Curry School of Education

Did you know?

In the 2013 U.S. News and World Report rankings, Curry's Education Psychology: Applied Developmental Science program was ranked seventeenth best in the nation.

If you are interested in our program please review the information below.  If you have any questions, please contact Denise Strickland at DCStrickland@virginia.edu.

Our current students chose this program because...

Shannon Varga

"I became interested in the EP-ADS program because the work that was begin conducted by my mentor was in concert with my research interests and because of the interdisciplinary curriculum it offers its students. I realized it was the right program for me when I visited UVA during an internship and found that the people of Curry created a group dynamic that was unlike any other graduate program I visited; it was a community that was driven, structured, and supportive. I knew it was definitely an environment that I wanted to be in."

Myles Durkee - as featured in UVA Magazine

“I was definitely drawn to EP-ADS by the amazing work that my advisor was conducting. Also, the apprenticeship model that this program follows provides invaluable opportunities to acquire hands-on experience in academia (i.e. publications, grant writing, etc.).”

Faiza Jamil

"I came to this program hoping to better understand how teacher’s preservice and professional development experiences contribute to their effectiveness and psychosocial functioning in the classroom. The interdisciplinary nature of this program and its rigorous training in research methodology makes it an ideal academic environment in which to develop the skills needed to answer such questions."

Please see this information about our alumni and their careers

Program Overview

The Educational Psychology and Applied Developmental Science (EP-ADS)  doctoral program prepares promising students to conduct research in education science. The program focuses on the social and cognitive lives of children and adolescents, the contribution of school and out-of-school settings on learning and development, and the development and evaluation of interventions designed to alter and improve developmental pathways.

Limited English proficiency, poverty, inadequate access to social supports and health care, and the presence of developmental or acquired disabilities pose significant challenge to children and youth and prevent their success in school and life. The EP-ADS program takes a strengths-based approach to understanding such complex challenges to society. Research conducted in EP-ADS examines the ways in which school settings, after-school programs, and families hold the potential to promote resilience and reduce school failure.