Graduate Study

School Psychology

Program Overview
Curriculum Review
Career Outcomes
Admission Requirements
Related Links

Program Overview

The RIT MS in school psychology is fully accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists. Students completing this program earn a master's degree and a certificate of advanced study (CAS), which acknowledges that students are trained at the specialist level. The program offers a solid foundation in psychoeducational assessment, counseling, and the consultation process. A practicum each quarter of the first two years places the student in a school or agency setting one day a week.

Students complete the program in the third year by working as certified interns in a school setting for one academic year. Under the guidance of a certified school psychologist, students work directly with children and educational professionals, as they provide services to children and youth. Graduates receive New York State provisional certification and can apply for permanent certification after two years of work experience.

The College of Liberal Arts offers a nationally accredited graduate program leading to the MS degree and advanced certificate in school psychology. The program prepares students for provisional certification as school psychologists in New York State. It is designed to provide students with a strong background in psychological foundations and to develop their professional skills and competencies in counseling, evaluation, and consultation.

School psychologists work with young children (birth to age five); elementary, junior high, and high school students; teachers and administrators; parents; and professionals. They offer services that lead to the amelioration of existing student difficulties, and they attempt to prevent school problems. Through diagnostic testing, counseling, consultation, and intervention, school psychologists help students deal with learning and behavioral difficulties and help improve students' adjustment to school and community.

Curriculum Review

A minimum of 96 quarter credit hours are required for completion of the program. Before registering for the internship, students must pass a portfolio review.

Required Psychological Foundation and Professional Courses (20 credits)
0514 - 701 Advanced Developmental Psychology
0514-702 Psychology of Teaching/Learning
0514-723 Developmental Psychopathology
0514-739 Children and Trauma
0515-701 Cultural Diversity in Education
Required Statistics and Research Methodology (11 credits)
0514-728 Inferential Statistics I
0514-759 Research Methods I
0514-890 Thesis
or
0514-891 Project (1 per quarter for 3 quarters)
0514-810 Research Methods II
0514-811 Inferential Statistics II
Required Specialized Courses (44 credits)
0514-724 Interpersonal Intervention Skills
0514-726 Psychoeducational Assessment I
0514-730 Seminar - Professional and Legal Issues
0514-731 Psychoeducational Assessment II
0514-732 Psychoeducational Assessment III
0514-733 Applied Behavioral Analysis
0514-734 Psychoeducational Assessment IV
0514-742 Biological Basis of Behavior
0514-744 Advanced Counseling
0514-745 Alternative Assessment Techniques
0514-749 Advanced Consultation
0514-744 Advanced Counseling
Required Field Experience (21 credits)
0514 - 712 - 717 Practicum I, II, III, IV, V, and VI
0514-777 Internship I, II, and III
Total credits 96

Proposed plan of study

First Year
Fall Quarter
Psychoeducational Assessment I
Interpersonal Intervention Skills
Applied Behavioral Analysis
Practicum I

Winter Quarter
Psychoeducational Assessment II
Advanced Consultation
Advanced Development Psychology
Practicum II

Spring Quarter
Psychoeducational Assessment III
Advanced Counseling
Developmental Psychopathology
Practicum III

Second Year
Fall Quarter
Psychoeducational Assessment IV
Alternative Assessment Techniques
Research Methods I
Inferential Statistics I
Practicum IV

Winter Quarter
Biological Basis of Behavior
Psychology of Teaching/Learning
Research Methods II
Inferential Statistics II
Practicum V

Spring Quarter
Cultural Diversity in Education
Children and Trauma
Seminar - Professional and Legal Issues
Practicum VI
Project/Thesis (1 credit hour continuation)

Third Year
Fall Quarter
Internship I
Project/Thesis (1 credit hour registration continuation)

Winter Quarter
Internship II
Project/Thesis (1 credit hour registration continuation)

Spring Quarter
Internship III

Career Outcomes

Job Titles

School Psychologist

Functions

K-12 schools, Community Centers, Human Service Agencies

Recent Employers

Rochester City School District, Buffalo School District

Admission Requirements

Admission to the program is based on the following criteria:

Successful completion of the baccalaureate degree at an accredited college or university An undergraduate cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above

Completion of at least 18 semester hours (27 quarter hours) in behavioral sciences with a grade of B or above

Prerequisite undergraduate courses: General Psychology, Elementary Statistics , Child or Developmental Psychology, Abnormal Psychology

GRE verbal and quantitative scores are required.

Foreign students - minimum TOEFL score of 580

Letters of reference and an essay about student’s goals and related experience, which show evidence of a professional commitment and the potential for developing effective relationships with children, youth, and adults

An individual interview

All credentials must be submitted and reviewed before the student completes 12 quarter credit hours of graduate work in the program.

Applications are due by February 1. Later applications will be reviewed on a space-available basis.

Prerequisites