School Psychology (Ed.S.)
Jubilee Hall
CHDCM@shu.edu
shu.edu/academics/ed-s-school-psychology
Program Code: EC_SCPS_EDS
This program is an available option for graduates of the University's M.A. in Psychological Studies (School Psychology concentration)
The Ed.S. Program in School Psychology program trains students to become “full service” school psychologists. Coursework in intelligence and personality testing, learning disabilities, child and adolescent psychopathology, counseling and consultation, educational leadership, and curriculum development comprise the matrix of the program. There are fieldwork requirements in most of the Ed.S. courses. The program also includes an intensive 300-hour practicum as well as 1,200-hour internship, allowing students to train under the supervision of a licensed school psychologist, which helps to bridge the gap between theory and practice.
Program Overview
The Ed.S. program in School Psychology is a 29-credit program leading to the Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree and requirements to seek licensure as a school psychologist from the New Jersey Department of Education (NJ DOE). Please note that licensure as a school psychologist does not enable graduates to practice privately.
The Ed.S. program builds on the foundations of the M.A. in Psychological Studies (specifically the School Psychology concentration) program by training students to apply their knowledge and skills and enhance their dispositions. The Ed.S. program takes two years to complete (which includes the practicum and internship). Students in the program complete a rigorous course of study which requires fieldwork for most of the courses and are therefore expected to make a full-time commitment to the program. They also participate in a 300- hour practicum over the course of one semester (generally 3 to 4 days a week) and a 1,200-hour internship over the course of two semesters (five days a week) under the supervision of a licensed school psychologist. This allows students to train under supervision, which helps to bridge the gap between theory and practice. These supervised hours are required for licensure as a school psychologist in the state of New Jersey.
Following the successful completion of the coursework, practicum and internship, successfully passing the Praxis II Exam in School Psychology, and demonstration of the ethical/professional behaviors required for functioning as a school psychologist, students are awarded the Ed.S. degree and are eligible for nomination to the NJ DOE for license as a school psychologist. The program is acknowledged by the NJ DOE as a recognized program in school psychology. State certification is mandatory to practice as a school psychologist in the schools.
More specifically, students in the program will:
- Use data-based decision making to identify strengths and needs, understand programs and measure progress;
- Develop positive interpersonal communication, collaboration and consultative skills;
- Develop and monitor challenging, yet achievable, cognitive, academic, social, behavioral and adaptive goals for school-age children;
- Appreciate and work with individuals and groups with diverse skills and backgrounds;
- Understand the school as a system and work with others to create safe, caring, effective schools;
- Develop and implement prevention and intervention programs;
- Understand family strengths and influences of the student and form partnerships with parents, educators and the community;
- Use research, statistics and evaluation methods; translate research into practice; and evaluate programs to improve services;
- Practice in a manner that meets ethical, professional and legal standards to enhance the quality of services and protect the rights of individuals; and
- Access, evaluate and use information sources and technology to safeguard and enhance the quality of services provided.
A Unique Approach
The Ed.S. program in School Psychology trains “full service” school psychologists to address the psycho- educational and socio-emotional needs of school-age children and adolescents. Inherent in this training is the belief that children must be viewed in the contexts in which they live. The social, economic and cultural contexts shape their feelings, thoughts and actions. The school can usefully be regarded as the second nurturing agent beyond the family and, thus, is intimately involved in the growth and development of society’s youngest members.
Ed.S. students are encouraged to be leaders in SPLASH, the school psychology student organization. This fosters the sense of being part of a “community of learners,” developing leadership abilities, and continuing to participate in service activities. Ed.S. students share their experiences and become role models for the students in the Master's program.
Who Should Apply?
The program is designed for students who can pursue coursework and clinical experiences on a full-time basis and are dedicated to becoming school psychologists and display the ethical/professional behaviors and dispositions required to enter this service profession. This includes being passionate about working with diverse children, families, and staff in schools and within their respective communities. Successful applicants demonstrate their:
- dependability;
- respect and empathy for others in thought and action;
- open-mindedness;
- ability to identify, admit, and learn from their mistakes;
- problem solving skills;
- professional and ethical integrity;
- ability to successfully cope with stress; and
- self-care skills.
Admissions Details
Following successful completion of the M.A. in Psychological Studies/School Psychology concentration -- including a passing score on the Comprehensive Examination -- students may apply to the Ed.S. Program in School Psychology program. Completion of the master’s program does not guarantee admission to the Ed.S. program as the Ed.S. requires a separate application process. The 29-credit Ed.S. program, including practicum and internship, leads to the specialist degree and nomination to the NJ DOE for certification in School Psychology. The complete M.A. in Psychological Studies (School Psychology concentration) and Ed.S. programs are required for certification for a total of 65 graduate credits.
