Think about your own time in school. You sat in the same classrooms as your classmates, listened to the same lectures, used the same textbooks, and took the same exams. Yet, you noticed some students seemed to thrive, while others struggled, some lost confidence, or slowly began to disengage. You thought to yourself, why does that happen? Is it study habits? Teaching style? Mental health? Family support? Language background? Feeling like you belong? You’re thinking like an educational psychologist. Questions like these are at the heart of educational psychology.
What is educational psychology?
Educational psychology is the study of how people learn, grow, and experience school across the lifespan (Berliner, 1993). Those in the field look beyond grades and test scores to understand how thinking, emotions, motivation, identity, culture, relationships, and school systems all shape learning (Eccles & Wigfield, 2002). Instead of asking “Did the student pass?”, educational psychologists asks questions like, “What helped this student succeed?” and “What barriers might be standing in the way?” Educational psychology helps us understand and emphasize that learning is not a straight path. Students bring their diverse experiences, approaches to learning, cultural backgrounds, and languages into the classroom. As we grow, we return to familiar classrooms, concepts, and challenges, but we experience them differently (Nasir et al., 2006). Our confidence and responsibilities change, and the way we see ourselves as learners evolves. Educational psychology is built on the idea that learning doesn’t happen in isolation; it’s shaped by experiences, the environment, and interactions with others, not just ability.
Have you ever noticed that some classes just click for you, while others feel almost impossible to focus on? Certain activities, such as using visuals, working hands-on, or playing interactive games like Kahoot! can help students stay engaged and better understand the material. Educational psychologists study how different types of instructional activities influence student motivation, engagement, and learning, and how teaching can be designed to make content accessible and engaging for everyone.
Why is educational psychology important today?
Over the past years, from 2019 to today, these influences have been placed in the spotlight as classrooms rapidly transformed. During the coronavirus pandemic, students moved from in-person learning to Zoom, then into online and hybrid formats. We saw test-optional college admissions, major shifts in standardized testing, and now the rapid rise of artificial intelligence in education. Educational psychology helps us understand how these changes reshape learning and how schools can adapt to meeting students where they are (Mayer, 2019).
Today’s students face challenges that go far beyond academics. Many are dealing with stress, anxiety, burnout, and questions about purpose and belonging. Classrooms are more diverse than ever in terms of culture, language, ability, and background, yet school systems are often built around one-size-fits-all expectations (McKinney de Royston et al., 2020). At its core, educational psychology sits at the intersection of these emerging trends in today’s classrooms and asks a central question: How can education meet students where they are, not where we assume they should be?
The focus of educational psychology
In simple terms, educational psychology uses psychological science to understand how learning works in schools and other educational settings, from early childhood through college and adulthood. It examines how students think, feel, and behave, and how factors like teaching style, classroom environment, motivation, relationships with teachers, and cultural background affect learning (Wentzel, 2009).
Educational psychologists study topics such as:
Motivation and confidence
Language and communication
Assessment and testing
Teacher–student relationships
Classroom climate
Educational equity and access
It is not just about what students learn, but how they learn, why learning feels different for different people, and what conditions help students truly succeed.
What can you do with a degree in educational psychology?
People with training in educational psychology work in schools, colleges, nonprofits, research centers, government agencies, and testing organizations. Some focus on research, others on direct student support, and others on shaping policy and educational reform.
Some careers may not require a doctorate and can begin with a bachelor’s or master’s degree:
Curriculum or instructional designer, creating courses and learning materials
Academic advisor or learning specialist, supporting students through academic challenges
Education research assistant or data analyst, working on studies that shape educational practice
Equity or student support coordinator, helping remove barriers related to race, language, disability, or mental health
Assessment or testing associate, helping develop learning tools and evaluations.
Educational psychology offers many meaningful career paths for students who care about learning, mental health, equity, and social change.
Some careers usually require graduate or doctoral training, such as:
Educational psychologist or researcher, studying how students learn and stay motivated
Assessment or testing specialist, helping design fair and meaningful exams
Program evaluator, examining whether tutoring, mentoring, or mental health programs are effective
University professor, teaching and conducting research
Education policy analyst, using research to improve school systems and laws
Is educational psychology right for you?
Educational psychology may be a great fit if you:
Care about why students experience school so differently
Care about fairness, access, and social justice in education
Enjoy research, data, or understanding how education systems work
Want to help create inclusive and supportive learning environments
You do not need to have everything figured out right away. Many students discover this field through tutoring, mentoring, research, or reflecting on their own school experiences. Educational psychology welcomes students from many backgrounds who want to turn their curiosity about learning into a meaningful impact.
To learn more about the field and career paths, visit APA’s Division 15 (Educational Psychology) websiteopens in new window.
References
Berliner, D. C. (1993). The 100-year journey of educational psychology. Educational Psychologist, 28(4), 307–326.
Eccles, J. S., & Wigfield, A. (2002). Motivational beliefs, values, and goals. Annual Review of Psychology, 53(1), 109–132. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.psych.53.100901.135153opens in new window
Mayer, Richard. (2019). Searching for the role of emotions in e-learning. Learning and Instruction. 70. 101213. 10.1016/j.learninstruc.2019.05.010.
McKinney de Royston, M., Lee, C., Nasir, N., & Pea, R. (2020). Rethinking schools, rethinking learning. Phi Delta Kappan, 102(3), 8-13. https://doi.org/10.1177/0031721720970693opens in new window
Nasir, N. S., Rosebery, A. S., Warren, B., & Lee, C. D. (2006). Learning as a Cultural Process: Achieving Equity Through Diversity. In R. K. Sawyer (Ed.), The Cambridge handbook of: The learning sciences (pp. 489–504). Cambridge University Press.
Wentzel, K. R. (2009). Students' relationships with teachers as motivational contexts. In K. R. Wenzel & A. Wigfield (Eds.), Handbook of motivation at school (pp. 301–322). Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203879498opens in new window
About the author
Scheleck Laraque is a second-year PhD student in educational psychology at Howard University. Their research explores how culture, language, and educational contexts shape students’ learning experiences. Scheleck is particularly interested in promoting linguistic diversity, challenging deficit-based narratives in education, and examining how schools can better affirm students’ cultural and language backgrounds. In addition to their research, Scheleck works with APA’s psychology team, contributing to national initiatives that strengthen psychology education at both the precollege and undergraduate levels. Through their scholarship and professional work, Scheleck is committed to developing accessible, culturally responsive strategies that foster inclusive and equitable learning environments for all students.
