School Psychology (PsyD) Program

Curriculum

The first phase of the program consists of the MA/CAGS coursework and related field work, which totals 66 semester credits and requires 3 years of full time study. This provides the candidate with the essential skills, knowledge, and credentials to function as a licensed psychologist in school- and education-related roles.

The PsyD phase of the program consists of advanced coursework that enables candidates to broaden their scope of practice, enhance their effectiveness in leadership and supervisory roles, and deliver specialized services that schools do not routinely offer. With the subsequent addition of supervised post-doctoral professional experience, a program graduate may qualify for licensure as a psychologist..

Curriculum Outline

Required (Core) Courses, MA/CAGS Level

• SCH IA520 - Instructional Assessment & Intervention (3 Credits)
• SCH RS526 - Statistics* (3 Credits)
• SCH LS659 - Lifespan Development* (3 Credits)
• SCH SN512 - Educating Children & Adolescents with Special Needs (3 Credits)
• SCH FP501 - Practicum I: School Environment and Educational Assessment (2 Credits)
• SCH PA500 - Psychoeducational Assessment (3 Credits)
• SCH BC521 - Behavioral Assessment, Intervention, and Consultation (3 Credits)
• SCH PY521 - Psychopathology of Childhood and Adolescence (3 Credits)
• SCH RS555 - Research and Evaluation Methods (3 Credits)
• SCH FP502 - Practicum II: Psychoeducational Assessment and Intervention (3 Credits)
• SCH CC522 - Diversity and Cross Cultural Psychology* (3 Credits)
• SCH PH501 - Preventive Mental Health in the Schools (2 Credits)
• SCH PA600 - Social-Emotional Assessment (3 Credits)
• SCH CX610 - Counseling and Psychotherapy in Schools (3 Credits)
• SCH GR611 - Group Process and Group Therapy (3 Credits)
• SCH FP601 - Practicum III: Clinical Practice (2 Credits)
• SCH PS630 - Legal, Ethical and Professional Issues in School Psychology* (3 Credits)
• SCH BL622 - Biological Bases of Behavior and Learning* (3 Credits)
• SCH ST631 - School and Family Systems (3 Credits)s
• SCH FP602 - Practicum IV: Clinical Practice (2 Credits)
• SCH FP701 - Internship A (3 Credits)
• SCH CS701 - Internship Seminar A (2 Credits)
• SCH FP702 - Internship B (3 Credits)
• SCH CS702 - Internship Seminar B (2 Credits)

* Candidates must meet these course requirements, or the equivalent (i.e., through advanced standing, course waiver, directed study, or transfer of credit)

Required (Core) Courses, PsyD Level

Psychological Foundations (all)

• SCH CA601 - Cognitive and Affective Bases of Behavior* (3 Credits)
• SCH PS600 - History and Systems* (2 Credits)
• SCH PS603 - Social Bases of Behavior* (3 Credits)

System Interventions and Indirect Services (minimum of 4 credits)

• SCH CO750 - Consultation in Schools (required) (2 Credits)
• SCH MH732 - Children’s Mental Health Policy and Systems (2 Credits)
• SCH SU820 - Supervision and Administration of School Psychological Services (2 Credits)

Psychoeducational Theory and Practice (minimum of 4 credits)

• SCH IA772 - Learning Disabilities: Research to Practice (2 Credits)
• SCH IA776 - Preschool Services: Assessment & Intervention (2 Credits)
• SCH IA774 - Reading and Language Arts: Research to Practice (2 Credits)
• SCH IA773 - Educational Therapy (2 Credits)

Assessment (minimum of 6 credits)

• SCH PA760 - Bilingual and Culturally Competent Assessment (required)(2 Credits)
• SCH PA700 - Advanced Psychoeducational Assessment (2 Credits)
• SCH PA725 - Advanced Social-Emotional Assessment of Children & Adolescents (2 Credits)
• SCH XX500 - Special Topics in Assessment I: Psychoeducational Applications  (1 Credit)
• SCH XX500 - Special Topics in Assessment II: Developmental Neuropsychology  (1 Credit)
• SCH XX500 - Special Topics in Assessment III: Cognitive & Social-Emotional Integration  (1 Credit)

Clinical Interventions (minimum of 6 credits)

