School Psychology with Clinical Child Counseling Specialization, M.S.

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M.S. Degree-Major: School Psychology with Clinical Child Counseling Specialization (32 credits)

Post-M.S. Sixth-Year Certificate/Certification (39 credits)

The School Psychology program is an integrated, 71-credit program of study designed to lead to both the M.S. degree in school psychology, with a specialization in clinical child counseling, and a sixth-year certificate and endorsement for professional certification as a school psychologist. The School Psychology program is nationally approved and accredited through the National Association of School Psychologists and Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation partnership (NASP/CAEP).

The School Psychology program is designed to prepare highly qualified school psychologists with particular competencies working with children, families, and educational programs for service within public and private schools or similar human service settings. Furthermore, required coursework is in line with course requirements for the Licensed Professional Counselor credential. Graduates who wish to pursue this credential must complete additional requirements post-graduation.

The school psychologist is a professional member of the educational system whose primary role is to maximize the learning and developmental opportunities for children and adolescents. Thus, such a person must be a specialist with children and their development, education, and mental health. In many settings, this involves a three-part role description: (1) assessment and diagnosis, (2) counseling and psychotherapy, and (3) consultation and collaboration.

The traditional diagnostic role of intellectual, personality, and learning assessments is still important in many cases. As the field of school psychology has evolved, however, more emphasis has been placed on direct services to children and families, through individual, group, or family counseling.

In addition, the value of the school psychologist is often maximized through the consultation role in which assistance is offered to teachers, administrators, parents, and outside agencies in the areas of behavior and learning. It is also expected that the school psychologist will serve as an integral member of the interdisciplinary child study or planning and placement teams as they develop, and implement programs for students. An emergent role has been that of child and family advocate through facilitation of adequate programs, fair treatment, and public information.

To prepare students for these roles the School Psychology program at the University of Hartford offers a planned program of study designed to meet individual student needs as well as the requirements of the State of Connecticut Board of Education.

Because of the high level of training required for certification, it is anticipated but not guaranteed that many other states will recognize the training as meeting their individual requirements. Students are responsible for checking individual state requirements for certification.

It is the goal of the program to enable its graduates to emerge with a broad background in all relevant areas. The specific minimal objectives of the program are the following:

An understanding of conditions that inhibit the learning process, including physical, emotional, or intellectual disabilities
An understanding of the functioning of the school in terms of
1. the regular classroom
2. the curriculum
3. specialized programs and services
4. the school as a psychosocial system
A basic knowledge of research and research techniques as related to school and the application of psychology in the school
Skills in administration of generally accepted tests of intelligence, personality, and learning; interpreting the results; and communicating them in a useful manner to appropriate individuals
Basic individual and group counseling skills
A demonstration to the faculty of personal and professional attributes necessary to the successful performance of the duties of a school psychologist
Acquaintance with basic theories and models concerning personality and its developmental antecedents
Knowledge of various approaches toward the understanding of abnormal behavior in children emanating from psychological, physiological, and community conditions
Completion of a yearlong, half-time practicum involving 600 hours of site-based exposure providing school psychological services complemented by weekly University professional group supervision
Completion of a yearlong, 1,200-hour internship in school psychology completed either full time in one year or half time in two years, with weekly supervision in the school by a certified school psychologist complemented by weekly University professional group supervision

Degree Requirements

Certification as a school psychologist requires the completion of a 71-credit program of study. The M.S. degree, earned en route, requires that all students must satisfactorily complete a minimum of 32 credits with a grade point average of at least 3.0 in the course requirements below, have no more than two grades below B, and successfully perform on a comprehensive examination.

A student who has more than two grades below B will be dismissed from the program. With permission from the Program Director, students may retake a course in which they received a grade below B one time.

The School Psychology Program may only be completed on a full-time basis. Students enrolled in the program are considered to be full-time during all phases of the program.

