Graduate Studies

 School Psychology

Top ten reasons why you should attend the UW-L School Psychology Program

1. UW-L graduate students are placed in area schools early in the program.
2. The UW-L program promotes cooperation and collaboration among graduate students.
3. UW-L has a strong reputation for producing well trained school psychologists.
4. The UW-L program is fully accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists.
5. Most UW-L students complete their required internship during their first year of employment.
6. UW-L graduates have found school psychology to be a satisfying and fulfilling career.
7. The UW-L school psychology program has an applied emphasis.
8. The UW-L school psychology faculty are licensed as school psychologists.
9. Graduate students are provided one-on-one and small group supervision.
10. UW-L graduates meet requirements for licensure in most states.

Who Should Consider School Psychology as a Profession?

• Individuals who like psychology.
• Individuals who like children and adolescents and want to help them.
• Individuals who are interested in human development and individual differences.
• Individuals who want to work in an educational environment.
• Individuals who want to work closely with children, teachers, and parents.
• Individuals who communicate effectively and enjoy working with others.
• Individuals who prefer to work on prevention and early identification.
• Individuals who want to help disabled students become more effective and self-sufficient persons.

Why Choose a Wisconsin School Psychology Program?

• Wisconsin school psychology graduates are highly regarded and have readily attained positions in many states.
• Wisconsin has a low ratio of students to school psychologists, 1100:1 as compared to the national average of 2300:1.
• Wisconsin school psychologists and graduate students in training have more time for prevention, intervention, and consultation.
• In Wisconsin, there are many special education programs that provide excellent services to disabled children.

Other reasons why you should choose the UW-L School Psychology Program

• The UW-L School Psychology faculty provide graduate students with regular one-on-one and small group supervision to support and enhance what students are learning at their practicum sites. Faculty visit and observe students at their practicum sites in addition to regularly scheduled meetings at the University.
• The program is housed and staffed within the Psychology Department which includes 18 full time faculty who provide a rich resource of psychological knowledge. Psychology Department Home Page
• A graduate Special Education program provides experience with special education students and faculty.
• UW-L graduate students are placed in area schools early in the program. In the first semester they start with intellectual and academic evaluations of children in schools. Beginning the second semester, students spend two days per week working in area schools under the direct supervision of experienced school psychologists who know the UW-L program, the curriculum, and the objectives of the program. By the end of two years, graduate students have accumulated more than 700 hours of practicum experience. Early and intensive experience in schools means students go beyond assessment to intervention and consultation.
• The UW-L program has an applied emphasis. Training focuses on the skills and best practices which every school psychologist needs. The program especially emphasizes teacher, parent, and school consultation, with intensive training in assessment and intervention skills as well.
• The UW-L program promotes cooperation and collaboration among graduate students, rather than competition. Students take all school psychology core courses together. By the end of two years most graduate students have formed lasting friendships with their classmates.
• The UW-L program is accredited by NCATE and is fully approved by the National Association of School Psychologists. Full program approval means graduates are eligible for certification as Nationally Certified School Psychologists (NCSP) upon passing the national exam.
• UW-L students are allowed to complete their required internship (third year of the program) during their first year of employment.
• UW-L has a strong reputation for producing well trained school psychologists. UW-L graduates are sought after and generally have no difficulty finding a position within weeks of completing the second year of the program. Employment in school psychology remains strong. Recent graduates are averaging an entry salary of $36,900 for 190 day contracts.
• Over the past 30 years most UW-L graduates have found school psychology to be a satisfying and fulfilling career. Over 85% of UW-L alumni remain in the practice of school psychology.

 

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