Welcome to the School Psychology Program!

We are particularly proud that you are interested learning more about this most challenging professional experience. Students with whom you will be working mature, learn, and explore at different rates, seemingly in different directions during their P-16 Experience. As a school psychologist engaged in working with young children, adolescents, and adults, you will make many discoveries about better ways to teach, to work with professional colleagues, and to help individuals learn. Our program draws educators from within the College of Education, faculty from the University community, professionals from the Bluegrass area, and advanced elementary education students.

Two degree programs are offered in School Psychology, which is an APA-accredited program: an Educational Specialist (EdS) program and a doctoral (PhD) program. Specialist applicants who do not yet hold a Master's degree in a related field must apply for admission to the Master's degree program in educational psychology with an intention to complete the specialist degree in school psychology. Students holding a prior master's degree in a related field may apply directly for a specialist degree.

Overview and Philosophy

The programs are designed to prepare professional psychologists with educational expertise who can function in a variety of diverse educationally related settings. The "scientist practitioner" and "ecological systems"/"whole child" concepts guide the program. These views foster the conception of the school psychologist as broadly capable of conducting research and practicing effectively with clients, in addition to considering the ecological complex in which the child exists. The program faculty has a strong interest in the full service school model, which espouses a broad role for the school psychologist. The assessment of children and adolescents as well as planning for interventions necessitates this broader conceptualization of childhood problems. The programs emphasize a balance between psychological and educational theory and applied practice. Both programs also espouse a commitment to human welfare and service to others.

Program Experience

The School Psychology programs offer a breadth of classroom choices and a wealth of field experiences. The MS/EdS school psychology curriculum is displayed in the program handbook. The combination of these classroom and experiential activities result in graduates who are prepared for many of the professional challenges of a school psychologist. Students and faculty communicate by frequent classroom contact, advising sessions, and LISTSERVs. Sigma Psi, the student organization for students in School Psychology, elects representatives to sit on the School Psychology Advisory Committee. Student representatives provide input to most programmatic policy decisions. Sigma Psi also plans social and professional activities for students and faculty.

Students in both programs take course work in general areas of psychology (learning, development, social bases), research and statistics, professional areas (assessment, consultation, intervention, counseling, legal and ethical issues), and education (special education, reading, cultural foundations). Specialist students complete a project that can range from a review of the literature in a professional area to a formal research study. Doctoral students complete an empirically based dissertation. Practicum courses are taken throughout the program. Students without prior field experiences typically take a yearlong practicum in the second year of their program that combines applied work in the program's School Psychology Clinic and in the schools. Advanced practicum experiences are available in the School Psychology Clinic, schools, specialized educational settings, developmental disabilities settings, child/adolescent mental health settings, medical settings, and other agencies. At the completion of both programs, students complete yearlong (or equivalent) internships. Specialist students typically complete internships that are school-based, whereas doctoral students may combine school and agency internships. Doctoral students often complete their training in APA-approved internship settings. We take pride in our prepartion for PRAXIS II testing, a standardized test that is recognized by the ESPB for teacher certification. Typically our students do very well on this measure of professional readiness. The School Psychology Program faculty continuously montior how our program is relevant to the professional challenges so we can adjust our teaching and learning experiences to provide a dynamic preparation for our pre-professional, pre-certification, and pre-licensure students.

Career Opportunities for Program Graduates

Graduates of the programs are afforded a wide variety of opportunities. Specialist graduates are typically employed in public school positions, but opportunities also exist in educational cooperatives, specialized school settings, and agencies. Doctoral graduates have similar opportunities and also have opportunities for college and university teaching, research and program evaluation positions, and a broader array of positions in agencies providing mental health, health, and developmental services to children and adolescents. Placement in appropriate professional positions has been close to 100% in recent years. Our alumni work in P-12 schools, universities and agencies across the commonwealth and many of the 50 states.

Applyling for a Degree in School Psychology

Every year the applicant pool for the school psychology program seems to become more competitive. Typically, an effort is made to select highly qualified individuals who will enrich the program's commitment to a diverse student population. Students are selected on the basis of their compatibility with the overall goals of the school psychology program and the profession of School Psychology. Our intention is to select students whose professional goals, interests, and expertise match the available resources within the school psychology program. The typical entering student is about 30 years old and has completed a Master's degree. Program completion rates are high. The program faculty is committed to offering a high quality program and makes every effort to facilitate student progress. For detailed information on how to apply, click our admissions link.

According to university policy, students from minority and ethnically-diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply to the School Psychology program. Because of the changing demographics of the United States, there is a dire need for persons from diverse backgrounds to select school psychology as a career. Moreover, a diverse environment provides an opportunity for everyone to develop an understanding of persons from differing backgrounds. Efforts are made annually to recruit students from ethnic and racial minority groups as the program benefits from diversity in the constituency of its students. A number of campus organizations aim to provide support and develop community. Special financial support is available for students from diverse backgrounds through the Graduate School and other offices on campus. The Graduate School offers non-service minority fellowships, which provide funds for partial tuition payment and a stipend. Also, the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs administers a cultural center and offers specific cultural events during the year.
 

Program Area Chair

For additional information on the School Psychology area, please contact our Area Chair and Director Training for the APA-accredited doctoral program, Professor Tom Prout (htprout@uky.edu).