School Psychology

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Our 111-credit Ph.D. in School Psychology program is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). Program curriculum includes coursework, practicum, internship, and dissertation.

Completion of this program leads to an M.S.Ed., a Ph.D., Certification in School Psychology by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), and will prepare you to apply for licensure through Pennsylvania's State Board of Psychology.

In addition to practicing psychology in schools, child clinics, and child service agencies, you can become licensed for the independent practice of psychology and work as university faculty. Graduates often seek employment in settings where research skills are required. Upon completing the degree program and successfully passing of the Praxis School Psychology Exam, you may be credentialed as Nationally Certified School Psychologists (NCSP).

Our Ph.D. in School Psychology program at Duquesne University is designed to be consistent with the scientist-practitioner model of training. This training model and curriculum encourages future school psychologists to be both producers and consumers of science, allowing empirical research to drive one's professional practice, and allowing ongoing clinical experiences to shape future research questions.

You are also trained to become professional psychologists with foundational knowledge and skills regarding psychological research, theory, and evidence-based practices. From the very first semester of study, you are involved in both on-campus research teams and real-world practicum experiences allowing for the opportunities to engage in both the scientist and practitioner roles throughout the program.

Ph.D. School Psychology Program Overview (.pdf)

Ph.D. Student Handbook (.pdf)

Student Resources

Learn about the Ph.D. School Psychology Student Admissions, Outcomes and Other Data (.pdf)

Questions related to accreditation of the program should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 1st Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002
Phone: 202-336-5979
apaaccred@apa.org

APA Accreditation

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Program Information

Completion of this program leads to an M.S.Ed., a Ph.D., Certification in School Psychology by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), and will prepare you to apply for licensure through Pennsylvania's State Board of Psychology.

Degree

Master's, Doctorate

Academic Department

Counselor Education and School Psychology

Duration

4-year+

Required Credit Hours

111

Curriculum

  • GPSY 505 Role and Function of School Psychologists (3 credits)
  • GPSY 512 Psychological Testing (3 credits)
  • GPSY 619 Child and Adolescent Development (3 credits)
  • GPSY 625 Academic Interventions (3 credits)
  • GPSY 810 Directed Research (1 credit)
  • GPSY 623 Behavioral Interventions (3 credits)
  • GPSY 692 Individual Testing (3 credits)
  • GREV 610 Educational Statistics II (3 credits)
  • GPSY 511 Psychology of Learning (3 credits)
  • GPSY 810 Directed Research (1 credit)
  • GPSY 850 History and Systems of Psychology (3 credits)
  • GPSY 575 Counseling Children, Adolescents and Emerging Adults (3 credits)
  • GPSY 680 Consultation and Program Evaluation  (3 credits)
  • GPSY 618 Personality Assessment for Intervention (3 credits)
  • GPSY 691 Psychotherapy with Child and Adolescents (3 credits)
  • GPSY 691L Practicum I (1 credit)
  • GPSY 810 Directed Research (1 credit)
  • GPSY 695 Child Neuropsychology (3 credits)
  • GPSY 690 Child and Adolescent Psychopathology (3 credits)
  • GREV 701 Research Methods and Design (3 credits)
  • GPSY 807 Multicultural Psychology (3 credits)
  • GPSY 810 Directed Research (1 credit)
  • GPSY 693L Practicum II (1 credit)
  • GPSY 815 Ethics in School Psychology (3 credits)
  • GPSY 705 Single Subject Methods for School Psychologists (3 credits)
  • GPSY 614 Organizational Consultation and Supervision for School Psychologists 3 (credits)
  • GPSY 706 Fundamentals of University Faculty Positions (3 credits), or GREV 611 Statistics III (3 credits)
  • GPSY 813 Professional Seminar: Dissertation Research (1 credit)
  • GPSY 812L Advanced Doctoral Practicum I (1 credit)
  • GPSY 810 Directed Research  (1 credit)

