PhD in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in School Psychology
Program Description
This 109-hour program prepares you to function as a well-rounded generalist in school psychology, a trainer of other school psychologists, and/or as a researcher. This program is fully approved by National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) through 2013 (first approved in 1998). This program also meets the criteria of the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology and the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards.
Application Due Date
This Ph.D. School Psychology program is only offered at our Flagstaff campus.
- Completed application files are reviewed and admission decisions are made once each year.
- All application materials must be received in the Educational Psychology Department by January 15 to be reviewed.
- Admission decisions are made by the first week of March; you will receive notification of this decision by mail.
- It is your responsibility to ensure that your application file is complete. Incomplete files are not reviewed.
Program Philosophy
Read moreThere is an increasing need for the provision of school
psychological services in a broad array of settings including:
- schools
- workplaces
- school-based and school linked health centers
- medical, social service, and correctional
facilities
Our doctoral program reflects a training curriculum that is
sequential, cumulative, and graded in complexity.
At the core of the school psychology training program at
Northern Arizona University is the integration of theory, research, and
practice rooted in psychology and education. We believe that this core is best
realized using a scientist-practitioner training model that includes a
systematic analysis of human behavior, careful applications of best practice,
and a methodical evaluation of the effectiveness of these applications.
We emphasize conducting ecologically valid assessments and
interventions that promote positive learning and healthy development for
individuals from birth to young adulthood from diverse backgrounds. This
emphasis involves working collaboratively with families, teachers, parents,
other adults, and professionals from various organizations and agencies. School
psychologists are trained to provide:
- comprehensive assessment of abilities,
achievement, social and emotional functioning, personality, developmental
status, and eligibility status
- primary and secondary prevention services
- crisis intervention services
- consultation, supervision, professional
development, and designing of comprehensive and integrated services
- educational evaluation services.
References
APA Division 16-Division of School Psychology. (2003). Goals
and objectives. Retrieved February 28, 2003, from the Council of Counseling
Psychology Training Programs Web site: http://www.indiana.edu/~div16/index.html
National Association of School Psychologists.
(2003). What is a school psychologist? Retrieved February 28, 2003, from the
National Association of School Psychologists. Web site: http://www.nasponline.org/about_sp/whatis.aspx
American Psychological Association (APA)
Our program philosophy is consistent with the goals and objectives of Division 16-School Psychology Division of the American Psychological Association (2003) and the National Association of School Psychologists (2003).
Specialty Areas of Training
Read moreOur school psychology training program has two unique
specialty areas of training.
First, our program capitalizes on the ethnocultural diversity
of Northern Arizona and its rural environment by providing you with the
opportunity to participate in practica with Native American and Hispanic
children within their school, family, and community contexts.
A second area of opportunity for gaining specialized
expertise is working with individuals who have developmental disabilities and
their families. You’ll receive specialized course work in disabilities and have
opportunities to collaborate with the Institute for Human Development (IHD).
Goals
and Objectives
Read more- To prepare psychologists who have a
comprehensive foundation in the core and foundational areas of psychology.
Students will acquire and demonstrate knowledge competencies in:
- biological bases of behavior
- cognitive and affective bases of behavior
- social aspects of behavior
- history and systems of psychology
- human development
- To prepare psychologists who use ethical
decision-making and responsible professional behavior and who apply best
practices in school psychology assessment, intervention, prevention, health
promotion, program development, and evaluation services when working with
children, youth, families, learners of all ages, and the schooling process.
Students will acquire and demonstrate knowledge and skill competencies in:
- professional standards and ethics
- theories and methods of psychological
measurement
- assessment using individual, group, and systems
techniques
- effective interventions with children and
families including evaluating their efficacy
- collaboration with children, family, school, and
community-based personnel providing health care provision
- individual and cultural diversity
- dysfunctional
behavior or psychopathology
- specialized assessment and
intervention designed for young children with developmental disabilities and
other handicapping conditions
- specialized assessment and intervention for
Native American children within their school, family, and community contexts
- To prepare psychologists who have thorough
knowledge and skills in analytical and quantitative methods to effectively
consume and generate empirical evidence associated with school psychology
theory and practices. Students will acquire and demonstrate knowledge and skill
competencies in:
- research methodology
- techniques of data analysis
- understanding the influence of professional
practice on the science of psychology
- program and service evaluation theory and
practice
- the application of research methodology and
techniques of data analysis during each year of training
- To prepare psychologists who demonstrate the
ability to train others in the content and skill areas of school psychology and
provide effective prevention, psycho-education, and consultation methods with
individuals, families, groups, members of environmental systems, and other
professionals. Students will acquire and demonstrate knowledge and skill
competencies in:
- pedagogical theory and methods
- theories and techniques in prevention and
psycho-education
- theories and practice of consultation and
supervision
- To prepare psychologists who integrate theory,
research, and practice and apply their expertise in a variety of settings with
diverse persons having varied problems and needs. Students will acquire and
demonstrate the knowledge and skill competencies in:
- applying scientific theory and methods to
assessment, intervention, training, prevention, psycho-education, and
consultation
- integrating psychological theory, research, and practice in applied settings during each year of training
Degree Requirements
Read more- For this degree, you must complete 109 semester
hours beyond the bachelor’s degree. Additional classes may be required to obtain
the certification of Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP).
- The degree minimally requires two years of
coursework post-master’s, a preliminary examination, comprehensive
examinations, a one-year internship (1,500 hours), and completion of a
dissertation.
- This is a Flagstaff-based program and most of
the necessary coursework is available only on the Flagstaff campus during fall
and spring semesters.
- You must complete at least two consecutive
semesters of full-time residency during fall and spring semesters.
Prerequisites
Please review the online catalog for selected courses where prerequisites are required. Please check
with the department or a faculty adviser if you have questions regarding
prerequisites.
Clinical Hours
Please review the clinical hours table for the number of practicum hours and internship hours required
in clinical, testing, and intervention Educational Psychology classes.
Program of Studies
Read moreThe program of studies is the agreed-upon plan between you and your faculty adviser on completing program requirements.
It is used as a verification document when you apply for graduation. You should complete the program of studies with your adviser during the first semester of graduate work.
The original, signed program of studies should be given to the Department Chair to be placed in your file in the Educational Psychology Department and you and your adviser should both keep copies.
Amendments to your program of studies can be made with your adviser’s approval.
The timeline policy and residency policies for Doctoral degree can be viewed through the Graduate College.
Related Forms
EPS Course Offerings by Semester
Program of Studies (valid through Fall 2012 admissions)
Program of Studies (effective beginning with Fall 2013 admissions)
Program of Studies Work Sheet
Professional Code of Ethics and Licensure Guidelines
Read moreSchool Psychology Program Faculty
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