Curriculum
M.Ed. in Educational Psychology/Ed.S. in School Psychology
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 the following two courses, or their equivalent. Students may be admitted who have not taken one or more of these courses, but such students must complete them prior to beginning Fall classes.
- Exceptional Child (CIEP 339)
- Any Introduction to Statistics course or Test Measurements (CIEP 487)
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 (9 semester hours)
- CPSY 413 - Psychopathology: Children and Adolescents
- CIEP 484 - Biological Foundations of Behavior in School
- CIEP 500 - Child Development and Cognition
Diversity (9 semester hours)
- CIEP 410 - Legal Issues: Educational Disabilities
- CPSY 433 - Counseling Special Populations
- ELPS 432 - Multiculturalism for Social Justice in Higher Education
Data Based Decision Making and Assessment (15 semester hours)
- CIEP 419 - Data Based Decision Making - School Wide Applications
- CIEP 477 - Academic Assessments and Interventions
- CIEP 480 - Assessment of School Age Children and Adults
- CIEP 481 - Assessment of Infants and Preschool Children
- CIEP 482 - Personality Assessment
Intervention (6 semester hours)
- CPSY 423 - Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
- CIEP 485 - Social, Emotional, Behavioral Assessments and Interventions
Consultation (12 semester hours)
- CIEP 479 - School-Based Consultation
- CIEP 525 - Leading for Social Justice
- CIEP 545 - Advanced Systems Consultation
- CIEP 544 - School Crisis Prevention & Intervention Strategies
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 410 - Legal Issues: Educational Disabilities
- CIEP 419 - Data Based Decision Making
- CPSY 423 - Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
- 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
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 Assessment
Two Comprehensive Portfolios are required – M.Ed. portion in year one and Ed.S. portion in year three. See the Handbook for details.
Application deadline for Comprehensive Portfolios:
- December 1 for M.Ed.
- September 1 for Ed.S.
Due Date for M.Ed. Comprehensive Portfolio:
- April 1
Due Date for Ed.S. Comprehensive Portfolio:
- 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 conferral
- February 1 for 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 is required for a subsequent semester.