The Office of Graduate Affairs processes all applications and offers an overview of the application process. Specific details regarding this program's admissions details are outlined below.
Application Requirements
To be considered for admission, applicants are required to submit the following materials:
- Online application and application fee
- Resume/Curriculum vitae
- Personal statement (up to 550 words, about two pages)
- Official transcript(s) from all institutions attended, including completion of the University's M.A. in Psychological Studies with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25
- Letters of recommendation (2) from academic and/or professional references, preferably from full-time faculty at the University
- Official score report indicating passing score on the Praxis II exam. This is required as this program includes a clinical practice requirement leading to a New Jersey Certificate of Eligibility with Advanced Standing.
International applicants are welcome. Please review the College's frequently asked admissions questions for supplemental requirements.
Application and Enrollment Dates
The program operates on a rolling admissions schedule where students may begin their studies in the Fall semester.
Career Advancement
Graduates of the Ed.S. program in School Psychology work in key leadership positions as school psychologists in various educational settings. They work in preschool through twelfth grade public school districts and private schools throughout the tri-state area and the country. They work with parents, school staff and the community to enhance the academic, social, emotional growth of students. Ed.S. graduates function as “full service” school psychologists, who provide consultation, interventions, participate in fellow intervention and referral services, provide both individual and group counseling, conduct psychological assessments, develop Individual Education Programs for classified students, etc.
Some of our Ed.S. graduates pursue advanced degrees (Ph.D., Psy.D., Ed.D.) in school psychology, counseling psychology, school administration/supervision, and other related fields. Students from our program have been accepted to doctoral programs throughout the tri-state area.
Curriculum Requirements
Students must complete a minimum of 29 credit hours, as listed below.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| CPSY 6501 | Professional Consult-Sch Prac * | 3 |
| CPSY 7502 & CPSY 8502 | Individual Cognitive Assess and Indiv Cognitive Assess-Lab * | 4 |
| CPSY 7503 & CPSY 8503 | Personality Assessment and Personality Assessment * | 4 |
| CPSY 7506 | Individual Educ. Assessment * | 3 |
| CPSY 8519 | Atyp Behavior Chld:Assess Intv | 3 |
| CPSY 9985 | Intern-Child-Adol Therapy * | 3 |
| CPSY 8511 | Sem-Pract of School Psyc ** | 3 |
| CPSY 8580 | Internship School Psyc I *** | 3 |
| CPSY 8581 | Internship School Psyc II *** | 3 |
| Total Hours | 29 | |
- *
Fieldwork required.
- **
300-hour field placement.
- ***
600-hour field placement.
Important Details
Students admitted to the Ed.S. Program are required to successfully pass the Praxis II Exam (School Psychology-10400) as part of the Ed.S. program's requirements.
Plan of Study
Requirements for the program are outlined in the "Requirements" tab of this Catalogue. This Planner tab offers a sample semester-by-semester model schedule which accounts for historical course availability. For timely completion of the program, students must routinely meet with their assigned academic advisor to carefully plan their schedule based on available courses.
The Plan of Study below includes the M.A. in Psychological Studies (School Psychology concentration) in addition to the requirements for the Ed.S. in School Psychology.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Hours | |
| CPSY 6100 | Intro to Sch Psyc Hist-Sys Fou | 3 |
| CPSY 6102 | Psychology-Human Devl | 3 |
| CPSY 8617 | Appl Res Meth - Stat Analysis | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CPSY 6103 | Abnormal Psychology | 3 |
| CPSY 6001 | Tests and Measurements | 3 |
| EDST 6001 | Compre Apprch to Stu Lrn DIs | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CPSY 6105 | Biological Bases-Behavior | 3 |
| CPSY 8100 | Multicultural Couns-Psychology | 3 |
| CPSY 6505 | Prin Learn-Behavior Mod | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CPSY 6303 | Counseling-Community Agencies | 3 |
| CPSY 8100 | Multicultural Couns-Psychology | 3 |
| CPSY 7501 | Intro to Clinical Skills | 3 |
| Comprehensive Exam | ||
| Hours | 9 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CPSY 7502 | Individual Cognitive Assess | 3 |
| CPSY 8502 | Indiv Cognitive Assess-Lab | 1 |
| CPSY 7503 | Personality Assessment | 3 |
| CPSY 8503 | Personality Assessment | 1 |
| CPSY 9985 | Intern-Child-Adol Therapy | 3 |
| Hours | 11 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CPSY 6501 | Professional Consult-Sch Prac | 3 |
| CPSY 8511 | Sem-Pract of School Psyc | 3 |
| CPSY 7506 | Individual Educ. Assessment | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Third Semester | ||
| CPSY 8519 | Atyp Behavior Chld:Assess Intv | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| CPSY 8580 | Internship School Psyc I | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| CPSY 8581 | Internship School Psyc II | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Total Hours | 65 | |
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