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School Psychology - Ph.D.

The School Psychology Ph.D. program prepares you for a professional career in school psychology with a focus on improving children's academic performance, social-emotional development, mental health and overall well-being. With a combination of comprehensive coursework, research experience and supervised on-site training experiences, you'll gain the knowledge and skills needed to make a difference in the lives of children and adolescents in a variety of applied settings.

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91²Ö¿â This Program

The Ph.D. Program in School Psychology at 91²Ö¿â is rich in history and tradition, reflecting Ohio’s early position as a leader in the development of the school psychology specialty, the master’s program began in 1947. Students were first admitted for doctoral study in the mid-1960s. The Ph.D. Program in School Psychology was initially accredited by the American Psychological Association in 1984 and approved by the National Association of School Psychologists in 1987; accreditation and approval have been continuous since that time.

CORE VALUES

Following are the core values of the Ph.D. Program in School Psychology:

  • Acquiring the appropriate analytical skills to make informed decisions, perform evaluations of client outcomes, and contribute new findings to the profession (Scientist-Practitioner/Data-Based Decision Making);
  • Attending to the relationship between behavior and the environment to determine the appropriate level, timing, and focus of service deliver (Eco-Behavioral Model);
  • Appreciating the relevance and value of diversity when providing responsible and ethical delivery of psychological services (Cultural Competence); and
  • Fostering the ability to recognize and evaluate the interdependencies of organizational systems to improve the delivery of psychological services (Systems-Based Practice)

Program Information for School Psychology - Ph.D.

Program Description

Full Description

The Ph.D. degree in School Psychology is committed to a scientist-practitioner model of training, which conceptualizes school psychologists as data-oriented problems solvers and transmitters of psychological knowledge and skill. As such, students draw upon the scientific literature as a primary basis for professional practice and focus their research agendas so as to have meaningful implications for practice. In addition, functioning as a scientist-practitioner meas that professional practice is conducted in ways that are consistent with the scientific method.

Emphasis in training is placed on the provision of services through research-based practice and data-based decision making. Doctoral students gain competencies, not only in the provision of school psychological services to individual children and youth, but also in the promotion and implementation of systemic, preventative educational and mental health systems. Since the program's emphasis is on the application of psychology in applied educational and mental health settings, students are required to demonstrate competence in the substantive content areas of psychological and educational theory; the scientific, methodological and theoretical foundations of practice in school psychology; data-based decision making; intervention design and evaluation; and cultural and individual diversity.

The school psychology doctorate prepares students to work as leaders in applied practice in educational and mental health settings.

Professional Licensure Disclosure

This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at 91²Ö¿â's website for professional licensure disclosure.

Admissions for School Psychology - Ph.D.

For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.

Admission Requirements

  • Master's degree from an accredited college or university
  • Minimum 3.000 graduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale (minimum 3.500 GPA is recommended)
  • Official transcript(s)
  • Résumé or curriculum vitae
  • Goal statement
  • Sample of written work
  • School Psychology Supplemental Data Form (online document)
  • Questions in Anticipation of Licensure form
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Interview
  • English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:1
    • Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
    • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
    • Minimum 58 PTE score
    • Minimum 110 DET score
1

International applicants who do not meet the above test scores will not be considered for admission.

Application Deadlines

  • Fall Semester
    • Priority deadlines: January 15 and May 1
      Applications submitted by January 15 will be considered for interviews taking place during the spring semester. If admitted, students may begin coursework during either the summer or fall semester.
      Applications submitted by May 1 will be considered for interviews taking place during the summer. If admitted, students may begin coursework during the fall semester.
  • Spring Semester
    • Priority deadline: October 1
      Applications submitted by October 1 will be considered for interviews taking place during the fall semester. If admitted, students may begin coursework during the spring semester.
  • Summer Term
    • Priority deadline: January 15
      Applications submitted by January 15 will be considered for interviews taking place during the spring semester. If admitted, students may begin coursework during either the summer or fall semester.
Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate adequate knowledge and skills associated with both the National Association of School Psychologists' Domains of School Psychology Training and Practice and those domains related to advanced psychological foundations knowledge and research skills as identified by the American Psychological Association (APA).
  2. Demonstrate an appropriate level of professional deportment.
Coursework