Assessment

(four required/12 credits)

PSY 561 - Cognitive and Psychoeducational Assessment I 3 credit(s)
PSY 565 - Cognitive and Psychoeducational Assessment II 3 credit(s)
PSY 566 - Personality Assessment I 3 credit(s)
PSY 567 - Personality Assessment II 3 credit(s)

Intervention

(one required/3 credits)

PSY 584 - Introduction to Counseling and Psychotherapy 3 credit(s)

Psychopathology

(one required/3 credits)

PSY 542 - Psychopathology of Childhood 3 credit(s)

Theory

(two required/6 credits)

PSY 554 - Community Psychology 3 credit(s)
PSY 583 - Introduction to School Psychology 3 credit(s)

Practica/Internship

(four required/8 credits)

PSY 616 - Child Clinical Counseling Practicum & Internship 1 credit(s)
PSY 617 - Child Clinical Counseling Internship 1 credit(s)
PSY 655 - Professional Seminar and Practicum in School Psychology I 3 credit(s)
PSY 656 - Professional Seminar and Practicum in School Psychology II 3 credit(s)

Comprehensive Examination

A written comprehensive examination is given to the candidate at the end of the first year. An oral examination may also be required. Satisfactory completion of the first-year comprehensive examination is a prerequisite for the practicum sequence. Further information may be obtained from the director of the program.

Initial Certificate

In order to be recommended for the initial certification in school psychology, the student must complete the requirements for the M.S. degree as well as the certification program. While the program is intended to meet the professional needs of the student, recommendation for certification is not automatic. Instead, it emanates from a total assessment of the student’s mastery of the necessary skills and theoretical background, and from his or her personal suitability to serve in the capacity of school psychologist. Successful completion of academic requirements constitutes, therefore, a necessary but not sufficient prerequisite for recommendation for certification. The faculty will endeavor to apprise the student throughout his/her program as to his/her professional and personal progress. Students are urged to seek consultations with the faculty.

In addition to the academic course work and field practice, Connecticut certification requires an internship consisting of one full school year or its equivalent, in a period not to exceed two years, of supervised experience in a school setting under the supervision of a certified school psychologist, the local school system, and the preparing institution.

Professional Certificate

In order to be eligible for the professional certificate, individuals must provide evidence of three years of satisfactory service as a school psychologist as attested to by an employing superintendent of schools.

Progress Review

Students’ academic and non-academic progress will be reviewed each semester. Students with unsatisfactory progress may be dismissed from the program.

Because of the sensitive nature of the work that students are qualified to do during and upon graduation from the program, the review will focus on formal academic progress as well as factors other than course work. Nonacademic factors may include personality, interpersonal, professional dispositions, and/or ethical behaviors that may impact the student’s judgment and/or ability to function appropriately in a school setting. These professional dispositions include but are not limited to: professional attire, timeliness on site/in courses, work production by deadlines, and generally, behavior in accordance to the standards and ethical guidelines set forth by the National Association of School Psychologists. The director of the program will discuss any program faculty concerns with the student promptly and, where possible, will work with the student toward remediation of the problem. In extreme cases, it may be necessary for the student to delay further course work and/or practicum/internship placement during such remediation. In the event that a remedial plan is not possible or does not prove effective, the student may be removed from the program.

Admission Requirements

A completed application for consideration for admission consists of

transcripts of all past educational experiences and documentation of the award of the bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution of higher education;
an overall undergraduate grade average of B;
an undergraduate major or concentration in psychology*;
official scores for the General Aptitude (Verbal, Quantitative, Analytic) and the GRE Subject Test in Psychology;
a personal statement of academic objectives and professional goals; and
three letters of reference, preferably by three psychologists, evaluating academic abilities and fieldwork experience.

*Students may be admitted to the program from a variety of previous academic and experiential backgrounds. It is expected, however, that an appropriate amount of psychological course work will be either presented upon admission or taken during the beginning phases of training. The faculty reserves the right to require specific background courses to be taken without being directly applicable to the certification of academic degree requirements.

Transfer Credit

With the approval of the program director, students may transfer up to 6 credits of course work that are applicable to the program requirements.