吉祥坊

Application window for Fall 2026 is October 1, 2025 to January 31, 2026

Why Become a School Psychologist?听

A career as a听听provides many rewards and opportunities. School psychologists work with students, educators, parents, and community members to help provide better outcomes for youth. School psychologists work primarily in schools settings providing assessments, consultation, counseling, crisis intervention, and academic, behavioral, and social emotional interventions to support student鈥檚 academic, social and emotional development. School psychologists are mental health professionals who advocate for students, earn a respectable salary, and typically get the summers off! Not to mention, school psychology as a field has been ranked among the hundred听听

Overview of the School Psychology Program听

The School Psychology Program in the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling at 吉祥坊 is geared for students who have a background in education and/or psychology. Applicants who are interested in entering the exciting field of school psychology and who have worked as teachers, special educators, teacher assistants, or have served in other capacities in the schools or other settings working with children will be well suited for entrance into the program.听

The school psychology program at 吉祥坊 is a comprehensive, three-year full time Masters of Science degree program. Students applying will be seeking both a Masters of Science in School Psychology degree and an Advanced Pupil Personnel Services Credential.听 Courses in the School Psychology program are offered primarily during the evening hours (4 p.m. to 10 p.m.); however, there may be occasional courses offered during the day.听

Mission Statement听

The mission of the school psychology program at 吉祥坊 is to prepare diverse culturally responsive school psychologists for careers within multidisciplinary school-based teams to help all students attain academic, behavioral, social, and emotional success through comprehensive and coordinated support delivery systems that provide prevention and/or appropriate interventions to help provide safe, healthy, and nurturing environments to support all students develop resilience and life success. To achieve this objective, candidates in the school psychology program use the systems ecological model to engage multi-systemic multi-tiered support to enhance developmental assets which lead to optimized life success for diverse populations.听 The school psychology program prepares candidates for the delivery of comprehensive school psychological services within the context of educational programs and educational settings, while emphasizing human diversity and social justice and advocacy. School psychology candidates are trained to have a background in psychological and educational theories in order to provide counseling; assessment; consultation; prevention and intervention services including academic, behavioral, emotional, and mental health needs in the schools; address school climate, school violence, and crisis intervention in the schools; and use ethics, law, and research to guide their practice. The problem-solving data-based decision-making process is emphasized in all aspects of service delivery, as well as the use of data and evidenced based interventions to maximize student success. Working at both the individual and systems level of service delivery, candidates develop the skills to facilitate collaboration among families, school personnel, and community members to create and maintain safe, supportive, and effective learning environments.听 They creatively use program evaluation methods, and culturally compatible educational, instructional, and program solutions to address barriers and address institutional biases that impede the learning process, social emotional adjustment, behavior, and life success of students.听 Through their development, candidates become competent professionals, life-long learners, innovators, social justice advocates, and leaders in the field.听

For more information on the Michael D. Eisner College of Education and School Psychology Program Outcomes, please visit:听

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Why Our Program?

• We are a National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Accredited Program, meaning that graduates are eligible to become Nationally Certified School Psychologists.

• Graduates meet the qualifications for the California Pupil Personnel Services (PPS) credential in School Psychology from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

• For 3 years in a row, candidates have a 100% Praxis exam pass rate!

• We emphasize culturally responsive problem-solving and data-driven decision making to serve all children from diverse backgrounds, across a range of communities.

• In a recent survey of program alumni and employers, we found that 吉祥坊 has a听strong reputation for graduating school psychologists who are 鈥淓xtremely Well Prepared鈥� for the field.

• Alumni also report high levels of satisfaction in their preparation as school psychologists.

• School districts in our area seek our school psychology fieldwork and internship students.

• Our school psychology graduates are hired soon after graduation.

• Our students have diverse experiential backgrounds and identities that reflect the multicultural communities we serve in schools, and that will diversify the school psychology profession as a whole.

• Students engage in opportunities and events to mentor and support each other through their graduate studies experience, practice self-care, grow in their professional development, and network with speakers and alumni through the our Graduate School Psychology Student Association.听

Accreditation

Admission Requirements听

General Admission Requirements:听 All applicants must demonstrate evidence of suitability for graduate work in School Psychology. Applicants must complete the application process by the deadline.听 All applicants must submit an official transcript showing proof of at least a Bachelor鈥檚 Degree from a regionally accredited university or college, with a GPA of at least 3.0, preferably, but not limited, to psychology, education, or a related field.听 In addition to our application form, which can be found听here, applicants must submit transcripts of all prior academic work, two to three letters of recommendation on the recommender鈥檚 stationery (at least one, when possible, from a professor, who can describe candidates academic preparation for graduate school), a statement of personal and professional goals, objectives, and paid and unpaid work history related to education and/or mental health.听 The personal statement must include information regarding applicants' experiences related to working with people from culturally and/or ethnically diverse groups.听 A resume is also required.听 Experience working with school aged children (voluntary or paid) in an educational setting is preferred.听听

All applicants must apply to the University AND to the Department. Please visit the听Prospective Student webpage听for more information about the admissions process.

