Doctor of Education in School Psychology

Students who enter the doctoral program prior to receiving certification as school psychologists may enroll in selected required doctoral courses as they progress through the certification program when their schedule permits. The majority of the doctoral course requirements are completed in the two summers following the specialist-level internship. The courses are designed to enhance the generalist competencies of the school psychologist and to allow the student to gain advanced skills in research, supervision, and a specialty in either neuropsychology and learning disorders or family-school relations.

 In addition to seminars in advanced issues in assessment and interventions (EDSP 964, EDSP 965), the core courses include two advanced research courses (EDSP 915, EDSP 916) and four courses emphasizing applied clinical skills in the above specialty areas. A three-credit doctoral school internship (1300 hours), a three-credit specialty internship (300 hours), and a nine-credit dissertation are required to complete the doctoral degree.
 

Admission to Doctoral Program for
Certified School Psychologists

Special admission and program planning procedures have been developed so that employed school psychologists, certified through a fully accredited university training program, may be admitted to the doctoral program. Candidates for the post-certification doctoral program must submit the following materials to be considered for admission: departmental and graduate school application forms, application fee, goal statement, undergraduate and graduate transcripts, two letters of recommendation (one of which must be from a direct supervisor), GRE scores for the aptitude portion of the test, and evidence of a passing score on the national Praxis Exam in School Psychology.

 Upon admission, these students undergo a transcript review and candidacy exam to evaluate their past training and current competencies. They also enroll in Practicum II (EDSP 949) during their first summer on campus. Based on transcript review, the candidacy exam, and observations of their clinical skills in Practicum II, a plan of  study is developed, which includes a core program of 24 semester hours of doctoral coursework, a three-credit doctoral school internship, and a nine-credit dissertation. Additional courses may be needed to fill gaps in the student's training or competence.

Doctoral Program Course Schedule
(D.Ed. in School Psychology)

I. Core Courses (9 credits)

EDSP 964 Seminar in School Psychology I (3 cr.)

EDSP 965 Seminar in School Psychology II (3 cr.)

EDSP 977 Seminar in Family-School Relations (3 cr.)
 
 

II. Research Requirements (6 credits)

EDSP 915 Doctoral Seminar in Applied Educational Research (3 cr.)

EDSP 916 Doctoral Seminar in Advanced Educational Research (3 cr.)
 
 

III. Neuropsychology and Learning Disorders Specialty (6 credits)

EDSP 953 Child Neuropsychology (3 cr.)

EDSP 966 Education and Psychopharmacological Issues Associated with Child Neuropsychology (3 cr.)

                   OR
 

IV. Family-School Relations Specialty (6 credits)

PSYC 834 Family Therapy (3 cr.)

PSYC 934 Advanced Family Therapy (3 cr.)

                  OR

PSYC 971 Family and Couples Clinic (3 cr.) 

V. Internship 6 credits.

EDSP 952 Doctoral School Internship (3 cr.)

EDSP 952 Doctoral Specialty Internship (3 cr.)
 

VI. Dissertation 9 credits

EDSP 995 Dissertation (9 cr.)
 

Total 36 credits

* Individual programs of study may vary slightly from this posting depending on the applicant's past coursework, performance on the departmental comprehensive exam, and other individual needs.