M.Ed./Ed.S. in School Psychology
Benefits
- Students completing the Ed.S. in School Psychology are prepared to become certified school psychologists in Illinois.
- Graduates of the Ed.S. program will also be eligible to take the Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) exam to become certified as a school psychologist in at least 19 other states.
Degree Requirements
Total Hours: 66
Practicum: Required
Comprehensive: Two Portfolios
Thesis: None
Length of Program:
This is a full-time program. Students complete the program within three years by taking courses during the summer. (See SOE Policy: Time Limit for Degree Completion)
Prerequisites:
Students should present transcript evidence of successful completion ("B" or better) of two of the courses listed below, or their equivalent. Students may be admitted who have not taken one or more of these courses, but such students must complete them within their first academic year prior to taking any assessment courses and will have a program that totals more than the required 66 hours.
- Theories of Personality / Psychology of Personality (CPSY 338)
- Educational Psychology (CIEP 229)
- Exceptional Child (CIEP 339)
- Any Introduction to Statistics course or Test Measurements (CIEP 487)
Technology Expectation
All students are provided Internet access to link electronically to classmates, faculty and student services. In order to use these technological resources, all students must have the computer skills necessary to support academic work (i.e., word processing, PowerPoint) and to access e-mail and the Internet.
Continuous Enrollments
Students in School Psychology are required to maintain the status of continuous enrollment during their program of studies. This means that during each semester of each academic year (excluding Summer Sessions), each student must enroll in at least one course. (See SOE Policy: Academic Standing - Continuous Enrollment)
A formal leave of absence may be granted upon request and the approval of the School of Education's Associate Dean of Student Academic Services.
Candidates in all programs leading to Illinois certification are required to pass an Illinois State Criminal Background Check.
Curriculum Plan:
Completion of the M.Ed./Ed.S. degree program in School Psychology requires 66 graduate semester hours including a full-time internship and a comprehensive portfolio examination. The educational specialist degree is a degree between a master's degree and a doctoral degree. Students with a bachelor's degree are admitted to a combined M.Ed./Ed.S. program. An M.Ed. degree in Educational Psychology is earned after the first year of study, leading to entrance to the Ed.S. portion of the program. Students without a master's degree may transfer in a maximum of six graduate semester hours.
Coursework (66 semester hours)
Psychological Foundations (12 semester hours)
- CIEP 401 - Exceptional Children and Youth
- CIEP 451 - Psychology of Learning
- CPSY 454 - Human Development: Implications for Education
- CPSY 413- Psychopathology: Children and Adolescents
- CIEP 484 - Biological Foundations of Behavior in School
Diversity Elective (3 semester hours)
- CPSY 433 - Counseling Special Populations OR
CIEP 544 - School Crisis Prevention and Intervention Strategies OR
ELPS 423 - Philosophical Foundations of Multiculturalism
Course approved by student's academic advisor
Data Based Decision Making (6 semester hours)
- CIEP 419 - Data Based Decision Making - School Wide Applications
- CIEP 477 - Academic Assessments and Interventions
Assessments and Intervention (15 semester hours)
- CPSY 423 - Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
- CIEP 480 - Assessment of School Age Children and Adults
- CIEP 481 - Assessment of Infants and Preschool Children
- CIEP 482 - Personality Assessment
- CIEP 485 - Social, Emotional, Behavioral Assessments and Interventions
- CIEP 525 - Leading for Social Justice
Consultation (3 semester hours)
- CIEP 479 - School-Based Consultation
Learning Elective (3 semester hours)
- CIEP 557 - Seminar in Learning Theory and Teaching OR
CIEP 556 - Seminar in Problem Solving, Thinking, and Creativity
Statistics and Research Design (3 semester hours)
- RMTD 400 - Research Methods
Professional School Psychology (6 semester hours)
- CIEP 462 - Seminar in Professional School Psychology
- CIEP 410 - Legal Issues: Educational Disabilities
FIELD-BASED EXPERIENCES:
In order to be approved for the field-based experiences in the school psychology program, all core program courses must be passed with a grade of "B" or better. To be approved for the internship, the practicum courses must be passed with a grade of "B" or better.
Practicum (6 semester hours)
- CIEP 461 - Practicum in School Psychology I
- CIEP 463 - Practicum in School Psychology II
The practicum experience consists of working in a school district two days a week for a full school year under the direct supervision of an experienced certified school psychologist. The practicum cannot be completed in the candidate's current place of employment. The practicum courses are taken after specific prerequisites are completed during the year prior to the internship.
Prerequisites for practicum courses are:
- CIEP 401 - The Psychology and Education of Exceptional Child
- CIEP 410 - Legal Issues: Educational Disabilities
- CPSY 423 - Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
- CIEP 450 - Educational Psychology
- CIEP 462 - Seminar in Professional School Psychology
- CIEP 477 - Academic Assessments and Interventions
- CIEP 480 - Assessment of School Age Children and Adult
- CIEP 482 - Personality Assessment
- Or approval for the master's degree in educational psychology
Internship (6 semester hours)
- CIEP 486 - Internship in School Psychology
The internship experience is a full school-year experience working in a school district under the direct supervision of an experienced certified school psychologist (1200 hours). The internship is taken after the coursework has been completed, typically during the third year of study.
Comprehensive
Two Portfolio Comprehensive Examinations are required – M.Ed. portion in year one and Ed.S. portion in year three.
Comprehensive Portfolio application deadline for each:
- December 1
M.Ed. Comprehensive Portfolio due date:
- April 1
Ed.S. Comprehensive Portfolio due dates:
- Initial Components: October 1
- Clinical Components: February 1
Degree Conferral
While the commencement ceremony is every May, degrees can be conferred May, August, and December. Students must apply for graduation/degree conferral. Students should apply for graduation in the semester they anticipate completing all degree requirements. Failure to meet application deadlines may result in a delay of the conferral of the degree to the following semester. Applications for Degree Conferral are due:
- August 1 for December conferral
- December 1 for May or August conferral
Please note the degree conferral application is valid for only one semester. If the degree is not conferred for the semester requested, a new application and fee are required for a subsequent semester.
