The School Psychology program is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). Students must complete both the Master of Science and Sixth Year Certificate in School Psychology to be eligible for certification as a school psychologist in the State of Connecticut as well as the Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential offered by National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).
The Master of Science in School Psychology is completed first, during which students apply for admission to the Sixth Year Program.
A School Psychologist is a mental health professional, with broad and specialized training in both psychology and education, who provides psychological services using data-based problem solving processes. As stated by our professional organization, the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP):
School psychologists are uniquely qualified members of school teams that support students' ability to learn and teachers' ability to teach. They apply expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior, to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. School psychologists partner with families, teachers, school administrators, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments that strengthen connections between home, school, and the community (NASP, 2017).
Admission Criteria
To begin the application process, applicants should visit the online application portal.
Admission to the Master’s Program is based upon following criteria:
- Academic background: applicants to the Master's Program must have a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0.
Although no particular undergraduate major is required, applicants to the Master's Program are required to have taken the following prerequisite courses (completion of these courses is not required to apply to the program but completion is required prior to matriculation):
- Developmental Psychology or Child Development*
- Educational Psychology, Theories of Learning, or Cognitive Psychology*
- Abnormal Psychology, Abnormal Child Psychology, or Psychopathology*
- Statistics, Psychological Statistics, or Statistics for the Behavioral (or Social Sciences)*
- Exceptionality or Exceptional Children (must be a state-approved course).*The full list of courses in Connecticut that meet the criteria for this requirement are posted on the CT State Department of Education's website.
*Prerequisite courses must be passed with a B or better
- The School Psychology program requires that applicants to the Master's Program must submit evidence of having taken one of the following assessments: the Praxis® Core Combined exam, Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), Graduate Record Exam (GRE), or American College Testing (ACT). Recommendations from at least THREE individuals who know the candidate in professional and/or academic setting.
- Personal essay explaining your reasons for wanting to enter the field of school psychology and the SCSU School Psychology program in particular. The typed/word processed essay should be approximately 250- 500 words in length.
- A current professional resume or vita.
- Interview with School Psychology program faculty and student representatives, if invited.
Students who are granted admission to the program and have not yet fulfilled all of the course requirements will be given "Conditional Acceptance" until these requirements are met.
A comprehensive exam is required for degree completion and advancement to the SYC program in School Psychology.
Application Deadline
December 1 for fall semester. For further information: mcphersona5@southernct.edu.