Educational Psychology (PhD) with a concentration in Gifted and Talented

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, creativity, and the psychosocial needs of gifted individuals. The doctoral concentration also includes a strong focus on the identification and assessment of giftedness across populations, addressing both traditional intelligence testing and alternative assessment methods. 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.

Apply online through GradCAS

Apply online through the GradCAS application system. The steps to apply and application links can be found at https://www.unt.edu/admissions/graduate/steps-to-apply.html.
All application documents can be uploaded during the application process. You can view the details of these requirements under Submit Application Documents or at http://www.coe.unt.edu/educational-psychology/graduate-admissions.
Requirements for international applicants can be viewed at http://admissions.unt.edu/international, including information on meeting the English Language Proficiency requirement.

Submit Application Documents

Three written letters of recommendation from academic and/or professional references. These letters must be specifically written for the current application, signed by the reference, and printed on his/her official letterhead. Personal references are not accepted.
Professional resume that delineates previous work, educational experiences, membership and involvement in professional organizations, and scholarly activities.
Personal statement between 1-3 pages that explicitly addresses your goals and rationale for applying to the desired concentration and degree at UNT.
GRE scores are not required.

All departmental admission decisions are based on a holistic review of the applicant's submitted materials. Applicants that are strong in all areas will have first priority for admission.

Send all application inquiries to:

Devyn Dougherty
Coordinator of Graduate Admissions
University of North Texas
Department of Educational Psychology
1155 Union Circle #311335
Denton, TX 76203-5017
Email: Devyn.Dougherty@unt.edu

The doctoral program in educational psychology requires a minimum of 63 (78 hours if admitted without a Master’s degree) hours of course work and research experience.

Those entering the program without a master’s degree are expected to fulfill the following requirements, plus two core courses in the MS with a major in educational psychology, and a minimum of three additional graduate-level courses with the advisor’s approval.

Note: The following requirements are for students entering the program having completed a related master’s degree.

Educational psychology requirement, 9 hours

Major requirements, 21 hours

Concentration, 21 hours

Gifted and talented

EPSY 6110 - Individual Difference, Creativity and Problem Solving
EPSY 6610 - Theories and Paradigms of Giftedness
EPSY 6620 - Special Populations in Gifted Education
EPSY 6640 - Advanced Curriculum and Programming for Teaching the Gifted and Talented
EPSY 6650 - Developing Psychosocial Skills in Gifted and Talented Individuals
Plus 2 elective courses in related areas, with advisor’s approval