Program Requirements

Major Requirements

Major Requirements
PSYC 70413COGNITIVE NEUROPSYCHOLOGY 3
or PSYC 70453 INTRODUCTION TO COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY
or PSYC 70604 COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT
PSYC 70615SOCIAL AND PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT 3
or PSYC 71260 THEORIES OF PERSONALITY
PSYC 70950HISTORY AND CONTEMPORARY SYSTEMS 3
PSYC 71054LEARNING AND CONDITIONING 3
or PSYC 71350 PHYSIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY
PSYC 71580SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY 3
PSYC 71651QUANTITATIVE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS I 3
or RMS 85515 QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN AND ANALYSIS
PSYC 71654QUANTITATIVE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS II 3
or RMS 85517 ADVANCED QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH IN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
or RMS 85518 ADVANCED QUALITATIVE RESEARCH IN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
RMS 85516QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN 3
SPSY 77892ADVANCED PRACTICUM IN SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY 6
SPSY 77998INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH IN SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY 4
SPSY 80090DOCTORAL RESIDENCY SEMINAR 3
SPSY 87987PROFESSIONAL SEMINAR IN SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY 3
SPSY 87987PROFESSIONAL SEMINAR IN SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY 3
or SPSY 87998 RESEARCH SEMINAR IN SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY
SPSY 87992DOCTORAL INTERNSHIP IN SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY 12
SPSY 87998RESEARCH SEMINAR IN SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY 3
Psychology (PSYC) Elective3
Culminating Requirement
SPSY 80199DISSERTATION I 130
Minimum Total Credit Hours:91
1

Upon admission to candidacy, each doctoral candidate must register for SPSY 80199. It is expected that a doctoral candidate will continuously register for Dissertation I for a total of 30 credit hours, and thereafter, SPSY 80299 each semester until all requirements for the degree have been met.

Graduation Requirements

Minimum Major GPA Minimum Overall GPA
- 3.000
  • The total number of required credit hours in each student's Plan of Study/Residency Plan will vary based on previous graduate coursework, point of entry into the program, program area advisor input and the school psychology program requirements. The minimum requirement for a doctoral degree is 60 credit hours beyond the master's degree. Given the requirements of the accreditation bodies governing 91²Ö¿â's school psychology degree program, the typical number of required credit hours for the doctoral degree will exceed that of the minimum college requirements.
  • Students who enter the program without recent and comprehensive training in school psychology (from a NASP-approved program) and without a school psychology license must complete relevant coursework. The total number of required hours will vary based on point of entry into the program, previous coursework and program advisor input.
  • State/Federal background checks are required for all field-based experiences.

Candidacy

Once the student has successfully completed and orally defended their comprehensive exams, they are recommended for doctoral candidacy in line with all other program and college requirements.

Licensure Information

Candidates seeking School Psychologist licensure are required to pass the ETS Praxis II School Psychologist test or the domain specific School Psychology Ohio Assessment for Educators test.

Accreditation for School Psychology - Ph.D.

The Ph.D. degree in School Psychology is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and recognized by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).

Program Sequence Information

Designed as a 5 year program if entering directly into the Ph.D. Program in School Psychology. The duration varies for students entering the Ph.D. Program in School Psychology with prior training in School Psychology.

Year One

First year coursework provides an orientation to the profession of school psychology, as well as the foundations for professional practice. The Master's of Education (M.Ed.) Degree in School Psychology is awarded upon successful completion of all required courses.

Year Two

Second year coursework focuses attention on the development of professional competencies, as well as an integration of knowledge and skills necessary for professional practice.

Year Three

Third year coursework provides additional advanced study and experiences in school psychology consistent with doctoral themes for research, leadership, and supervision as approved and reflected on the students Plan of Study. Typically, students complete their doctoral comprehensive exams and advance to candidacy at the conclusion of year three.

Years Four and Five

Fourth and fifth years of study include the successful completion of dissertation research and a full-year doctoral internship. Years 4 and 5 can be switched depending on the student's desire for research completion, as well as with any requirements at APPIC/APA internship sites that may require an accepted dissertation proposal prior to beginning internship.

Current Student Resources

Ph.D. Program Data

Please see  for information pertaining to admission, attrition, costs, and graduation trends within the Ph.D. Program in School Psychology.

Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries for School Psychology - Ph.D.

Those who complete the Ph.D. in School Psychology at 91²Ö¿â can benefit from specialized career opportunities in school psychology.

Psychologists, all other

2.3%

slower than the average

19,800

number of jobs

$105,780

potential earnings

Clinical, counseling, and school psychologists

3.1%

about as fast as the average

171,500

number of jobs

$79,820

potential earnings

Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' . Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.

Accreditation

The Ph.D. Program in School Psychology is Accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA).

Questions related to the program's accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation, Office for Program Consultation and Accreditation, American Psychological Association, 750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002. Phone: (202) 336-5979. Email: apaaccred@apa.org. Web: .

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