Overview
The Education Specialist (Ed.S.) program in School Psychology is fully accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) until August 1, 2030. It is designed to prepare students to meet the Department of Education requirements for certification in West Virginia and other states. The Ed.S. consists of 39 hours of required coursework and field experiences, in addition to a Master of Arts (M.A.) Degree in Psychology with an emphasis in School Psychology (36 hrs). For information about faculty, candidates, and their outcomes in the program, please refer to the Program Annual Report and Student Outcomes Data. This data may be of interest to current or prospective candidates.
You apply to the Master’s Degree in Psychology with School Psychology Emphasis first. After successfully completing 12 hours in the fall semester, you apply to the Ed.S. in School Psychology. You receive two degrees in our program after three years of full time enrollment! Students who apply to the Ed.S. School Psychology program and already possess graduate degrees in psychology, counseling, or education may be considered for advanced standing after a review of coursework, grades and test scores by the School Psychology faculty.
The School Psychology Ed.S. Program at Marshall University focuses on practitioner training for the delivery of comprehensive school psychological services primarily in school settings. Ed.S. students are trained in a “scientist practitioner” model that emphasizes the use of research findings in clinical decision-making, both in terms of creating interventions as well as evaluating their efficacy. Ed.S. students draw upon scientific literature to make decisions regarding best practice with a focus on empirically supported services.
Students receive education and training in the following ten NASP domains:
- Data-Based Decision Making
- Consultation and Collaboration
- Academic Interventions and Instructional Supports
- Mental and Behavioral Health Services and Interventions
- School-Wide Practices to Promote Learning
- Services to Promote Safe and Supportive Schools
- Family, School, and Community Collaboration
- Equitable Practices for Diverse Student Populations
- Research and Evidence-Based Practice
- Legal, Ethical, and Professional Practice
MA in Psychology with School Psychology Emphasis Plan of Study
Core Requirements:
- Biological Bases of School Psychology (SPSY 674) or Biological Bases of Behavior (PSY 674)
- Intermediate Behavioral Statistics (PSY 517)
- Cognitive and Emotional Bases of School Psychology (SPSY 675) or Cognitive and Emotional Bases of Behavior (PSY 672)
- Cross-Cultural Psychology (PSY 526)
- Advanced Developmental Psychology (PSY 615) or Typical and Atypical Child Development (SPSY 616)
- Ethical and Legal Issues in Psychology (PSY 605)
- Data Based Decision Making II (SPSY 621) or Psychometrics (PSY 506)
- Research Seminar (PSY 692)
Area of Emphasis Requirements:
- Schools (SPSY 601)
- School Consultation (SPSY 617)
- Instruction Methods and Behavior Modification (SPSY 618)
- Psychotherapy with Children (PSY 619) or Individual and Group Counseling (SPSY 619)
Total: 36 Credit Hours
Education Specialist in School Psychology Plan of Study
Core Requirements:
- Professional Competence II: Professional School Psych (SPSY 603)
- Data-Based Decision Making II (SPSY 622)
- Data-Based Decision Making III (SPSY 624)
- Practicum I (SPSY 738)
- Practicum II (SPSY 739)
- Counseling with Youth: Advanced Topics (SPSY 720)
- Application of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (SPSY 710)
- Indirect Service Delivery II: Primary Prevention (SPSY 620)
- Research: Thesis (SPSY 750) or Program Evaluation (SPSY 751)
- Internship (SPSY 745, 12 hours)
Ed.S. Program Requirements:
Students are admitted to the Ed.S. program with the expectation that they will complete the program within three to five years, depending on the number of classes in which they enroll each semester. Students are expected to enroll in all three semesters.
Failure to make the expected amount of progress may result in reassignment to another internship year. The internship requires a commitment to a school system for a full academic year and is 1200 hours (12 credit hours). A maximum of 18 students will be admitted to this final-year experience.
A minimum of half of this paid internship must occur within a school setting and meet stringent criteria specified by the program and the National Association of School Psychologists. In addition, students must defend a thesis or program evaluation and earn a passing score on the Praxis II Specialty Examination in School Psychology before graduation.
Total: 39 Credit Hours
Admission Requirements
Admission is competitive because of the limited number of available internships. Applicants should follow the admissions process described in this catalog or at the Graduate Admissions website at www.marshall.edu/graduate/admissions/how-to-apply-for-admission.
In addition, applicants must submit a sample of their professional writing (a scholarly paper on any subject) and a statement of their professional goals (1000 words or fewer). Submit all materials to Graduate Admissions.
Creating a diverse student body is a priority and minority applicants are encouraged to apply. A limited number of graduate assistantships are available. Students can be accepted into the school psychology program throughout the school year; however, school psychology competency classes begin in the fall semester of each academic year.
Contact Us
Lanai Jennings
Program Director
South Charleston GC 108
304-746-2067
jenningsknot@marshall.edu
Frequently Asked Questions
School Psychology is a professional field that blends psychology and education. This program is designed to help you obtain the skills you will need to become a successful School Psychologist. If you are interested in the fields of Psychology and Education, and you like working with children, then this program may be right for you.
Yes! You obtain a Master of Arts in Psychology with a School Psychology Emphasis and an Education Specialist in School Psychology after three years of full time enrollment in this program.
While our program is not totally online, for all of our courses, students can attend the majority of class meetings virtually. We do however, require students to come to campus an average of 3 times a semester.
The purpose of the Education Specialist in School Psychology Program at Marshall University is to prepare professional school psychologists to work within the social systems of schools to meet the following goals:
- Apply their knowledge of psychology and education in order to prevent or remove the barriers to optimal growth and development at the community, school, classroom, and individual child level.
- Apply the problem-solving process within a collaborative consultation model that embraces both direct and indirect service delivery.
- Ensure professional competence based on a solid foundation of ethical, legal, and responsible practice that respects human diversity and individual differences.
- Apply knowledge and skills in conducting and interpreting research applied to practice.
- Apply knowledge and understanding of the multiple systems that influence growth and development.
- Ensure a broad range of quality services in primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention to serve universal, targeted, and selected populations.
- Apply skills in program evaluation to improve service to individuals, families, schools, and communities.
Integrate technological applications to facilitate all the above goals.