The School Psychology program is designed to prepare professional psychologists with educational expertise who can function in a variety of diverse, educationally-related settings. The program’s training model and philosophy espouse commitments to (a) diversity and social justice, (b) evidence-based practice, and (c) school-based practice. These views foster the conception of the school psychologist as broadly capable of consuming research and practicing effectively with clients, in addition to considering the ecological complexity in which the child exists. The assessment of children and adolescents as well as planning for interventions necessitates this broader conceptulization of childhood problems. The program integrates social justice perspectives throughout its training sequence and focuses on evidence-based practices in working with school-aged youth. The program emphasizes a balance between psychological and educational theory as well as applied practice.
The Educational Specialist (EdS) program in school psychology is a three-year program with two years of coursework on campus and a yearlong internship. The program requires full-time study (12-15 credits per semester) and residence in Lexington, Kentucky. In the EdS program, students typically earn a Master of Science (MS) degree after the first year of coursework. The EdS program is fully approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and the National Council for Accreditation in Teacher Education (NCATE). Graduates of the EdS progam are eligible for certification as a school psychologist in the state of Kentucky and should meet certification standards in most other states. Program completion also partially fulfills requirements for certification as a Psychological Associate by the Kentucky Board of Psychology. States have unique certification requirements and offer job opportunities for school psychologists. A full description of the requirements for the EdS in School Psychology are described in the program handbook.
Admission Requirements
Applicants to the EdS Degree program in school psychology must possess an undergraduate degree in psychology, education, or a closely allied field (e.g., rehabilitation counseling or pediatric nursing). Students with prior graduate work at the masters level will also be considered for admission. Applications for admission are evaluated by the program faculty who carefully review the applicant’s (a) GPA; (b) GRE scores, when provided; (c) letters of recommendation addressing academic and psychology/school based experience and skills; (d) Statement of Purpose outlining professional goals (i.e., is it commensuarate with our training model and social justice values, and does it demonstrate excellence in written communication); (e) writing sample demonstrating excellence in written communication; and (e) contribution to diversity, broadly defined to include individual social identities and background experiences. The program faculty holistically considers the entire application of a prospective student and makes decisions based not only on numerical criteria but also on perceieved fit with program goals, needs, and values.
Therefore, a low score in one area can be off-set by professional strengths in another area. Minimum GPA is >2.75 for undergraduate and >3.00 for graduate. Minimum TOEFL score is 79.
Degree Requirements
See the departmental School Psychology Ed.S Program website (https://education.uky.edu/edp/school-psychology-overview/eds-program-in-school-psychology/) for degree requirements.