School Psychology, Ph.D.

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Return to: 4120 Department of Counseling and Psychological Services

The Ph.D. major in School Psychology prepares psychologists for licensure as applied psychologists and focuses on the application of psychological knowledge and skills to school related problems. The American Psychological Association accredits the program. Completion of a bachelor’s degree within a major in psychology, education, or a related field or a master’s degree in an area related to school psychology is required for admission to the program.

Program Academic Regulations

The practicum and internship (CPS 8680 and CPS 9680 ) are essential components of the doctoral training program in School Psychology. They provide trainees with the opportunity to take substantial responsibility for carrying out major professional functions in the context of appropriate supervisory support, professional role modeling, and awareness of administrative structures. The internship is distinguished from the applied practice experience by the increased responsibility and independence afforded the students and by the more intense nature of client contact. The practicum (CPS 8680 ) is a one-term, full-time experience or a two-term, halftime experience. The doctoral internship (CPS 9680 ) in school psychology requires either a full time experience for one calendar year or a halftime experience for two consecutive years.

Evaluation of a student’s performance is continuous and involves consideration of the student’s academic performance as well as the student’s performance in laboratory, practicum, and internship classes. A student may be dropped from a course and/or the program if the welfare of the student’s clientele or the functioning of a school or agency is, in the judgment of Department of Counseling and Psychological Services faculty, in jeopardy as a result of the student’s behavior. Students in this program are expected to follow the latest version of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Principles for Professional Ethics, as well as the most recent version of the American Psychological Association (APA) Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct.

Prerequisites

Students in the B.A.-to-Ph.D. program must complete the M.Ed. in School Psychology and most of the Ed.S. School Psychology program as prerequisites for the Ph.D. portion of the program of study. Specifically, students must complete the M.Ed. and:

CPS 6160 - Ethical, Legal and Professional Standards in School Psychology 3 Credit Hours
CPS 7340 - Social/Cultural Issues in Counseling and Psychological Services 3 Credit Hours
CPS 8431 - Counseling Skills and Strategies for School-Aged Children 3 Credit Hours
CPS 8540 - Child/Adolescent Psychopathology 3 Credit Hours
CPS 8570 - Psychological Consultation in the Schools II 3 Credit Hours
CPS 8662 - Applied Practice II: Consultation and Intervention Practicum in School Psychology 3 to 9 Credit Hours
CPS 8665 - Intervention Strategies for Diverse Learners 3 Credit Hours
CPS 8680 - Internship in School Psychology 3 to 6 Credit Hours (note: this is the doctoral advanced practicum and must be taken for at least 6 credits)
CPS 8760 - Topical Seminar in School Psychology 3 Credit Hours
EPRS 8530 - Quantitative Methods and Analysis in Education I 3 Credit Hours
EPY 8220 - Advanced Developmental Psychology: Personality and Socialization 3 Credit Hours
Any 7000-level or above EXC course with permission of advisor 3 Hours

Degree Requirements

Core Area (18 Hours; 12 Hours for B.A.-to-Ph.D. Students)

The Core Area consists of 15 semester hours of research coursework and 3 semester hours of Social Foundation of Education and Psychology of Learning coursework.

Research Core (15 Hours)

Choose One Course (3 Hours)

EPRS 8500 - Qualitative/Interpretive Research in Education I 3 Credit Hours
EPRS 8530 - Quantitative Methods and Analysis in Education I 3 Credit Hours

Required (12 Hours)

A two-course sequence (6 hours) in research methodology (see below for specific tracks/courses)
Two courses (6 hours) in advanced research methods as identified by the Doctoral Advisory Committee

Social Foundations of Education and Psychology of Learning Course (3 Hours)

Required (3 Hours)

Students who enter the program with a graduate degree in school psychology from another institution and who have taken the equivalent of EPY 8220 may select another course from the Social Foundations of Education and Psychology of Learning list as identified by the Doctoral Advisory Committee.

EPY 8220 - Advanced Developmental Psychology: Personality and Socialization 3 Credit Hours

Major Area (Required: 41 Hours; 38 Hours for B.A.-to-Ph.D. Students)

The major area of requirements complete the basic body of knowledge for applied professional practice as a school psychologist, building upon the foundation acquired at earlier graduate levels school psychology. A minimum of credits must be earned in the doctoral major, and these must include the courses listed below. Content for some of the required courses listed below may have been obtained in the master’s or Ed.S. program prior to admission to the doctoral program. In such cases, appropriate substitutions and/or credit for prior coursework, may be made with approval of the student’s doctoral advisory committee. Students who have prior coursework that is judged by the advisory committee to meet some of these course requirements must earn a minimum of 38 semester hours at Georgia State University to complete the major area of the doctoral program.

CPS 8680 - Internship in School Psychology is an Ed.S.-level internship that serves as the doctoral practicum requirement. The student’s doctoral advisory committee will determine whether the student has completed a comparable course in a prior graduate work and has sufficient skills and field experience to meet the criteria for this doctoral practicum. Based on input from the doctoral advisory committee, some students may be required to enroll in an additional practicum experience.

CPS 8350 - Biopsychology and Medication 3 Credit Hours
CPS 8640 - Administration and Supervision in Pupil Personnel Services for School Psychology 3 to 4 Credit Hours (Required Credit Hours = 3) Credits / Units: 3
CPS 8760 - Topical Seminar in School Psychology 3 Credit Hours (All Ph.D. students must take 9 credits total; Topical Seminar taken as part of the Ed.S. program may be counted towards the 9 credit requirement.) [Topics rotate]
CPS 9680 - Doctoral Internship 1 to 9 Credit Hours (Required Credit Hours = 9) Credits / Units: 9
CPS 9760 - School Psychology Research Seminar 3 to 9 Credit Hours [Must be taken at three times (minimum total = 9 credits). Student must maintain continuous enrollment until doctoral candidacy is reached.]
CPS 9920 - Research and Publication 1 to 2 Credit Hours (Required Credit Hours = 2) Credits / Units: 2
EPY 8200 - Advanced Developmental Psychology: Cognition and Intellect 3 Credit Hours
PSYC 8500 - History of Psychology 3 Credit Hours

Dissertation (15 Hours)

Required (15):

CPS 9990 - Dissertation 1 to 18 Credit Hours

School Psychology, Ph.D.

Program Academic Regulations

Prerequisites

Degree Requirements

Core Area (18 Hours; 12 Hours for B.A.-to-Ph.D. Students)

Research Core (15 Hours)

Choose One Course (3 Hours)

Required (12 Hours)

Quantitative Methodology

Qualitative Methodology

Single-Case Methodology

Historical/Philosophical Methodology

Measurement Methodology

Mixed Methodology

Social Foundations of Education and Psychology of Learning Course (3 Hours)

Required (3 Hours)

Major Area (Required: 41 Hours; 38 Hours for B.A.-to-Ph.D. Students)

Dissertation (15 Hours)

Program Total: Minimum of 74 Semester Hours (68 Semester Hours for B.A.-to-Ph.D. Students)