FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Contact: Lalena Price, University Communications (304) 746-1989
 

Graduate College’s School Psychology Program
earns approval from national professional organization

SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Marshall University Graduate College’s School Psychology Program has earned approval from a national professional organization.

The National Association of School Psychologists has approved Marshall’s program through 2011.

“It is no small feat to obtain approval from this organization,” said Fred Jay Krieg, Ph.D., program director. “We have to demonstrate that our school psychologists are actually making a difference in the lives of their students. As it turns out, it’s easy for us to show because our program has a lot of field-based experience components to it. Our students are out there working with mentors and students from the very start.”

Marshall’s program is the only school psychology graduate program in West Virginia. Students who graduate with an educational specialist degree – approximately 15 per year – have learned the skills necessary to work in a field ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the country’s 10 best.

“Students enter Marshall’s program with a great chance of landing solid employment,” Krieg said. “School system administrators from around the country who employ our graduates often will contact us for more interns. The demand is high, and because we focus heavily on hands-on field experience, our graduates can hit the ground running and fill positions in a graying profession that is facing a shortage of qualified school psychologists.”

School psychologists have specialized training in both psychology and education.  School psychologists use their knowledge and skills in consultation with parents, educators, health-care providers and mental health professionals to ensure that every child, adolescent and young adult learns in a safe, healthy and supportive environment. 

For more information on the Marshall School Psychology program, contact Krieg at the Marshall University South Charleston campus (304) 746-2607 or fred.krieg@marshall.edu.

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