School Psychology Programs

Find out about school psychology programs offered at various prestigious universities in the US, along with their admission requirements and course structure. The following guide will also provide information on the job outlook and salary potential of these programs.

What Is School Psychology?

School psychology is the study of multiple fields of psychology such as clinical psychology, developmental psychology, and community psychology in the context of an educational setting. This branch of psychology deals with the learning needs of adolescents and children in collaboration with parents and educators.

What Can You Do with a School Psychology Program?

With a school psychology degree, graduates can find work in several educational settings. A school psychology program would help students apply psychological principles and methods to developmental and education disorders. Most graduates of these programs end up working as school psychologists in one educational institute or the other. Let’s take a closer look at some of the available statistics for this career path.

The following information has been taken from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, for the joint occupational category of Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists, 2019.

Many school psychologists work with children in grades K-12, while others may work in the higher education sector. A lot of these professionals are employed by public or private schools or other educational facilities. Some school psychologists also work in childcare centers, mental health centers, universities, or juvenile facilities.

What to Expect from a School Psychology Program?

School psychology can be studied at various educational levels. A 2-year long associate’s degree in school psychology will prepare you for a bachelor’s degree in the subject. A 4-year long bachelor’s degree in school psychology would typically require the completion of 120-128 credit hours.

However, in order to practice school psychology, professionals will need at least a master’s degree in psychology from an accredited institute. This would take 2 to 3 years to complete and would include courses such as Behavioral Therapy, Professional Ethics, and School Psychology Observation. Most professionals in the field of psychology require a doctoral degree to practice, which would take around 3 to 7 years to complete.

It is recommended that students get in touch with the relevant school for more information on their chosen program, its coursework, degree requirements, career options, and faculty, etc.

How to Choose a School Psychology Program?

When choosing a program in school psychology, it is important to keep the following factors in mind:

• Accreditation of the program
• Location, length, and cost of the program
• Faculty credentials
• Online class options
• Availability of experienced options
• Career and internship placement office
• Research opportunities
• Notable alumni
• The course structure of the program
• Lab facilities and practical study options
• Student-teacher ratio

School Psychology Program Admission Requirements

The admission requirements for school psychology programs would depend on the level of the educational degree you choose. For instance, if you go for a master’s in school psychology program, you will typically be required to submit your official college transcripts, letters of recommendation, GRE scores, and clear one or more interviews. For Ph.D. programs, there would be additional requirements in place. In any case, students are requested to check with their chosen universities for detailed information.