COE Divisions
Educational Psychology Research and Evaluation
 

Educational Specialist in School Psychology

The Educational Specialist in School Psychology (Ed. S.) degree program at the University of Missouri - St. Louis provides training in data-based problem solving with particular attention to interventions and educational outcomes within a cognitive-behavioral theoretical perspective. The program promotes a unique set of professional values through its emphasis on:

• Data-based decision making
• Educational and psychological treatment outcomes
• Multicultural diversity
• Program development and evaluation
• Facilitation of organizational change

The Ed. S. degree is a terminal degree program designed to prepare future school psychologists to work in school settings. Graduates of the program are immediately eligible for School Psychologist Certification from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and are qualified to apply for the National Certified School Psychologist credential from the National Association of School Psychologists.

The Ed. S. in School Psychology degree program consists of 60 hours of graduate coursework that prepares school psychologists for professional roles as data-based problem solvers. In addition to courses in psychological and educational foundations, assessment, and direct interventions, a primary emphasis within the program is upon prevention and early intervention of academic, behavioral, and social-emotional problems through consultation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and systems-level interventions. Throughout the program, including 500-hours of supervised practicum and a year-long 1,400-hour internship in the schools, students work closely with the school psychology faculty and field-based supervisors to develop practical skills.

Admission requirements include a 3.0 undergraduate GPA, current GRE scores (combined verbal and quantitative score of 1000 recommended), two letters of recommendation, a personal statement describing professional goals (not to exceed five double-spaced typed pages), and a personal interview with members of the school psychology faculty. Prerequisite coursework in developmental psychology and statistics is required for admission. Conditional acceptance into the program may be granted pending completion of prerequisites and/or satisfactory progress in the program (i.e., 3.0 graduate GPA) for students who lack prerequisites or do not quite meet the admission requirements. All required application materials will be considered equally when making admission decisions. Applications are reviewed annually with a March 1 deadline.

The Ed. S. in School Psychology degree program requires three years of intensive, full-time training; however, students may be able to complete up to half of the curriculum on a part-time basis. Credit may be granted for graduate coursework completed prior to entering the program, but a minimum of 30 graduate credit hours must be completed at the University of Missouri-St. Louis to satisfy the university residency requirement. Students who plan to enroll in the Ed. S. in School Psychology degree program as a part-time student are advised to meet with their adviser and develop a professional education plan at the start of their program. Please note the internship year involves a full-time placement with a school district during an academic school year and cannot be completed part-time. For more information about the program please see the School Psychology Program Manual.

Fall I
ED PSY 6210   Life Span Development
ED PSY 6530   Foundations of School Psychology
ED REM 6716  Psychoeducational Assessment and Intervention I
ED REM 6750  Advanced Research Design

Spring I
ED PSY 6310   Psychology of Learning Processes
ED PSY 6550   Professional Issues in School Psychology
ED REM 6718  Psychoeducational Assessment and Intervention II
ED REM 7771  Quantitative Research Methods I

Summer I
CNS ED 6010   Theories of Counseling
ED PSY 6532   Psychoeducational Differences

Fall II
ED PSY 6536   Biological Bases of Behavior
ED PSY 6540   Psychoeducational Interventions
ED PSY 6545   Consultation in Schools and Related Settings
ED PSY 6590   School Psychology Practicum I

Spring II
CNS ED 6030   Foundations for Multicultural Counseling
ED PSY 6542   Psychotherapeutic Interventions in School Psychology
ED PSY 6591   School Psychology Practicum II
ED REM 6730  Educational Program Evaluation

Fall III
ED PSY 6991   School Psychology Internship

Spring III
ED PSY 6991   School Psychology Internship
                          (Praxis II School Psychology Examination and Case Study)