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 program requirements for the 60-81 semester credits leads
to licensure as a School Psychologist in Wisconsin and most
other states. Students earn a 30-credit Master of Science in
Education degree before completing the remaining Education
Specialist degree requirements.
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 site
www.uwlax.edu/schoolpsych
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, 757, 762
and 775, PSY 759.
B. Complete a minimum of 60 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: data-based decision making,
research-based academic practices, research-based behavioral and
mental health practices, consultation and collaboration, applied
psychological foundations, and ethical, legal, and professional
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:
|
Developmental
Psychology |
Credits | |
| PSY 770 | Educational Psychology: Learning & Instruction | 3 |
| Cognitive Psychology | Credits | |
| PSY 435/535 | Cognitive Processes OR | 3 |
| PSY 434/534 | Introduction to Clinical Neuropsychology | 3 |
| Statistics | Credits | |
| An undergraduate statistics course OR | 3 | |
| EFN 735 | Interpretation of Statistical Data | 3 |
|
Childhood Behavior
Disorders |
Credits | |
| PSY 717 | Behavior Disorders in Children | 3 |
| Research Methods | Credits | |
| PSY 725 | Research and Program Evaluation In Schools | 3 |
|
Personality Theories |
Credits | |
| PSY 402/502 | Personality Theories, Models and Measures | 3 |
|
Psychological
Measurement |
Credits | |
| 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.
|
Human Relations |
Credits | |
| EFN 705 | Human Relations in School and Community | 3 |
|
Special Education
Methods |
Credits | |
| SPE 401/501 | Introduction to Exceptional Individuals | 3 |
|
Educational Foundations |
Credits | |
| EFN 716 | Teachers and the Law OR | 3 |
| SPE 715 | Special Education and the Law | 3 |
|
|
Credits | |
| RDG 730 | Assessment and Instruction of Students with Reading Difficulties | 3 |
Or electives approved by the school psychology program
director.
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 I* | 3 |
| PSY 759 | Assessment of Personality and Emotional/Behavioral Disorders* | 3 |
| 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 |
| PSY 773 | Advanced Counseling and Therapy Methods | 3 |
| SPY 775 | Behavioral Assessment and Management | 3 |
| PSY 776 | Psychoeducational Consultation and Collaboration | 3 |
| SPY 797 | Internship in School Psychology | 6 |
| SPY 800 | Specialist Thesis Proposal | 3 |
| SPY 801 | Specialist Thesis | 3-10 |
Licensure, Practicum, Internship, and Thesis Requirements:
Initial Educator Licensure in Wisconsin is granted after
completion of all Education Specialist degree requirements,
excepting the school psychology internship and the education
specialist thesis. Students are eligible for Professional
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 after their first year.
Students are aided in developing thesis proposals in SPY 800. 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.