School Psychology (PsyD) Program

Curriculum

The first phase of the program consists of the MA/CAGS coursework and related field work, which totals 66 semester credits and requires 3 years of full time study. This provides the candidate with the essential skills, knowledge, and credentials to function as a licensed school psychologist.

The PsyD phase of the program consists of advanced coursework that enables candidates to broaden their scope of practice, enhance their effectiveness in leadership and supervisory roles, and deliver specialized services that schools do not routinely offer. With the subsequent addition of supervised post-doctoral professional experience, a program graduate may qualify for licensure as a psychologist.

Curriculum Outline

Required (Core) Courses, MA/CAGS Level

Instructional Assessment & Intervention (3 Credits)

Statistics** (3 Credits)

Life Span Development** (3 Credits)

Educating Children & Adolescents with Special Needs (3 Credits)

Practicum I: School Environment and Educational Assessment (2 Credits)

Psychoeducational Assessment (3 Credits)

Behavioral Assessment, Intervention, and Consultation (3 Credits)

Psychopathology of Childhood and Adolescence (3 Credits)

Research Methods and Program Evaluation (3 Credits)

Practicum II: Psychoeducational Assessment and Intervention (2 Credits)

Diversity and Cross-Cultural Psychology** (3 Credits)

Preventive Mental Health in the Schools (3 Credits)

Social-Emotional Assessment (3 Credits)

Counseling and Psychotherapy in Schools (3 Credits)

Group Process and Group Therapy (3 Credits)

Practicum III: Clinical Practice (2 Credits)

Legal, Ethical and Professional Issues in School Psychology** (3 Credits)

Biological Bases of Behavior and Learning** (3 Credits)

School and Family System (3 Credits)s

Practicum IV: Clinical Practice (2 Credits)

Internship A (2 Credits)

Internship Seminar A (3 Credits)

Internship B (2 Credits)

Internship Seminar B (3 Credits)

SubTotal, Core Credits Required Required: 66

(Core) Courses, PsyD Level

Psychological Foundations (all)

Cognitive and Affective Bases of Behavior** (3 Credits)

History and Systems** (2 Credits)

Social Bases of Behavior** (3 Credits)

System Interventions and Indirect Services (all)

Consultation in Schools (3 Credits)

Children’s Mental Health Systems and Policy (3 Credits)

Supervision of School Psychological Services (2 Credits)

Psychoeducational Theory and Practice (minimum of 2)∗

Learning Disabilities: Research to Practice (2 Credits)

Preschool Services: Assessment & Intervention (2 Credits)

Reading and Language Arts: Research to Practice (2 Credits)

Educational Therapy (2 Credits)

Assessment (minimum of 2)∗

Advanced Psychoeducational Assessment (2 Credits)

Advanced Social-Emotional Assessment of Children and Adolescents (2 Credits)

Bilingual Assessment (2 Credits)

Special Topics in Psychoeducational Assessment (1 Credits)

Clinical Interventions (minimum of 2)∗

Clinical Interviewing (2 Credits)

Brief Counseling in School Practice (2 Credits)

Advanced Theory of Groups: Practice/Therapy (2 Credits)

Advanced Family Theory (2 Credits)

Doctoral Project and Internship coursework

Doctoral Project I: Advanced Research Methods** (3 Credits)

Doctoral Project II: Project Design and Development (2 Credits)

Doctoral Project III (individual mentorship) (3 Credits)

Doctoral Project IV (continuation—tuition only) (0 Credits)

Doctoral Internship Seminar A (2 Credits)

Doctoral Internship Seminar B (2 Credits)

Doctoral Internship Seminar C (continuing, as needed) (2 Credits)

Doctoral Internship A (2 Credits)

Doctoral Internship B (2 Credits)

Doctoral Internship C (continuing, as needed) (2 Credits)

SubTotal, Core Credits Required 44

Concentration Course Choices
(Required for Latino Mental Health students only)

Clinical Seminar in Latino Mental Health (2 Credits)

Latino Mental Health in the U.S., Part 1 (1 Credits)

Latino Mental Health in the U.S., Part 2 (1 Credits)

Other Elective Course Choices

Clinical Practice of Cognitive Behavioral Therapies (2 Credits)

Directed Study in School Psychology (2 Credits)

Infant, Toddler, Parent Intervention (2 Credits)

Gender Theory (2 Credits)

Theoretical Foundations in Clinical Health Psychology (2 Credits)

Forensic Psychology: Children and Families (2 Credits)

Advanced Seminar: Child/Adolescent Clinical Practice (2 Credits)

Addictive Disorders: Theory and Treatment (2 Credits)

Eating Disorders (2 Credits)

SubTotal, Elective Credits Required: 6

Curriculum Summary

MA/CAGS level 66

PsyD level 50 (minimum)

Total credits 116-124*** (minimum)

* Non-selected courses in these categories my be used as electives
** Required coursework for psychology licensure
*** The doctoral internship, if completed over a two year period, will require an additional 4 credits each for Internship C and for Internship Seminar C

Course Schedule and Format

The expectation is that a significant amount of the coursework will be offered in the summer. The modal arrangement for a summer course will be a week of half-day classes (either morning or afternoon), followed by another week of half-day classes three weeks later, with the possible addition of a weekend day or two in the fall for a given course. The hours will vary depending on whether it is a 2-credit or 3-credit course, and the extent to which a blended format (on site plus distance learning) is used.

Courses during the school year will be late afternoon and evening classes, with some use of a blended format.

A typical course load for doctoral students will be four courses each summer, yielding 8 to 12 credits, and two courses each Fall and Spring semester, yielding another 8 to 12 credits, for a total of approximately 20 credits per year.

Updated 9/22/09