrolled doctoral students who are not working outside of UNT. Assistantships typically pay for partial/full tuition and a monthly stipend. Students on assistantships are expected to provide a combination of the following services (i.e., Teaching Assistant, Teaching Fellow, or Research Assistant) for 20 hours/week. The assignments are made each semester based on department needs. Once admitted, students may request an application form to apply for an assistantship.

Faculty

  • Selcuk Acar
  • Jaret Hodges
  • Rachel Mun
  • Anne Rinn