School Psychology
Program Mission: The purpose of the Specialist in School Psychology program is to prepare competent professional school psychologists to serve children, teachers, and parents in an age of societal, educational, and professional change. Students interested in pursuing careers in school psychology are admitted into the Specialist in School Psychology program. The specialist's degree is generally considered to be the equivalent of a master's degree plus an additional 30 hours. It, or its equivalent, is recognized by the National Association of School Psychologists and most states, including Illinois, as the appropriate entry-level degree for the practice of school psychology.
Accreditation: The school psychology program is fully approved by the Illinois State Board of Education and National Council Accreditation of Teacher Education. Students are guaranteed state certification upon successful completion of the specialist’s degree and the state certification exam. In addition, the program has been approved by the National Association of School Psychologists.
Admission Requirements: To be eligible for degree candidacy, applicants must meet all of the requirements for admission to the Graduate School (see "Admission to Graduate Degree and Certificate Programs"). A limited number of students are accepted each year and admission to the program is competitive. Prior to consideration for acceptance, the applicant must provide evidence of admission to the graduate school and submit test scores for the GRE (general) test. In addition, the departmental application and three letters of recommendation attesting to the applicant's abilities and promise in the area of school psychology should be provided to the school psychology committee. A personal statement of reasons for wanting to enter the profession, related strengths and experiences, as well as long-term goals, is also required. Students may be asked to complete an interview.
If the following entrance requirements are met, the applicant may be eligible for acceptance into the School Psychology Program.
- A 3.0 (4.0 scale) grade point average in all undergraduate courses and a 3.25 in undergraduate psychology; OR
- A composite (verbal, quantitative, analytical writing) score at the 50th percentile or higher on the Graduate Record Exam - General Aptitude Test;” OR
- A score at the 50th percentile or higher on the psychology portion of the Graduate Record Exam; OR
- In an unusual situation where the above criteria are not met, the applicant may submit a petition to the school psychology committee for review. Probationary admission may be granted based upon the individual circumstances set forth in the applicant's petition.
- Program Prerequisites: Applicants must present a transcript from an accredited institution showing completion of the following courses: introductory psychology; experimental psychology; statistics; abnormal behavior; child psychology; learning or behavior analysis/ modification; personality theory.
Deficiencies may be made up concurrently with the graduate program and will extend the length of the program. Petitions for waiver and/or substitution may be made to the departmental school psychology committee. Screening of applicants begins on March 1. Applicants should submit all materials (including GRE scores) before that date.
Study Plan Approval: Approval of the study plan for the specialist's degree should normally come as soon as possible after acceptance into the degree program. Approval of the study plan is required for graduation.
Degree Requirements
Degree requirements include those outlined for the specialist's degree by the Graduate School (see "Requirements for the Specialist's Degree"). The Specialist's Degree in School Psychology requires a minimum of 66 semester hours at the graduate level. In addition to traditional course work, the specialist’s degree includes 12 hours of internship, 9 hours of practicum, and at least 6 hours of thesis. The plan of study leading to state certification and the specialist’s degree includes the following:
Psychological Foundations
Professional School Psychology
Psychological Assessment
Research and Statistics
Intervention
Field and Clinical Experience
Total. Credits: 21
Residency Requirement
The residency requirement is fulfilled by enrollment for at least eight semester hours in a single semester or at least six semester hours in each of two terms (semester or summer sessions of at least eight weeks duration).
Time limit
The final 32 semester hours of the approved program must be completed within a six-year period preceding the date of the awarding of the degree.
Academic Progress
Students must maintain a minimum of a 3.25 grade point average for retention in the program. Failure to maintain a 3.25 average during one academic semester will result in probation during the following term. Failure to achieve a 3.25 average during the probationary term will result in immediate dismissal from the program.
Comprehensive Examination
Students must complete the National Association of School Psychologists national certification examination prior to graduation.
Practicum/Internship
Four types of field/clinical experiences are built into the program. Early in the student's program, a 150-clock-hour placement in a classroom is made to acquaint the student with the operations of a public school. This is followed by a semester of clinical practicum through the Psychology Department's Child Study Center. During the final semester of course work, students are enrolled in a field practicum in which they complete 150 hours in the schools. This practicum is taken concurrently with consultation and psychotherapy classes. The field experience component culminates in a full school year internship (a minimum of 1,200 clock hours) in a site which meets the requirements set forth by the Illinois State Board of Education. During this time the student works under the direct supervision of a practicing school psychologist in a school setting and receives periodic supervision from a faculty member of the school psychology program.
Thesis
Each student must complete an acceptable research project following departmental and University guidelines. The final approval of the project rests with the student's graduate committee. Regulations governing the writing of the thesis are available in the Graduate School Office.
Graduate Assistantships
Information on graduate assistantships may be obtained by contacting the Coordinator of Graduate Studies or Chair, Department of Psychology, Physical Sciences 1151, EIU
Information sourced from the 2003-2005 EIU Graduate Catalog.