Major (20013) Academic Plan Code (331047MSS)
The Master of Science (M.S.) in School Psychology degree, offered in the Department of Counseling and School Psychology, is an integrated graduate-professional program designed to prepare school psychologists who apply educational, psychological, and social and cultural foundations to create and engender a vision of educational equity in the public schools. The program prepares school psychologists with (a) ecological and systems perspectives by which to consider problem situations in the schools, (b) the cultural competencies to serve the multicultural populations of public schools, (c) the knowledge and skills to serve both general and special education populations, and (d) the skills to function as data-based change agents and consultants in the schools, providing a broad range of culturally-appropriate assessment-intervention services. A scientist-practitioner training model serves as a guide to the preparation of these data-based problem-solvers who will be prepared to serve as school psychologists in public schools. The program is organized and aligned with the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) standards and domains of practice. During the first three semesters, students complete the requirements for the Master of Science degree in counseling with a concentration in school psychology.
This is a combined program that includes an M.S. in School Psychology, an Ed.S. degree, and PPS credential. Students are not directly admitted to the Master of Science degree in School Psychology. The M.S. program incorporates requisites needed to be advanced to candidacy to the Ed.S. program. All students must meet the general requirements for advancement to candidacy, as described in Requirements for Master’s Degrees and be recommended by the faculty. A student who holds classified standing may be advanced to candidacy for the M.S. degree in School Psychology after completing at least 12 units of coursework on the official M.S. program of study with a minimum grade point average of 3.0 (B).
To apply for admission into the M.S. in School Psychology, a student must complete an application for admission to both the university complete a program application and provide supporting materials with their application. A complete application submission requires the application, experience profile, scanned and uploaded transcripts, required essays, three letters of recommendation with e-mail contact information included, essay/personal statement, and curriculum vitae or resume. It is incumbent upon applicants to provide materials necessary by which their academic, cross-cultural, interpersonal, and professional readiness for the program can be discerned. Applicants whose grade point averages fall below the university standard of 2.85 in the last 60 semester units or in the major MUST supply additional data in support of their academic readiness Program Application Affidavit. Students must obtain the California Certificate of Clearance prior to beginning the field experience sequence in the fall semester of their first year. The California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST) or waiver is required by the State of California prior to consideration for the award of a credential and must be passed by the third year of the program. The program does not require passing the CBEST for admission.