Other Admission Requirements: ALL听applicants must take the GRE General Test and submit scores by the application deadline.听 All candidates must also take the CBEST by the end of their first semester.听 This is a credentialing requirement. In addition to the general requirements stated above, all School Psychology applicants must have completed or be enrolled in the following undergraduate courses or their equivalents as prerequisites prior to beginning the graduate program coursework:听

* Equivalent courses may be substituted for prerequisites with approval. Students who have taken equivalent courses at other institutions will need to submit a course equivalency form, transcripts, university course description, and course syllabi. Graduate advisors and school psychology professors will evaluate and determine whether the requested courses are equivalent to the pre-requisites. The four prerequisite courses for the School Psychology Master鈥檚 degree and credential programs must be completed with a grade of "B minus" or better in order to matriculate into the program.听听

Interviews for Admission:听In addition to the above requirements, candidates under serious consideration will be invited to complete one or more structured interviews.听 The interview dates will be posted on the departmental web page by the application deadline date. The School Psychology program interviews typically take place in February or March.听听

The interview is approximately three hours in length. It consists of a series of activities including questions about the profession, and a novel activity that will assess the applicants' personal and professional traits and characteristics. Interview facilitators consist of faculty, professional school psychologists and advanced students. Interview groups are deliberately kept small, approximately six applicants to two facilitators to insure personal attention to each applicant when interviewed in a group. Viable candidates may be interviewed individually.听

Selection of Applicants:听Selection of candidates is made by the school psychology program coordinators based on holistic evaluations of application materials, candidates experiences, and interview. The Admissions Committee takes into consideration the following factors in making its decision: Applicants' professional and educational background, grades/GRE test scores, interview results, paid and unpaid work experiences, and letters of recommendation. Candidates are notified of the results of their applications by mid-May.听 The actual number of applicants admitted each year varies based on faculty, department resources, and other criteria existing at the time of the admissions period.听

School Psychology Program Coordinators and Support Personnel听

Coordinators of the School Psychology Program provide information, advisement, counseling, and support for students interested or enrolled in the program. Coordinators teach courses in the School Psychology program, organize and participate in the selection of students, chair student committees for the graduate project and thesis, review student programs to certify successful completion, evaluate student progress in the program, and make policy and procedural decisions regarding the School Psychology program and students.听听

Coordinator & Advisors for the School Psychology Program:听

Program advisors meet with candidates during specific classes and/or individually to address coordination of classes, expectations, assessment, and other program pertinent issues. Candidates are expected to seek counsel from their advisor and/or the program coordinator when needing information or when seeking support.听

Other Support Personnel for the School Psychology Program:听

Required Courses for the Master of Science in Counseling with specialization in School Psychology听

YEAR 1 鈥� Fall Semester听听听听听听听听听听听听听听

听听听听听听听听听听听 EPC 659SPA听 听 听 听 听Communication Skills for School Psychologists (3)听听听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听

听 听 听 听 听 听 EPC 604听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听Multi-Systemic Academic Intervention for School Psychologists (3)听

听听听听听听听听听听听 EPC 667听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听Law and Ethics and Professional Practice for School Psychologists in听

听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听the Schools and in Private Practice (3)听

听 听 听 听 听 听 EPC 664听 听 听 听 听 听 听 听Neuro-Developmental, Emotional and Behavior Disorders (3)

YEAR 1 鈥� Spring Semester听听听听听听听听听听

听听听听听听听听听听听 *EPC 643听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Diversity in School Psychologists (3)听

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听(Course number and title will change to EPC 643SP听Diversity in 听

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 School Psychologists听in Fall 2022)听

听听听听听听听听听听听 *EPC 659B听听听听听听听听听听 Practicum in Counseling (3) 听

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听(Course number and title will change to EPC 659SPB听Practicum in听

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Counseling for School Psychologists听in Fall 2022)听

听听听听听听听听听听听 EPC 661听 听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Multi-Systemic Behavioral Intervention (3)听

听听听听听听听听听听听 SPED 610听听听听听听听听听听听听 Program Planning in Special Education (3)听听

YEAR 1 鈥� Summer Semester听听

听听听听听听听听听听听 EPC 601 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Individual and Group Assessment (3) 听

