Specialist in Education in School Psychology
The Specialist in Education (Ed.S.) in School Psychology is a 64-credit hour program that prepares students for professional practice as licensed or certified school psychologists. The curriculum integrates coursework, practicum experience, and a full-time third-year internship. Graduates are prepared to support the academic, behavioral, and mental health needs of students in PK-12 school and related settings.
Graduate Admissions Requirements
Applicants must meet both the University and departmental admission requirements to be considered for the program.
University of Kansas Graduate Admission Requirements
- All applicants must meet the requirements outlined in the Admission to Graduate Study policy.
Education Specialist (Ed.S) in School Psychology Application Requirements:
- A completed graduate application.
- Application fee.
- Official transcripts of all degree-granting post-secondary institutions you have attended and an official transcript for each degree earned.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- GRE - official copy of scores no older than five years; on the general GRE test is required.
- Personal statement addressing the following:
- Describe your career goals
- Describe how you see your career goals relating to this degree program (how you see this program preparing you to meet your career objectives)
- Describe past work or educational experiences related to this degree program
- Describe what skills/competencies and experiences you hope to gain in this program
- Describe any past research experiences and accomplishments
- Describe one research topic/issue that you would like to pursue in this program
- Provide additional information concerning your background, experience, goals, or accomplishments/awards you believe are pertinent to your application
- Current resume or CV.
NOTE: These are the admission requirements in place at the time this catalog content was published.
Ed.S. Degree Requirements
The Ed.S. program prepares graduates to work effectively as school psychologists and to meet the recommendations of professional organizations and Kansas licensure requirements. The Ed.S. program is accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education through the CAEP accreditation system, and the Kansas State Department of Education.
Program Requirements
The Ed.S. program consists of 2 years of full-time graduate study followed by a third year of internship. Students completing the 64-credit hour program are qualified to work as a school psychologist in a PK-12 school setting. The program meets Kansas licensure requirements, and graduates may apply for the Nationally Certified School Psychologist credential. Students outside of Kansas should check with their Department of Education to confirm classes needed for licensure in that state.
A new cohort begins each fall, and students obtain competence in school psychology primarily by completing a structured sequence of prescribed courses and field-based experiences. However, there may be room in a student’s program for electives, depending on previous experiences and course work. The standard course sequence for students in the Ed.S. program is as follows:
Required Courses for Ed.S. in School Psychology
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EPSY 705 | Human Development through the Lifespan | 3 |
| EPSY 710 | Introduction to Statistical Analysis | 3 |
| EPSY 711 | Lab for Introduction to Statistical Analysis | 1 |
| EPSY 798 | Special Course: _____ (Applied Behavior Analysis & Evidence-Based Interventions) | 3 |
| EPSY 715 | Understanding Research in Education | 3 |
| EPSY 725 | Educational Measurement | 3 |
| EPSY 760 | Ethics, Law, and Professional Issues in School Psychology | 3 |
| EPSY 770 | Developmental Psychopathology: Diagnosis, Intervention, and Prevention | 3 |
| EPSY 798 | Special Course: _____ (Consultation Systems and Program Evaluation) | 3 |
| EPSY 805 | Cognitive Assessment | 4 |
| EPSY 807 | Theories and Research in Human Learning | 3 |
| EPSY 835 | Clinical Techniques in Academic Assessment and Intervention | 3 |
| EPSY 855 | Psychoeducational Clinic I: Assessment, Consultation, and Intervention | 3 |
| EPSY 860 | Assessment of Behavior Problems and Personality | 3 |
| EPSY 865 | Psychoeducational Clinic 2: Assessment, Consultation, and Intervention | 3 |
| EPSY 910 | Practicum in School Psychology | 3 |
| EPSY 911 | Advanced Practicum in School Psychology | 3 |
| EPSY 965 | Foundations of Psychoeducational Consultation | 3 |
| EPSY 947 | Specialist Research | 4 |
| EPSY 975 | Therapeutic Intervention: Home and School | 3 |
| EPSY 991 | Ed.S. Internship | 4 |
| Comprehensive Exam - Praxis: School Psychologist | ||
| Total Hours | 64 | |
| Year 1 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| EPSY 715 | 3 | EPSY 835 | 3 | EPSY 705 | 3 |
| EPSY 725 | 3 | EPSY 860 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 770 | 3 | EPSY 760 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 805 | 4 | EPSY 965 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 780 | 3 | ||||
| 16 | 12 | 3 | |||
| Year 2 | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | Summer | Hours |
| EPSY 7101 | 3 | EPSY 807 | 3 | EPSY 9472 | 1-4 |
| EPSY 7111 | 1 | EPSY 797 | 1-3 | ||
| EPSY 855 | 3 | EPSY 781 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 910 | 3 | EPSY 800 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 975 | 3 | EPSY 865 | 3 | ||
| EPSY 911 | 3 | ||||
| 13 | 16-18 | 1-4 | |||
| Year 3 | |||||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours | ||
| EPSY 9913 | 2 | EPSY 9913 | 2 | ||
| 2 | 2 | ||||
| Total Hours 65-70 | |||||
- 1
EPSY 710 and EPSY 711 may be waived when the student has taken an undergraduate statistics course and successfully passes a qualifying test.
- 2
EPSY 947 may be taken in 1-4 credit-hour segments throughout Year 2 (including summer).
- 3
EPSY 991 (Full-time internship requires 2 credit-hours per semester; Half-time internship requires one credit-hour per semester.)
At the completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate research knowledge and apply research skills.
- Demonstrate skills to consult, collaborate, and communicate effectively with individuals, families, groups, and systems.
- Understand and use assessments to identify strengths and needs, to develop effective interventions and programs, and measuring progress.
- Understand, identify, and implement mental health and academic interventions based on empirical evidence and with fidelity.
- Identify and respond appropriately to professional, legal, and ethical situations that may arise in their professional role.
- Respect and be appropriately responsive to individual and culture differences, abilities, disabilities, and other diverse characteristics and the effects they have on development and learning.