education psychology

Psychology of Education
Unique in the Irish context, in this programme -
which rests on the principle that problems
encountered in diverse learning environments may
be usefully informed by psychology - we offer
graduates of all relevant undergraduate disciplines
the opportunity to study the rapidly developing field
of the psychology of education. Put simply, we’re
interested in what can go right, what can go wrong,
and what we can do to help, in educational settings.
APPLY
Course Strand Leader | Dr Stephen James Minton
Psychology of Education
Recent years have seen increasing numbers of
reports concerning the health and well-being of
children and young people, and increasingly, adults,
in educational settings, and this strand rests on the
principle that the curricular and non-curricular
problems encountered in diverse learning
environments may be usefully informed by
psychology. Unique in the Irish context, and
comparatively rare worldwide, in this new
programme we offer graduates of relevant
undergraduate disciplines (including, but not limited
to, education, nursing and midwifery, psychology
social care, sociology and social work) the
opportunity to study the rapidly developing field of
the psychology of education at the Masters level.
The psychology of education has been defined as
'….the study of how psychological theories and
research inform and support the work of educational
professionals working across the whole range of
teaching and learning settings' (Woolfolk, Hughes
and Walkup, 2013, p. 4), and this programme has
been designed to promote deep, broad and above
all, critical engagement with such subject matter.
Put simply, we're interested in what can go right,
what can go wrong, and what we can do to help, in
educational settings.
Is this course for me?
Yes - if you are interested in exploring how
psychology can inform and support the work of
educational professionals. Given its emphasis on
the individual in familial, educational, and societal
contexts, the programme is expected to be of
particular appeal to those who approach, or are
interested in deepening their knowledge of,
concerns and issues in education from
psychological and community perspectives. So
whilst this list is not exhaustive, and is made in no
order of priority, we would expect to receive
applications from:
school teachers (e.g., , classroom teachers,
teaching assistants) and management staff (e.g.,
principals, deputy principals) staff;
members of teaching and management staff of
alternative educational settings (e.g., YouthReach);
the broad range of professionals who support the
educational environment (e.g., home-school-
community liaison teachers, welfare officers, early
intervention and school age professionals, school
counsellors, school psychologists, psychotherapists,
adult and educational guidance counsellors);
patron body representatives;
parents, guardians, and supporters; and,
members of community and civic organisations.
Applications from those resident in Ireland and
international applications are equally welcome.
Further Information
Note: Prospective applicants should recognise that
the above information is as accurate as it can
possibly be at the time of production, but it cannot
reflect changes to the programme which might be
made at a later stage.