School Psychology Program

School Psychology Curriculum

Program Description

School psychologists provide a variety of psychological services primarily in public school settings. Through their skills in consultation, assessment, intervention and program evaluation, school psychologists work closely with teachers, administrators, parents, and community agencies to identify and treat students' problems. Specialist degree level school psychologists are in demand regionally and nationally. Our program is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), NCATE, and the Minnesota Board of Teaching. Graduates meet the requirements for certification as school psychologists in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and most other states.

The School Psychology program requires 65 semester credits taken over three years. The program consists of two years of full-time on-campus course work and a one-year internship. A non-terminal, thesis-based Master's degree is awarded after the first 30 semester credits with the terminal Specialist degree awarded after the remaining 35 credits. It is expected that students will earn both the Master's and the Specialist degrees. Continuous registration from enrollment to completion of Specialist degree (excluding summers) in coursework at MSUM or PSY 698/798: Continuing Registration is required. Students are admitted only on a full-time basis with attendance beginning in the fall semester. Admission is limited and competitive. The application deadline is February 15 for both degree programs. Late applications will be considered if space is available.

 

Student Learning Outcomes

Students who complete the Master of Science and Specialist in School Psychology will show evidence of knowledge and skills in:

  • Data-based decision-making and accountability
  • Consultation and collaboration
  • Effective instruction and development of cognitive skills
  • Socialization and development of life skills
  • Student diversity in development and learning
  • School and systems organization, policy development and climate
  • Prevention, crisis intervention, and mental health
  • Home/school/community collaboration
  • Research and program evaluation
  • School psychology practice and development
  • Information resources

 

Admission Requirements: Master's Degree

  1. Baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution. No specific undergraduate major required, however, preparation must include a minimum of 12 semester hours of course work in psychology including one developmental psychology course.  At least one course should be at an upper-level.  One statistics course also is required. A research methods course is highly recommended.
  2. 3.0 grade point average or at least 3.25 grade point average for the last 30 semester credits of graded course work.
  3. Completed "Application for Admission to Graduate Study" form.
  4. Undergraduate and other transcripts sent directly from the institution to the Graduate Studies Office.
  5. Non-refundable $20.00 fee for first-time applicants to Minnesota State University Moorhead.
  6. Combined score of 1,000 on the Verbal and Quantitative portions of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Only official scores are accepted; no more than five years old.
  7. Letter of intent specifying career goals and research interests.
  8. Three letters of recommendation. At least one letter should be from someone who can speak to the candidate's academic skills (use forms provided). A minimum of two letters from academic sources (including someone from the candidate's major) is highly recommended.
  9. A personal or telephone interview is highly recommended. Interviews are to be done as part of the application process before the application deadline. It is up to the applicant to schedule the interview by contacting the Program Director.

 

Degree Requirements:  Master's Degree

The program must be completed under Plan A with a thesis required. 

  1. Minimum of 30 credits.
  2. Students who wish to transfer credits from other institutions or have taken courses before admission to the graduate program should refer to the "Residence and Transfer of Credit" section in the Graduate Bulletin for further information.
  3. 3.0 grade point average required for courses submitted for the degree. A grade of "B-" is the minimum allowed in core school psychology classes and a "C-" is the minimum grade allowed in non-core classes.
  4. Written comprehensive examination.
  5. Thesis.
  6. Oral examination in defense of the thesis. 

Detailed information on these requirements and department policies and procedures may be obtained from the School Psychology Graduate Program Coordinator. Further information on degree requirements may be found in "General Degree Requirements" at the front of the Graduate Bulletin.


Admissions Requirements: Specialist Degree

Students who have completed the M.S. in School Psychology from MSUM will be considered for admission to the Specialist degree program upon submission of the following:

  1. A completed "Application for Admission to Graduate Study" (submit to the Graduate Studies Office).
  2. A letter of interest and intent submitted to the Graduate Studies Office with a copy to the Coordinator of the School Psychology Program.

For applicants who have completed MSUM's Master's degree in School Psychology, admission decisions will be made by the School Psychology Coordinating Committee (SPCC) and will be based on results of the most recent yearly review of student progress and progress since that review (See School Psychology Student Handbook).

No student may be admitted prior to completion of the M.S. degree. MSUM students who begin taking Specialist degree classes prior to earning the M.S. degree are cautioned that no more than nine of the credits taken prior to admission to the Specialist degree may be counted toward that degree without prior approval by the SPCC.

Applicants who have not been enrolled in the MSUM School Psychology program must submit evidence of satisfactory completion of a substantially equivalent Master's degree. In addition, all of the requirements for admission to the Master's degree program, as described earlier, must be met. If the student is admitted directly to the Specialist degree program, any MSUM Master's degree requirements not met as part of the student's previous degree program must be completed as part of the Specialist degree program. For more information, contact the Program Coordinator.

 

Degree Requirements:  Specialist Degree

Degree completed under Plan B

  1. Minimum of 35 credits (to total 65 for combined Master's and Specialist program).
  2. National School Psychology exam.
  3. 3.0 grade point average required for courses submitted for the degree. A grade of "B-" is the minimum allowed in core school psychology classes and a "C-" is the minimum grade allowed in non-core classes.
  4. Portfolio demonstrating mastery of program objectives.
  5. Final oral examination based on portfolio materials.

Detailed information on these requirements and department policies and procedures may be obtained from the School Psychology Graduate Program Coordinator. Further information on degree requirements may be found in "General Degree Requirements" at the front of the Graduate Bulletin.


Course Requirements: Total Program

Master's and Specialist Degrees combined (65 semester credits). Courses not completed as part of the Master's degree are completed for the Specialist Degree

PSY 517: Developmental Psychopathology (3)

PSY 601: Foundations of School Psychology (2)

PSY 611: Children's Thinking (2)

PSY 613: Biopsychology (2)

PSY 620: Measurement Theory (3)

PSY 621: Assessment/Intervention I: Basic Processes (4)

PSY 622: Assessment/Intervention II:  Special Populations (4)

PSY 633:  Statistics/Methods for School Psychologists (2)

PSY 634:  Applied Research for School Psychologists (3)

PSY 635:  Research Seminar in School Psychology (1)

PSY 641: Practicum in School Psychology I (1)

PSY 642: Practicum in School Psychology II (1)

PSY 699: Thesis in Psychology (4)

PSY 701: Issues in the Practice of School Psychology (2)

PSY 723: Assessment/Intervention III: Early Childhood (3)

PSY 724: Assessment/Intervention IV: Psychosocial Problems (4)

PSY 728: Systems Intervention (2)

PSY 744: Practicum in School Psychology III (1)

PSY 760: Internship in School Psychology (3)

PSy 796:  Specialist Portfolio in School Psychology (2)

CNSA 520: Basic Counseling Skills (3)

ED 664: Theory and Process of Consultation (2)

SPED 606: Research  & Application  in Behavior Analysis (3)

SPED 620: Perspectives and Policies in Special Education (3)

SPED 545:  Remedial and Corrective Reading (3)

  OR SPED 561:  Learning Disabilities (3)

  OR SPED 570:  Transitional Planning (3)

  OR an equivalent special education methods course of a minimum of 2 credits approved by the Program Director.


The course descriptions available in the on-line University Course Descriptions are current. Choose PSY as the subject heading.