SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY
Program Requirements
The UW-La Crosse graduate program in School
Psychology offers an Education Specialist degree. The degree
requires two years of full-time study, one summer of study, a
one-year internship during the third year, completion of an
Education Specialist thesis, and the passing of either the
national school psychology test or UW-L comprehensive
examinations. Successful completion of all requirements for the
63-semester credit program leads to licensure as a School
Psychologist in
The UW-La Crosse school psychology program is
part of the Psychology Department and the
The school psychology program prepares
graduate students for licensure as school psychologists through
academic course work, 700 hours of supervised school practica,
and a one-year, 1,200 hour school internship. The school
psychology knowledge base includes areas of professional school
psychology, educational psychology, psychological foundations,
educational foundations, and mental health.
The school psychology program adheres to
state and national training standards for school psychology.
Graduate students must develop professional competencies for
each of the 11 DPI/NASP training standards: data-based decision
making and accountability; consultation and collaboration;
effective instruction and development of cognitive/academic
skills; socialization and development of life skills; student
diversity in development and learning; school and systems
organization, policy development, and climate; prevention,
crisis intervention and mental health; home/school/community
collaboration; research and program evaluation; school
psychology practice and development; and information technology.
Over the course of their UW-L training, graduate students will
maintain an evolving portfolio that documents professional
growth and achieved competence in each of the 11 areas.
The emphasis of this program is to train
school psychologists who are effective teacher, parent and
school consultants by providing extensive hands-on experiences
in a mentor relationship. The program also emphasizes a pupil
services model that addresses the educational and mental health
needs of all children, from early childhood through high school.
Graduate students are placed in local schools
as early and as intensively as possible. During their second,
third and fourth semesters, students spend two days per week
working in local schools under the direct supervision of
experienced school psychologists. During these school practica,
students develop professional skills in assessment,
consultation, intervention, counseling, case management, and in
each of the NASP standards. Many of the core courses require
projects that are completed in the schools during practica.
An information and application packet can be
obtained through the Web (www.uwlax.edu/graduate/psychology)
or by writing the school psychology program director, Psychology
Department,
REQUIREMENTS OF EDUCATION SPECIALIST
DEGREE IN SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY
General Requirements:
A. Complete the following requirements for a Master of Science in
Education degree in School Psychology:
1) Complete 30 graduate credits.
2) A minimum of 15 of the 30 credits need to be completed at the
700 level.
3) Complete the following courses: SPY 700, 752 and 757, PSY 759,
762 and 775.
B. Complete a minimum of 63 graduate credits (includes thesis and
credits completed for the Master of Science in
Education degree), with at least two thirds of these at
the 700 or 800 level.
C. Complete an Education Specialist thesis within seven years of
beginning the program.
D. Obtain a passing score (set by the National Association of
School Psychology for NCSP certification) on the National
School Psychology Examination or a passing score on the
comprehensive examinations written by UW-L psychology and
school psychology faculty. The UW-L written
comprehensive examinations cover the same areas assessed by the
National School Psychology Examination. The areas are:
assessment; prevention and intervention; evaluation and
research; professional practice; applied psychological
foundations; and applied educational foundations. UW-L
comprehensive examinations are offered during the
spring semester of each year. Students must pass either the
National School Psychology Examination or the UW-L
comprehensive exams before being allowed to begin an internship,
to obtain a school psychology position, or to apply for
initial school psychology licensure.
E. Complete a professional portfolio that demonstrates achieved
competence for each of the 11 NASP training standards.
Course Requirements:
A. Psychological Foundations
Complete at least once course in each of the
following areas. Course work completed at the undergraduate
level need
not be repeated. At least six credits must be completed
at the graduate level:
Credits
Developmental Psychology
PSY 770
Educational Psychology: Learning &
Cognitive Psychology
PSY 435/535
Cognitive Processes
3
or
PSY 434/534
Introduction to Clinical
Neuropsychology
3
Statistics
An undergraduate statistics course
3
or
EFN 735
Interpretation of Statistical Data
3
Childhood Behavior Disorders
PSY 717
Behavior Disorders in Children
3
Research Methods
PSY 725
Research and Program Evaluation
Personality Theories
PSY 402/502
Personality Theories
3
Psychological Measurement
PSY 451/551
Psychological Measurement
3
Or electives approved by the school psychology program
director.
B. Educational Foundations
Complete one course in each of the following
areas. Course work completed at the undergraduate level need not
be
repeated. At least six credits must be completed at the
graduate level.
Credits
Human Relations
EFN 705
Human Relations in School and Community
3
Special Education Methods
SPE 401/501
Introduction to Exceptional Individuals
3
Educational Foundations
EFN 716
Teachers and the Law
3
or
SPE 715
Special Education and the Law
3
Electives approved by the school psychology program director
3
C. Core Professional Training
Complete each of the following courses. Several
courses (indicated by *) have course fees of at least $25.00.
Credits
SPY 700
School Psychology: Role and Function
3
SPY 752
Academic and Behavioral Interventions
3
PSY 756
Early Childhood Assessment*
3
SPY 757
Psychoeducational Assessment*
3
PSY 759 Assessment of
Personality and Emotional/
SPY 762 Supervised Practicum
in School Psychology I*
3
SPY 763 Supervised Practicum
in School Psychology II*
3
SPY 764 Supervised Practicum
in School Psychology III*
3
PSY 772
Counseling and Therapy Methods
3
SPY 775
Behavioral Assessment and Management
3
PSY 776
Psychoeducational Consultation
SPY 797
Internship in School Psychology
6
SPY 800
Specialist Thesis Proposal
3
SPY 801 Specialist Thesis
3
Or electives approved by the
Licensure, Practicum, Internship,
and Thesis Requirements:
Initial Educator Licensure in
Students must complete three semesters of a
supervised school psychology practicum. During practicum
experiences students develop school psychology professional
knowledge, skills, and behavior. Core professional skills, as
well as professional behavior, are critical to effective school
psychology functioning. Thus, only students who have
successfully completed all prerequisite course work (no
incompletes) are allowed to enroll for practica. In addition,
appropriate professional behavior and personal effectiveness are
required for continued enrollment in practica.
Students develop their thesis starting
during their internships. Students are aided in developing
thesis proposals in SPY 800 starting in the fall of their
internship year. Once the proposal is accepted, students must
register for at least 1 credit of SPY 801: Specialist Thesis
each semester until their thesis is approved. A minimum of 3
thesis credits are required. A maximum of 10 credits can be
earned but only 3 apply toward the degree. Internships must be
in a school setting, total 1,200 hours, and be supervised by a
certified school psychologist and a UW-L school psychology
instructor. A site visit from the university supervisor is
required each semester. All interns must pay all actual costs
associated with each semester’s site visit, including travel,
lodging, and meals.
Note:
For additional school psychology program policies, students
should refer to the School Psychology Graduate Student Handbook
available in the School Psychology office, 341 Graff Main Hall.