The University is one of the first universities to be accredited to run a three year doctorate in Educational Psychology.
1st rate Educational Psychology accreditation
The University of Exeter is in the first set of universities to be accredited by the British Psychological Society to run a three year doctorate instead of a one year Master’s in Educational Psychology.
This change ensures that the teaching and the qualifications are now in line with other groups of professional psychologists in UK and Europe.
Programme Director for Educational Psychology at the University of Exeter, Andrew Richards, believes this longer course is an important change. He said, ‘We can concentrate in much more detail on specific areas of child development, the child within the family and school, and the family and school within the community. The longer course means that we can visit a family with infants and observe the child’s development on a regular basis; this enables the students to see the rapid development of a young child.
Although, it is a vocational course, the research aspect is now the major part of the degree.
Andrew Richards went onto say, ‘It is exciting to be part of this new development as the link between theory and practice is now much stronger and more engaging for the students.’
Traditionally, Educational Psychologists have focused on individual work with children. It is increasingly common to find that they are working in settings other than schools to promote the development of children and young people. Educational psychologists continue to work with the most vulnerable children in our society.
Most Educational Psychologists work within Children’s Service Departments and can be involved in areas of work from child protection to suggesting how to modify an environment and procedures with a school to encourage good behaviour and learning.
Educational Psychologists are in short supply, with roughly two thousand practitioners in England and Wales. The University of Exeter is one of only 14 universities providing professional training and the competition for places is very high.
Andrew Richards explained that as a team of Educational Psychologists, ‘Exeter prides itself on encouraging the students to ‘be the best psychologist you can be’. The course provides necessary technical skills but more importantly also provides a space for the development of personal and professional values.’
The accreditation of the course at doctorate level has meant that all aspects of the teaching and learning of this course at University has been scrutinised and met the criteria laid down by the British Psychological Society.
Date: 14 October 2008
