COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Learn more about the Education Specialist degree in School Psychology.

About the Program

The EdS is a rigorous graduate degree program that meets the requirements for certification as a school psychologist in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Students who apply directly from a bachelor's degree can earn an MEd after completion of 30 credits of qualifying coursework toward the EdS. In addition to required coursework, students must complete a portfolio, required practicum placements, and a 1,200-hour internship in a school setting.

Time Limit for Degree Completion: 4 years

Campus Location: Main

Full-Time/Part-Time Status: The program is designed to be completed in three years of full-time study, with the third year being a full-time internship.

Accreditation: The program is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists and accredited by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Areas of Specialization: The program offers two optional concentrations for study:

• Applied Behavior Analysis
• Counseling

Job Prospects: Graduates are employed in public and private schools.

Licensure/Certification: Graduates can become Nationally Certified School Psychologists. Certification in School Psychology is awarded after completing the internship and passing the examinations required by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Some states certify without the examinations.

Non-Matriculated Student Policy: Students may take up to, but not more than, 9 credits of graduate study in the program before being admitted to the program. The credits transfer into the program, if the student is admitted. Students completing non-matriculated courses before being admitted to the program are NOT guaranteed admission.

Financing Opportunities: Financial support opportunities may include scholarships, tuition remission, and other financial aid such as grants, loans and federal work study.

Admission Requirements and Deadlines

Application Deadline:

Fall: February 1

Applicants should submit all required admissions documents by the application deadline to receive priority consideration for admission and financial support.

APPLY ONLINE to this graduate program.

Letters of Reference: 
Number Required: 2
From Whom: Letters of recommendation should be obtained to provide insight regarding the applicant's academic competence. References from college/university faculty are recommended.

Bachelor's Degree in Discipline/Related Discipline: A bachelor's degree is required. A minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale is expected.

Transcripts: Official undergraduate and graduate transcripts from all accredited institutions attended and/or from which credit was earned must be submitted.

International applicants must also submit an official document, including a course-by-course evaluation conducted by a NACES-accredited organization, that validates completion and conferral of a degree, diploma and/or certificate. While not required, international applicants are encouraged to submit transcript(s) to World Education Services (WES) for evaluation.

Statement of Goals: In two to three pages, indicate your goals and objectives in obtaining a specialist degree and certification as a school psychologist, as well as your reason for seeking certification with a specific focus on the career to which you aspire, your research and practice interests, and your academic and job-related experiences that are relevant to the program.

Standardized Test Scores:
GRE: Not required, but scores from the general test taken no more than 5 years prior to application may be submitted. Scores from the GRE Subject Exam in Psychology may also be provided.

Applicants who earned their baccalaureate degree from an institution where the language of instruction was other than English, with the exception of those who subsequently earned a master’s degree at a U.S. institution, must report scores for a standardized test of English that meet these minimums:

• TOEFL iBT: 79
• IELTS Academic: 6.5
• PTE Academic: 53

Resume: Current resume required.

Interview: An interview with the faculty admissions committee may be required after a complete application is received.

Clearances: All admitted students must submit copies of the required Pennsylvania criminal background check, FBI criminal history, Child Abuse check, and TB test to the College of Education and Human Development's Office of Field Placement prior to enrolling in their first term. These clearances are required by law prior to entering pre-kindergarten through 12th-grade classrooms to complete field experience requirements, starting with the first term and continuing throughout the program.

Pennsylvania clearances are not required for application completion. All new students who possess required Pennsylvania clearances more than one year old must submit updated clearances to the Office of Field Placement. Please note that obtaining these clearances may take up to six weeks. For instructions, please visit the Office of Field Placement's website at https://education.temple.edu/ofp/clearances.

Program Requirements

General Program Requirements:
Number of Credits Required Beyond the Baccalaureate: 66 (30 credits MEd; 36 credits post-master's EdS)

Required Courses:

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
Core Courses
ABA 5302	Effective Teaching Strategies and Academic Interventions	3
ABA 5303	Ethical and Legal Issues	3
or SPSY 5303	Ethical and Legal Issues
CPSY 5526	Multicultural Counseling	3
EDUC 5101	Critical Understanding of Social Science Research	3
EPSY 5561	Development and Learning Over the Lifespan	3
SPSY 5667	Introduction to Cognitive Assessment	3
SPSY 5671	Integrative Assessment	3
SPSY 5674	Social and Emotional Aspects of Behavior and Assessment	3
SPSY 5676	Applied Behavior Analysis	3
SPSY 5771	Biological Aspects of Behavior	3
SPSY 8773	Developmental Psychopathology and Low Incidence Disabilities	3
SPSY 8777	Theories and Techniques of Counseling for Youth	3
SPSY 9551	Consultation	3
Culminating Courses
SPSY 9487	Professional Issues and Practicum (2 terms)	6
SPSY 9687	Clinical Supervision Seminar in School Psychology	6
SPSY 9688	Psychoeducational Clinic (2 terms)	6
SPSY 9885	Internship in School Psychology	9
Total Credit Hours		66

Optional Concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis

The optional 12-credit concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis allows students to meet the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s educational requirements to become a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA):

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
ABA 5304	Concepts and Principles of Behavior Analysis	3
ABA 5305	Single Subject Research Design	3
ABA 5306	Organizational Behavior Management - OBM	3
or PSY 8610	Topical Seminar in Organizational-Social
ABA 8787	Seminar on Verbal Behavior	3
Total Credit Hours		12

Optional Concentration in Counseling

The optional 12-credit concentration in Counseling allows students to meet Pennsylvania’s educational requirements for licensure as a professional counselor:

Course List

Code	Title	Credit Hours
CPSY 5519	Group Counseling	3
CPSY 5566	Professional Issues in Mental Health Counseling	3
CPSY 5593	Career Counseling and Development	3
CPSY 5698	Fundamental Counseling Techniques	3
Total Credit Hours		12

Internship: For certification, an internship with a minimum of 1,200 hours in an approved setting must be completed. A minimum of 600 hours must be in a school setting. The internship can be full-time for a year or half-time over two years.

Culminating Events:
Comprehensive Examination:
The comprehensive examination is an essay examination that covers key areas of Psychology and School Psychology to determine the student's competence and ability to explain key concepts. The comprehensive exam is only required for a student whose GPA is below 3.5 at the completion of MEd coursework.

Portfolio Review:
During the internship year, students must submit a portfolio of professional work for review by the advisor.

Contacts

Department Contacts: