School Psychology

Samuel Y. Song, PhD, Department Chair

Overview

This Washington state approved program prepares students for educational staff associate (ESA) certification as a school psychologist in K-12 settings. Students who complete the NASP-approved Educational Specialist (EdS) degree program are automatically eligible for the National Certificate in School Psychology (NCSP) upon satisfactory completion of the NCSP exam.  The curriculum of the program is based on a best-practices orientation as defined by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and Washington state standards for accreditation.

The school psychologist is charged with making ethical and moral decisions in his or her professional practice. The basis for leadership in this decision making is a clear dedication to social justice, child advocacy, the ability to take responsibility for the consequences of one’s actions, and the moral courage to make decisions that will lead to appropriate interventions for an individual child.  The faculty of the school psychology program is committed to education that is participatory. The relationship of faculty and students is both professional and personal.

Certification

Persons serving as Educational Staff Associates in public schools shall hold certificates authorized by the Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) for service in the respective roles as required by statute or rules of the PESB. The university recommends a student who has successfully completed an approved program to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction which issues the appropriate certificate.

Admission Requirements

We seek applicants who demonstrate strong academic knowledge and skills, a commitment to equity and justice, and continued growth and learning. In addition, applicants must demonstrate potential
for leadership and effective interpersonal relationships. The following documents are required for
consideration:

• Application for Graduate Admission with non-refundable $55 application fee. (Application fee waived for SU alumni.) Applications for upcoming quarters are reviewed twice a year and decisions are made on a space available basis. The deadlines to submit all application materials for each review period are October 20 for winter or spring quarter enrollment and February 20 for summer or fall quarter entry.
• Evidence of four-year equivalent bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university
• For candidates without graduate course work, minimum GPA of 3.00 from the last 90 quarter/60 semester credits of bachelor’s degree; 3.25 cumulative graduate-level GPA for students entering with a master’s degree. Strong applicants whose GPA is below 3.00 may be admitted with probationary status.
• Official GRE scores. Scores must be from tests taken within the last five years to be considered official. Test score requirement waived for students already holding master’s degree or doctorate achieved with a 3.25 cumulative GPA at the graduate level.
• Two professional recommendations using the College of Education forms
• Résumé reflecting at least one year’s successful professional, educational or related experience with school-age youth
• One to two-page autobiographical statement indicating motivation and commitment to school psychology, relevant experience with children and adolescents, understanding of the school psychologist’s role in K-12 schools, and reasons for choosing the program at Seattle University.
• College of Education Self-Evaluation form
• Small group interview by invitation following file review

Post-Master’s Educational Specialist Degree/School Psychology

A minimum of 60 credits is required for this educational specialist degree. Post-master’s candidates must submit official transcripts and syllabi for any coursework that is applied toward the educational specialist degree requirements. In considering equivalency with program requirements, faculty will review the transcripts and syllabi on an individual basis to determine whether prior coursework included the domains of school psychology articulated in state and national standards. Previous coursework may be considered for substitution only for those courses specified on the Program of Study as foundational.

All students must demonstrate competency in the domains of school psychology practice through a supervised internship in a school setting, either on a full-time, 1200-hour basis for three successive quarters, or on a half-time 600-hour basis per year for two years.

As determined by National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) standards, a passing score on the Educational Testing Service (ETS) Praxis II School Psychologist examination is required of all degree candidates for program completion and recommendation for state educational staff associate (ESA) certification in school psychology and for the National Certificate in School Psychology (NCSP).