• SCH BX705 - Cognitive Behavioral Interventions with Children & Adolescents  (2 Credits)
• SCH CL521 - Clinical Interviewing with Children and Families (2 Credits)
• SCH CX770 - Brief Counseling in School Practice (2 Credits)  
• SCH FX515 - Family and Systems Theory (2 Credits) or          
• SCH FX630 - Working with Multi-Stressed Families (3 Credits)
• SCH GR523 - Clinical Practice of  Group Therapy (2 Credits)

Doctoral Practica

• SCH FP721 - Practicum in Advanced Assessment (required) (2 Credits)
• SCH FP722 - Practicum in Advanced Assessment (A continuation of SCH FP721) (2 Credits)
• SCH FP723 - Practicum in Consultation (1 Credit)
• SCH FP725 - Doctoral Practicum in Clinical Services (required) (2 Credits)
• SCH FP726 - Doctoral Practicum in Clinical Services (required) (2 Credits)
• SCH FP727 - Doctoral Practicum in Clinical Services (2 Credits)
• SCH FP728 - Doctoral Practicum in Clinical Services (2 Credits)
• SCH FP831 - Practicum in Supervision and Administration (1 Credit)

Doctoral Project and Internship coursework

• SCH PR820 - Doctoral Project I: Advanced Research Methods* (3 Credits)
• SCH PR821 - Doctoral Project II: Project Design and Development (2 Credits)
• SCH PR924 - Doctoral Project III: Individual Mentorship (3 Credits)
• SCH PR950 - Continuing Doctoral Project (tuition only) (0 Credits)
• SCH CS801 - Internship Seminar (2 Credits)
• SCH CS802 - Internship Seminar (2 Credits)
• SCH CS803 - Internship Seminar (continuing, as needed) (2 Credits)
• SCH FP801 - Internship (2 Credits)
• SCH FP802 - Internship (2 Credits)
• SCH FP803 - Internship (continuing, as needed) (2 Credits)

* Candidates must meet these course requirements, or the equivalent (i.e., through advanced standing, course waiver, directed study, or transfer of credit)

Additional Elective Courses

• SCH CC549 – Introduction to Latino Culture (1 Credit)
• SCH CC550 - The Experience of Latinos in the United States (1 Credit)
• SCH CC551 – Clinical Work with Latinos in the United States  (1 Credit)
• SCH CS533 - Clinical Seminar in Latino Mental Health (1 Credit)
• SCH CS554 - Clinical Seminar in Latino Mental Health (1 Credit)
• SCH FX600 - Infant, Toddler, Parent Intervention (2 Credits)
• SCH GT520 - Gender Theory (2 Credits)
• SCH HP530 - Theoretical Foundations in Clinical Health Psychology (2 Credits)
• SCH MH512 - Forensic Psychology I: Children and Families (2 Credits)
• SCH PM600 – Projective Methods I: Rorschach Scoring With the Comprehensive System (2 Credits)
• SCH PM601 - Projective Methods II: Interpretation Strategies Using the Rorschach and Other Projective Tests (2 Credits)
• SCH PY522 – Adult Psychopathology (3 Credits)
• SCH SB522- Addictive Disorders: Theory and Treatment (2 Credits)
• SCH SB631 - Eating Disorders (3 Credits)
• SCH XX500  - Special Topics (1 Credit or 2 Credits)
• SCH XX550 - Directed Study (1 Credit or 2 Credits)

Course Schedule and Format

A typical course load for doctoral students is four courses each summer, yielding 8 to 10 credits, and two courses each Fall and Spring semester, yielding another 8 to 12 credits, for a total of approximately 20 credits per year.

The PsyD/advanced standing phase of the program begins with summer courses. A typical schedule for summer courses would be half days for two weeks for a 2-credit course, and half days for three weeks for a 3-credit course. Here are the projected dates for Summer 2012:

July 9—Orientation
July 9-13—Instruction Week 1
July 16-20—Instruction Week 2
July 23-27—Instruction Week 3
July 29-Aug. 3—Break/Reading Week
August 6-10—Instruction Week 4
August 13-17—Instruction Week 5

During the school year, core courses are scheduled during the late afternoon and evening, plus some weekend dates. As a rule, required courses are offered on Thursdays during the school year. Some courses are offered on Monday evenings.

Updated 11/4/11