Doctoral Requirements

The doctoral program yields a Ph.D. in Education with a specialization in School Psychology. Consisting of a minimum of 109 credit hours, the program is designed to be completed in five years, although students often prefer six years (i.e., completing their dissertation prior to the internship). In addition to being awarded the Ph.D. upon completion of all program requirements, students are awarded the Specialist Degree in School Psychology. Ph.D. requirements are presented below. This information is consistent with the Policy Guidelines for the Doctorate of Philosophy in Education developed by the faculty in the School of Education. Students should obtain a copy of the Policy Guidelines and make sure that their course of study conforms to the Guidelines

Students who already have a Master’s or Specialist degree in school psychology may incorporate previous coursework into their Ph.D. studies. However, all course waivers and substitutions must be approved by the student’s adviser and the faculty of the school psychology program. Faculty may require demonstration of specific competencies prior to waiving courses (e.g., submission of a written psychoeducational evaluation or tape demonstrating counseling skills). Doctoral students who have already completed a 1,200-clock hour school-based internship may complete a predoctoral internship in a non-school setting (consisting of a minimum of 750 clock hours)

Doctoral Level Curriculum

Fall of Year 1

• EDUC 618: Introduction to School Psychology
• EDUC 805: Proseminar I
• EDUC 856: Methods of Educational Research I (Quantitative)
• EDUC 840: Research Colloquium Series (1 credit)

Spring of Year 1

• EDUC 806: Proseminar II
• EDUC 850: Methods of Educational Research II (Qualitative)
• EDUC 840: Research Colloquium Series (1 credit)
• EDUC 679: Instructing Elementary/Middle Schoolers with Mild Disabilities
• EDUC 830: Consultation and Intervention: School Discipline

Proseminar Exam

Fall of Year 2

• EDUC 663: Counseling Skills Laboratory
• EDUC 817: Individual Intelligence Testing
• EDUC 744: Educational Assessment and Progress Monitoring
• EDUC 840: Research Colloquium Series (1 credit)

Winter Session of Year 2

• EDUC 814: Psychological Assessment of Children

Spring of Year 2

• EDUC 671: Practicum in School Psychology
• EDUC 968: Supervised Research or Elective approved by advisor

• EDUC 812: Regression Methods in Education
• EDUC 840: Research Colloquium Series (1 credit)
• EDUC 870: Child Neuropsychology OR EDUC 842: Assessment of Special Population

Comprehensive Exam in School Psychology

Master’s Degree Conferred

Fall of Year 3

• EDUC 671: Practicum in School Psychology
• EDUC 831: Advanced Counseling Techniques
• EDUC 813: Childhood Psychopathology
• EDUC 823: Learning and Development

Spring of Year 3

• EDUC 671: Practicum in School Psychology
• EDUC 841: Consultation and Intervention: Mental Health
• EDUC 968: Supervised Research
• EDUC 651: School-Based Family Issues and Intervention

Fall of Year 4

• EDUC 874: Multivariate Data Analysis in Education (or EDUC 865: Educational Measurement Theory)
• EDUC 968: Supervised Research or Elective
• EDUC 852: Methods of Educational Research III (Philosophical/Historical)

Spring of Year 4

• EDUC 968: Supervised Research
• EDUC 969: Doctoral Dissertation
• EDUC 832: Practicum in School Psychology (doctoral practicum)
• EDUC 870: Child Neuropsychology OR EDUC 842: Assessment of Special Populations

Fall of Year 5

• EDUC 888: Internship
• EDUC 969: Doctoral Dissertation

Spring of Year 5

• EDUC 888: Internship (1,500 clock hours)
• EDUC 969: Doctoral Dissertation

PRAXIS Exam in School Psychology

Ph.D. Conferred

Minimum GPA Requirement

Doctoral students must maintain a GPA of 3.5 in school psychology courses required of the Master’s degree and Specialist Degree, and a GPA of 3.5 in additional doctoral-level courses. Students also must meet all other requirements of the Specialist Degree and the Ph.D. in Education, including the following Scholarly Apprenticeship Requirements

Residency Requirement

All students must complete a full-time residency. For students in the Ph.D. program, the University requires that the doctoral program be completed within ten consecutive semesters for students admitted with a Master’s degree and within fourteen consecutive semesters for students admitted without it. Full time study throughout the program is strongly encouraged. Students who can devote full time to their program should earn the doctorate within five years. For students entering the Ph.D. program who have already completed all requirements of the Specialist program, the first two years of study must be completed as a full-time student.