Education Specialist and Master of Arts in School Psychology
Strengthen Schools Through Student-Centered CollaborationSchool Psychology is designed for individuals who want to play a meaningful role in the lives of P-12 students by supporting their academic, behavioral, and social-emotional needs.
Advantages
- Option to earn two degrees: Master of Arts (M.A.) and Education Specialist (Ed.S.)
- Primarily online program with evening courses designed for working professionals
- Experiential practice sessions held up to one Saturday per month to support applied skill development
- Hands-on training through in-person intensive experiences aligned with real-world school settings
- Curriculum aligned with the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Practice Model (2020)
Learn More
About the Ed.S. and M.A. in School Psychology Program
The School Psychology program includes a 35-credit M.A. and a 67-credit Ed.S., designed to prepare future school psychologists through a flexible, hybrid learning model. Most coursework is completed online, with on-campus intensive workshops that provide hands-on training in assessment and other essential skills.
Students progress through a year-long internship that includes 1,200 hours of supervised practice in P-12 settings, ensuring strong professional readiness. To qualify for licensure as a school psychologist, students also complete the Praxis School Psychologist Test (#5402), demonstrating the competencies expected of entry-level practitioners.
Program Length & Format
The program includes two years of coursework and one year internship. It includes evening and online coursework with experiential practice sessions one Saturday per month.
- Master of Arts (M.A.): 35 credit hours completed in three semesters
- Education Specialist (Ed.S.): 67 credit hours completed in subsequent three semesters plus internship
Curriculum
The School Psychology program consists of an intentionally planned series of courses designed to combine knowledge, skills, and practice. Sample courses are included below.
Taken during the first semester, this course is designed to introduce students to the basic concepts of psychological assessment, with a focus on self-report measures of personality and psychopathology. The course will prepare students with foundational skills in conducting a mental status examination and the administration, scoring, and interpretation of several of the most widely used self-report measures of personality and psychopathology. The course will also prepare students to write psychological assessment reports. Students will develop an ability to critically evaluate tests’ strengths and limitations on psychometric grounds. Students must enroll concurrently in the Foundations of Psychological Assessment Laboratory (GPSY 556).
Taken during the second semester, this course offers in-depth instruction in the theory and practice of academic assessment and data-based intervention planning. Emphasis is placed on linking assessment data to classroom and school-based interventions. Students will gain supervised practice in the administration and interpretation of both norm-referenced and curriculum-based measures, and they will develop skills in ethical and culturally responsive application of academic assessments.
Taken during the third semester, this course provides school psychology graduate students with knowledge and practical skills to collaborate with educators and parents with the goal of implementing evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions in school settings. The course emphasizes cognitive-behavioral, behavioral, solution-focused, and trauma-informed interventions tailored for diverse children and adolescents. Legal, ethical, and cultural considerations in providing mental health services in schools are also examined.
When Can I Start?
The course sequence begins in August of each year.
Admission Requirements for the Ed.S. and M.A. in School Psychology Program
To be considered for admission to the Ed.S. and M.A. School Psychology program, you must:
- An official transcript confirming 18 credit hours in psychology and/or education courses. A statistics course is recommended but not required.
- An essay that includes your professional goals and interests.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- 3.0 GPA preferred, standardized test scores optional.
Tuition & Aid
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