Courses Regularly Taught:
- Intro to School Psychology (PSY
670)
- Behavior Therapy (PSY 685)
- Appraisal of Children (PSY 840)
- Methods in School Psychology (PSY 880)
- Psychological Consultation in the Schools (PSY
981)
- Observation in School Psychology (PSY 881)
- Practicum (PSY 890)
- Internship (PSY 985/986)
Who Are School Psychologists?
We are here to help your child achieve their best.
School psychologists help children and youth succeed
academically, socially, and emotionally. We have specialized training
in both education and mental health and know how to identify and
lower barriers to learning. These barriers can include developmental
or learning disabilities, behavior difficulties, teaching styles,
school or classroom climate, problems at home or with friends, substance
or alcohol abuse, violence, and mental health problems such as anxiety
or depression.
Our goal is to collaborate with parents, school staff,
and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive
learning environments so that all students can learn.
What School Psychologists Do
School psychologists work with students individually and in groups,
as well as address school- and district-wide issues such as bullying
prevention and positive behavioral supports. We work very closely
with teachers, school social workers, school counselors, and other
staff to coordinate services. This can be in the context of an IEP
team, crisis response team, or general education support team.
We use many different approaches, but generally provide these core
services:
Prevention
Design programs for children at risk of failing at
school.
Promote tolerance, understanding, and appreciation of diversity
within the school community.
Develop programs to make schools safer and more effective learning
environments.
Provide crisis prevention and preparedness information and training.
Collaborate with school staff and community agencies to provide
services directed at improving mental and physical health.
Develop partnerships with parents and teachers to promote healthy
school environments.
Consultation
Collaborate with teachers, parents, and administrators to find effective
solutions to learning and behavior problems.
Help others understand child development and mental health and how
they affect learning and behavior.
Strengthen working relationships between teachers, parents, and
service providers in the community.
Evaluation
Evaluate eligibility for special services.
Assess academic skills and aptitude for learning.
Determine social-emotional development and mental health status.
Evaluate learning environments.
Intervention
Provide psychological counseling to help resolve interpersonal
or family problems that interfere with school performance.
Work directly with children and their families to help resolve problems
in adjustment and learning.
Provide training in social skills and anger management.
Help families and schools manage crises such as death, illness,
or community trauma.
Research and Planning
Evaluate the effectiveness of academic and behavior
management programs.
Identify and implement programs and strategies to improve schools.
Use evidence-based research to develop and/or recommend effective
interventions.
School Psychologists Training and Credentialing
School psychologists must complete a minimum of a
Specialist-level degree program (60 graduate semester credits) that
includes a 1200-hour internship. Some school psychologists have
a doctoral degree. School psychologists must be certified and/or
licensed by the state in which we work. They also may be nationally
certified by the National School Psychology Certification Board
(NSPCB), which is administered by the National Association of School
Psychologists.
For More Information, please visit the following:
Resources
for Current School Psychology Students
More
Information About Becoming a School Psychologist
Salary
Information for School Psychologists
Bureau
of Labor Statistics for Psychologists
The
Changing Face of School Psychology (PDF file) |
