Make a Difference

Become a School Psychologist

• A slow reader
• A suicidal adolescent
• A problem family    
• A victim of bullying
• An adolescent hooked on drugs
• A potential drop-out
• A child frightened of terror and war
• An abused child                               
• A pregnant teenager
• A learner disabled student

Being a school psychologist provides the opportunity to work with a diverse group of students, helping them to overcome barriers, ensuring success in school, in home, and in life.

Ed.S. Program in School Psychology

The Ed.S. Program in School Psychology is designed to prepare students to meet the Department of Education’s requirements for certification as a school psychologist in WV and other states.  The program is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists. The School Psychology Program is housed within the Graduate College of Education and Professional Development.  The program consists of 75 hours of required coursework and field experiences.  Students who posses graduate degrees in psychology, counseling, or education are encouraged to apply and enter with advanced standing.  For students who desire to obtain a master’s degree, a dual degree option exists which allows simultaneous enrollment with another program within the Marshall University Graduate College.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a School Psychologist?

What Does a School Psychologist Do?

Admission Requirements

Program Requirements

School Psychology Plan of Study and Required Coursework

Field Experience

Job Prospects

Where Can I Get More Information?

What is a School Psychologist?

School psychologists have specialized training in both psychology and education.  They use their knowledge and skills in partnership with parents, educators, and other health-care providers and mental health professionals to ensure that every child, adolescent, and young adult learns in a safe, healthy and supportive environment.  It is necessary to be credentialed to practice as a school psychologist.

What Does a School Psychologist Do?

School psychologists provide a wide variety of professional services, including:

• Consultation with parents, teachers, administration, and others
• Psychological and educational assessment and problem-solving
• Counseling
• Prevention services
• Training
• Program evaluation

Admission Requirements

Admission is competitive because of the limited number of available internships.  Applicants to the Ed.S. program must have a minimum undergraduate and/or graduate GPA of 3.0.  Students must also obtain GRE (General Test) scores of no lower than 400 on either the Verbal or Quantitative sections, or a minimum total of 900 on those two sections.  As an alternative to the GRE, students may take the Miller Analogies Test.  On this test, students must achieve a scaled score of at least 400 (raw score of 40).  In addition, students must submit a sample of their professional writing (a scholarly paper on any subject) and a statement of their professional goals (1000 words or fewer).  Creating a diverse student body is a priority and minority applicants are encouraged to apply.  Graduate assistantships are available.

Program  Requirements

Prior to entrance in the program, students are expected to have previous coursework in abnormal psychology, tests & measurements, and statistics.  Any prerequisite courses must be completed prior to fall enrollment in the first professional year.

Students can be accepted into the school psychology program throughout the school year; however, school psychology competency classes begin in the fall semester of each academic year. Students are encouraged to begin the program in the summer preceding their 1st year.

Students are admitted to the Ed.S. program with the expectation that they will complete the program within three to five years, depending on the number of classes in which they enroll each semester.  Students are expected to enroll in all three semesters. 

During the first year, each student is required to complete six courses in the core competencies of school psychology.  After completion of the first year, the student remains a second year student for as long as it takes to complete all program requirements.  The final year begins with the summer semester preceding internship in which the student takes the final practicum and completes the thesis requirement.

School Psychology Plan of Study and Required Coursework

Professional Competency

SPSY 601      Schools

SPSY 603      Professional School Psychology

Psychological Foundations

SPSY 616      Typical and Atypical Child Development

SPSY 674      Biological Basis of School Psychology

SPSY 675      Survey of Psychological Foundations

PSY 526        Cross-Cultural Psychology

Research and Statistics

PSY 517        Intermediate Behavioral Statistics

PSY 623        Experimental Design

SPSY 750      Thesis

Assessment

SPSY 621      Data-Based Decision Making I

SPSY 622      Data-Based Decision Making II

SPSY 624      Data-Based Decision Making III

Direct Service Delivery

SPSY 618      Instructional Methods and Behavioral Modification

SPSY 619      Individual and Group Counseling

Indirect Service Delivery

SPSY 617      School Consultation

SPSY 620      Prevention and Crisis Intervention

Education

CISP 535       General Special Education Programming

CIRG 636       Developmental Reading

Field Experience

SPSY 738      School Psychology Practicum I

SPSY 739      School Psychology Practicum II

SPSY 740      School Psychology Practicum III

SPSY 745      Internship in School Psychology

Field Experience

Field experience is an integral part of the school psychology program and begins in the first semester of professional work.  The purpose of the field experience is to provide an opportunity for students to apply theory into practice.  It is an opportunity for students to interact with professionals in the field to ground their learning and aid in their development as emerging school psychologists.

Each student is required to have a school psychologist mentor (a practicing school psychologist who has volunteered to serve as a mentor for a school psychology graduate student in his or her geographic area) and an adoptive school (the adoptive school is a public school that has agreed to serve as a “home” for the student during his or her years in the program as he or she becomes socialized to the role of school psychologist).  The mentor and adoptive school are selected during the first semester of the first year.  Program faculty will help students connect with potential mentors in their own areas.

Two Practicum experiences occur during the second professional year.  These experiences occur at the student’s adoptive school under the supervision of their mentor.  The purpose of these two Practicum courses is to provide a process for integrating, applying, and expanding competencies, attitudes and values under the direction of a supportive mentor.

The final Practicum occurs at the beginning of the student’s third professional year and is directly supervised by program faculty.    The expectation for students is that they will apply their learning to practice by collaborating with other professionals in a summer school clinical experience. 

The final field experience requires a commitment to a school system for a full academic year.  This paid internship consists of 1200 hours (12 credit hours) which is required for certification as a school psychologist and must meet stringent criteria specified by the program and the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). 

There is no Better Time to

Become a School Psychologist

Job prospects in school psychology are excellent, with more positions available than can be filled by current graduates.  The profession currently faces large-scale retirements and subsequent shortages of trained school psychologists to fill positions available nation wide.  Salaries tend to be very competitive. 

For More Information.....

Fred Jay Krieg, Ph.D, Program Director
Professor of School Psychology
Marshall University
South Charleston Campus
100 Angus E. Peyton Drive
South Charleston, WV 25303-1600
304-746-2067 or 1-800-642-9842, ext. 2067
Email: Dr. Fred Krieg

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last updated 4/06