Note: GPSY 812L has separate sections for individual faculty members. Be sure to register for the proper faculty member.
  • GPSY 811 Biological Basis of Behavior (3 credits)
  • GREV 612 Statistics IV Statistical Modeling (offered every other year), or a research elective approved by your advisor (3 credits)
  • GPSY 813 Professional Seminar: Dissertation Research (1 credit)
  • GPSY 812L Advanced Doctoral Practicum II (1 credit)
  • GPSY 810 Directed Research (1 credit)

Note
  • GREV 612 is only offered every other spring. If not offered, it may be taken in spring year 3 or spring year 4. Another research elective, approved by the student's advisor, may be taken in place of GREV 612. Not taking GREV 612 (or equivalent) will reduce the semester credit load by 3 credits. 
  • GPSY 812L has separate sections for individual faculty members. Be sure to register for the proper faculty member.
  • GESL 501 Helping English Language Learners in Mainstream Classes (3 credits)
  • GPSY 706 Fundamentals of University Faculty Positions (3 credits), or GREV 611 Statistics III (3 credits)
  • GPSY 808 Elective Option - Early Childhood: Assessment and Intervention (3 credits)
  • GPSY 812L Advanced Doctoral Practicum I (1 credit)
  • GPSY 810 Directed Research  (1 credit)

Note
  • Students must select ONE elective (3 credit hour): GPSY 804: Child Violence in Schools (offered each spring), GPSY 808: Early Childhood: Assessment and Intervention (offered each fall) or an elective approved by the student’s advisor. The elective can be taken anytime in the third and fourth years of study. A Ph.D. student’s course sequence must total 111 credits. 
  • GPSY 812L has separate sections for individual faculty members. Be sure to register for the proper faculty member.
  • GPSY 612 Social Psychology (3 credits)
  • GREV 612 Statistics IV Statistical Modeling (offered every other year), or a research elective to take the place of Ed. Stats. IV (3 credits)
  • GPSY 804 Elective Option - Child Violence in Schools (3 credits)
  • GPSY 812L Advanced Doctoral Practicum II (1 credit)
  • GPSY 810 Directed Research (1 credit)

Note
  • GREV 612 is only offered every other spring. If not offered, it may be taken in spring year 3 or spring year 4. Another research elective, approved by the student's advisor, may be taken in place of GREV 612. Not taking GREV 612 (or equivalent) will reduce the semester credit load by 3 credits. 
  • Students must select ONE elective (3 credit hour): GPSY 804: Child Violence in Schools (offered each spring), GPSY 808: Early Childhood: Assessment and Intervention (offered each fall) or an elective approved by the student’s advisor. The elective can be taken anytime in the third and fourth years of study. A Ph.D. student’s course sequence must total 111 credits.
  • GPSY 812L has separate sections for individual faculty members. Be sure to register for the proper faculty member.
  • GPSY 903 School Psychology Doctoral Internship Seminar I (3 credits)
  • GPSY 901 School Psychology Doctoral Internship I (1 credit)
  • GPSY 906 Dissertation (3 credits)

Note
  • GPSY 906 has separate sections for individual faculty members. Be sure to register for the proper faculty member.
  • Dissertation credits do not need to be taken in the suggested semesters above. Students must register for a total of 6 dissertation credits (GPSY 906) to be eligible for graduation.
  • GPSY 904 School Psychology Doctoral Internship Seminar II (3 credits)
  • GPSY 902 School Psychology Doctoral Internship II (1 credit)
  • GPSY 906 Dissertation (3 credits)

Note
  • GPSY 906 has separate sections for individual faculty members. Be sure to register for the proper faculty member.
  • Dissertation credits do not need to be taken in the suggested semesters above. Students must register for a total of 6 dissertation credits (GPSY 906) to be eligible for graduation.

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School Psychology

Audrey Czwalga

Assistant to the Program Director