This is a great time to enter the field of school psychology. Job prospects in school psychology are excellent. Our students easily find internships and positions. Workforce predictions indicate upcoming large-scale retirements and subsequent shortages of trained school psychologists with competitive salaries.
The Education Specialist (Ed.S.) program in School Psychology Ed. S. Plan of Studyis accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) in association with the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). It is designed to prepare students to meet the Department of Education requirements for certification in West Virginia and other states. The Ed.S. consists of 39 hours of required coursework and field experiences, in addition to a Master of Arts (M.A.) Degree in Psychology with an emphasis in School Psychology (36 hrs).
The School Psychology Ed.S. Program at Marshall University focuses on practitioner training for the delivery of comprehensive school psychological services primarily in school settings. Ed.S. students are trained in a “scientist practitioner” model that emphasizes the use of research findings in clinical decision-making, both in terms of creating interventions as well as evaluating their efficacy. Ed.S. students draw upon scientific literature to make decisions regarding best practice with a focus on empirically supported services.
School psychologists provide a wide variety of professional services including
- Consultation with parents, teachers, administrators, and others
- Psychological and educational assessment and problem-solving
- Counseling: Individual and Group
- Prevention and Crisis Intervention services
- Program evaluation
Students receive education and training in the following ten NASP domains:
- Data-Based Decision Making & Accountability
- Consultation & Collaboration
- Interventions and Instructional Support to Develop Academic Skills
- Interventions and Mental Health Services to Develop Social and Life Skills
- School-Wide Practices to Promote Learning
- Preventative and Responsive Services
- Family-School Collaboration Services
- Diversity in Development and Learning
- Research & Program Evaluation
- Legal, Ethical and Professional Practice
The School Psychology program consists of a M.A. Degree of 36 hours and a Ed.S. degree of 39 hours. Students initially apply for a M.A. Degree in Psychology with a School Psychology emphasis. After successfully completing the fall semester of coursework, students apply for the Specialist Degree in School Psychology. Students who apply to the Ed.S. School Psychology program and already possess graduate degrees in psychology, counseling, or education may be considered for advanced standing after a review of coursework, grades and test scores by the School Psychology faculty.
MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY WITH SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY EMPHASIS
Admission requirements:
- an undergraduate Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all previously completed undergraduate university work (see catalog for information regarding provisional status)
- Graduate Record Exam Revised (General Test) scores no lower than 146 on the Verbal and 140 on the Quantitative sections, and a minimum total of 300 on those two sections;
- Completion of the following prerequisite courses: Elementary or Introductory Statistics, Experimental Psychology or Research Methods; Abnormal Psychology; Learning, Social Psychology and Developmental Psychology
Curriculum:
Core Requirements
- Biological Bases of School Psychology (SPSY 674) or Biological Bases of Behavior (PSY 674)
- Experimental Design (PSY 623).
- Cognitive and Emotional Bases of School Psychology (SPSY 675) or Cognitive and Emotional Bases of Behavior (PSY 672)
- Cross-Cultural Psychology (PSY 526)
- Advanced Developmental Psychology (PSY 615) or Typical and Atypical Child Development (SPSY 616)
- Ethical and Legal Issues in Psychology (PSY 605)
- Data Based Decision Making II (SPSY 621) or Psychometrics (PSY 506)
- M.A. Research Seminar (PSY 692)
Area of Emphasis Requirements
- Schools (SPSY 601)
- School Consultation (SPSY 617)
- Instruction Methods and Behavior Modification (SPSY 618)
- Psychotherapy with Children (PSY 619) or Individual and Group Counseling (SPSY 619)
Total: 36 Credit Hours
SPECIALIST DEGREE IN SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY
Admission Requirements
After successfully completing the fall semester of the MA in Psychology with School Psychology emphasis, applicants apply to the Ed.S. School Psychology program by submitting to Graduate Admissions 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. A limited number of graduate assistantships are available. 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.
Curriculum:
- Professional Competence II: Professional School Psych (SPSY 603)
- Data-Based Decision Making II (SPSY 622)
- Data-Based Decision Making III (SPSY 624)
- Practicum I (SPSY 738)
- Practicum II (SPSY 739)
- SPSY 720 Counseling with Youth: Advanced Topics
- Developmental Reading (CIRG 636)
- Indirect Service Delivery II: Primary Prevention (SPSY 620)
- Research: Thesis (SPSY 750) or Program Evaluation (SPSY 751)
- Internship (SPSY 745, 12 hours)
Total: 39 Credit Hours
Program Requirements:
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. Failure to make the expected amount of progress may result in reassignment to another internship year. The internship requires a commitment to a school system for a full academic year and is 1200 hours (12 credit hours). A maximum of 18 students will be admitted to this final-year experience. This paid internship must occur within a school setting and meet stringent criteria specified by the program and the National Association of School Psychologists. In addition, students must defend a thesis or program evaluation and earn a passing score on Praxis II Specialty Examination in School Psychology before graduation.
School Psychology Plan of Study
Questions about the program should be directed to:
Lanai Jennings, PhD, NCSP
Assistant Professor / School Psychology Program Director
Marshall University College of Education and Professional Development
100 Angus E. Peyton Drive Room GC 108
South Charleston, WV 25303
Phone: (304) 746.2067
Sandra S. Stroebel, Ph.D. Stroebel Vitae 2017
Professor in School Psychology and Associate Dean of COEPD
304-746-2032
stroebel@marshall.edu
For more information on the School Psychology Program please follow the link to the school psychology main page: