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Fall 2008 - Summer 2009
College of Education
Department of Educational Psychology
- Who's Who
- Educational Psychology Overview
- Human Development and Family Studies
- Special Education Certification
- Certification for Elementary Teachers
(Early Childhood - Grade Four)
- Department-Specific Course Listings:
Educational Psychology (EPSY)
Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS)
- Return to List of COE Department-Specific Information
Who's Who
Chair:
Doris PraterProfessors:
Consuelo Arbona, John P. Gaa, Thomas Kubiszyn, Frederick Lopez, Robert H. McPherson, Amaury Nora, Doris Prater, Alexander Schilt, Yali ZouAssociate Professors:
Mary W. Armsworth, Patrick Ellis (Visiting), Ronald G. Frankiewicz, Dov (David B.) Liberman, Jonathan P. Schwartz, Christopher A. Wolters, Shirley YuAssistant Professors:
Andrea Burridge (Visiting), Madelyn N. Coleman, Weihua Fan, Catherine L. Horn, Romilia Ramirez, George Schanding, Margit Wiesner
Educational Psychology Overview
The Department of Educational Psychology offers an undergraduate program in Human Development and Family Studies and coursework leading to certifications in Special Education.
Students in the Human Development and Family Studies Program may obtain certification in Early Childhood through fourth grade and American Humanics.
Students have the opportunity to train and conduct research at the Human Development Laboratory School.
Coursework trains students both to understand the conceptual base of theories, applied research, and methods of psychology and to apply those fields of study to the processes of education and human development in the Human Development Laboratory School and in local school districts in the Houston area.
The department emphasizes a prevention, intervention, and consultation approach that encourages prospective educators to develop skills that respond to the unique assessment, academic, and social needs of individuals in a variety of settings.
Human Development and Family Studies
The Human Development and Family Studies major focuses on developmental studies of individuals, small groups, and families. The program prepares students to deliver human services to individuals and groups across the life span and in a variety of settings.
The Human Development and Family Studies major not only qualifies students for social services, teaching, and management, but also serves as a basis for graduate research and training. The Human Development and Family Studies program reaches out extensively into the community via its partnerships with more than 80 agencies and organizations. Students interested in nonprofit administration may earn an American Humanics Certification from the Graduate College of Social Work.
For students interested in teaching, the Human Development Laboratory is an early childhood education facility with a strong national and international reputation. The Human Development Laboratory School is a model of constructivist education based on the tenets of Jean Piaget's Cognitive Development Theory. The Lab School is a training facility for constructivist teachers, early childhood specialists, and other majors in Human Development and Family Studies. Faculty and students from a variety of disciplines conduct research at the Lab School.
Graduates will:
- Demonstrate the ability to improve the quality of life for themselves and others through the delivery of Human Services throughout the life span, including teaching, administration of programs, advocacy activities, and others;
- Articulate and apply a cohesive theory of Human Development that is relevant to the culture and Human Services field;
- Demonstrate sound professional practice and leadership through employment in the "helping professions" including early childhood education and social services for children, adolescents, families, and the elderly.
Special Education Certification
The Department of Educational Psychology offers undergraduate courses that lead to certification in Special Education All-Level and Special Education Supplemental.
All-level certification prepares prospective educators to provide services to students with disabilities in a variety of settings from ages 3 to 22 years. Special Education Supplemental certification can be added to EC-4, 4-8, and 8-12 certificates and affords prospective educators the flexibility to provide services to students in regular education settings and/or to provide services to students with disabilities in a variety of settings.
Coursework for these certificates targets the legal mandates and decisions that pertain to special education, exceptionalities, classroom-based assessment, effective instructional and social interventions for students with disabilities, instructional technology, and student/program evaluation.
Specific information about each certificate can be obtained from the Department of Educational Psychology and by accessing the department's Web site at http://www.coe.uh.edu/departments/epsy.cfm.
Certification for Elementary Teachers
(Early Childhood - Grade Six)
The Human Development and Family Studies area also offers a program option that leads to certification for Early Childhood Education (early childhood through grade six).
This certification from the State Board for Educator Certification and the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education qualifies students to teach in the public schools as well as in preschool and day care settings. Additionally, it provides a basis for graduate training and research.
Elementary certification in human development and family studies can be attained by selecting a minor in education in conjunction with the degree in Human Development and Family Studies.
Last updated:
Friday, August 20, 2008 - 5:30 PM