听听听听听听听听听听听 EPC 674听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Family Development Across the Lifespan (3)听听

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 (Course number and title will change to EPC 674SP Family 听

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Development Across the Lifespan in Fall 2022)听

YEAR 2 鈥� Fall Semester听 听听听听听听

听听听听听听听听听听听 EPC 659EC听听听听听听听听听听 Practicum in School Psychology: Resiliency, Prevention, and Crisis Intervention (3)听

听听听听听听听听听听听 EPC 663A/L听听听听听听听听 Assessment of Cognitive Development and Skills for Intervention and Lab (3/3)听听

听听听听听听听听听听听 EPC 665听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Individual and Group Counseling of Children in the Schools (3)听

听听听听听听听听听听听 EPC 603 听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Clinical Research and Program Evaluation (3)听

YEAR 2 鈥� Spring Semester听听听 听

听听听听听听听听听听听 EPC 641听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Bilingual Assessment听听

听听听听听听听听听听听 EPC 659FC听听听听听听听听听听 Practicum in School Psychology: Resiliency, Prevention, and Crisis 听

听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Intervention (3)听

听听听听听听听听听听听 EPC 663B/L听听听听听听听听听 Assessment of Social-Emotional Development and Adaptive Skills for Intervention and Lab (3/3) 听

听听听听听听听听听听听 EPC 648听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听Consultation with Parents, Teachers, and Other Human Service听

Professionals (3)听

YEAR 2 鈥� Summer Semester听听

听听听听听听听听听听听 EPC 611听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Seminar in Educational Psychology (3)听

YEAR 3 鈥� Fall Semester听 听听听听听听

听听听听听听听听听听听 EPC 659GC 听听听听听听听听 Internship in School Psychology (3)听 听听

听听听听听听听听听听听 EPC 698C听 听听听听听听听听听听 Thesis/Graduate Project (3)听

YEAR 3 鈥� Spring Semester听听听听

听听听听听听听听听听听 EPC 659HC听听听听听听听听听 Internship in School Psychology (3)听

听听听听听听听听听听听 EPC 697听听听听听听听听听听听听听听听 Directed Comprehensive Studies (3)听or听听

听听听听听听听听听听听 EPC 698C听听听听听听听听听听听听 Thesis/Graduate Project (3)听听

* Pending approval, the courses with the asterisk will change in the Fall 2022. Also, the ultimate degree will be Masters in School Psychology, rather than Masters in Counseling with Specialization in School Psychology.听

Total Units = 72 credits, including at least 3 credits for the culminating experience. Candidates have an option of 3 credits for a Comprehensive exam or 6 credits for Graduate Project.听 Please note that 12 credit units are based on practica (fieldwork) and internship classes. EPC 697 can only be taken once in your final semester. Students can also take EPC 696, Independent Study, based on their need.听

Developmental Strands in School Psychology听

The school psychology program has seven developmental strands. These strands include: 1) theoretical, history, legal, and professional dispositions and foundations, 2) resilience and development and learning in multisystemic and multi-tiered settings, 3) communication, interpersonal relationships, and counseling, 4) psychometric assessment skills and data-based assessment, planning, monitoring, and evaluation, 5) consultation and collaboration with families, educational professionals, and community members, 6) prevention, intervention, and postvention, and 7) research and evidenced based practice.听 These developmental strands were designed in a sequential manner to foster the candidate鈥檚 developmental competencies within specific areas.听 In some instances, the developmental strands will be composed of classes which may address one or more of the developmental strands. In some instances, information will be cross-referenced between various classes, different classes, and different requirements to emphasize a comprehensive model of service delivery.听 The developmental strands were designed to help candidates become capable of meeting the various demands of the program and the demands of the field of school psychology at different levels in their training.听

Practicum in school psychology and internship provide the means to practice what candidates have learned in the various classes and to gain competence in the various developmental strands specified above and in the Performance Based Outcomes.听 Candidates are required to conduct at least 450 hours of practicum their second year and a full-time internship consisting of at least 1200 hours their third year.听

Master鈥檚 degree candidates are required to perform a culminating scholarly activity.听 To fulfill this requirement candidates may elect to carry out a project or take a comprehensive examination.听听

Passing the Praxis II in school psychology exam is required of all candidates in the program.听 Candidates are required to take and pass this exam by the end of their third year.听

• PSYCHOLOGY CANDIDATE HANDBOOK
• PSYCHOLOGY SUPERVISOR HANDBOOK

School Psychology Faculty听

Course Instructors for the School Psychology Program听

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