School Psychology

There is a growing need for School Psychology as it deals with students’ education and helps to sharpen their social, behavioral, emotional factors. Professionals in this field work with all stakeholders such as students, teachers, families, school and college administrators. It does seem as if this is more popular in North America, especially the USA, as many universities there offer Masters and PhD in this subject, while a few in Europe too offer.

Adelphi University offers an MA in School Psychology, which aims to provide “an ecological framework that promotes an appreciation of diversity and an understanding of the many factors affecting the academic and social-emotional development of children and adolescents.” (https://derner.adelphi.edu/psychology/graduate/masters-school-psychology/). Iona College runs an MA in School Psychology where “emphasis is placed on empirically based decision making in assessment, counseling and consultation service delivery and specific topics including functional behavior assessment, curriculum-based assessment, Response-to-Intervention (RTI), Positive Behavioral Supports, diversity awareness, and legal and professional issues. (https://www.iona.edu/academics/school-of-arts-science/departments/psychology/graduate-programs/ma-in-school-psychology.aspx).

The University at Austin offers MA / Specialist in School Psychology (SSP) and Ph.D. degrees which helps students “in understanding and enhancing the development of children and adolescents in context.” (https://education.utexas.edu/departments/educational-psychology/graduate-programs/school-psychology). University of Washington has an Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) program in School Psychology with a duration of three years – two years of coursework and one year of internship. This program “teaches students how to serve children and adolescents’ educational and social- emotional needs as school psychologists”. (https://education.uw.edu/programs/graduate/educational-psychology/school-psychology-edscert) The university also runs Ph.D. in School Psychology which prepares “scientist-practitioners whose practice of psychology is grounded in scientific knowledge and focused on enhancing the socio-emotional and educational competence of school age children.” (https://education.uw.edu/programs/graduate/educational-psychology/school-psychology-phd).

University of Cincinnati offers Specialist-Level Ed.S. and Ph.D. program in School Psychology and commits to prepare “competent professional school psychologists according to the scientist-practitioner model.” ((https://cech.uc.edu/human-services/graduate-programs/scpsy.html) (https://cech.uc.edu/human-services/graduate-programs/school-psychology-phd.html). Columbia University runs Ed.M. and Ph.D. programs in School Psychology “with a focus on the application of psychological science to the promotion of learning and mental health in schools and other educational and mental health contexts.” (https://www.tc.columbia.edu/health-and-behavior-studies/school-psychology/).

Mercy College offers a MS in School Psychology with three tracks such as School Psychologist, School Psychologist w/a bilingual extension, School Psychologist w/a specialty in early childhood. (https://www.mercy.edu/degrees-programs/ms-school-psychology#curriculum). Rochester Institute of Technology’s MS in School Psychology, “develops professional skills and competencies in assessment, counseling, consultation, and program evaluation” among students. (https://www.rit.edu/programs/school-psychology-ms). St. John’s University’s MS in School Psychology claims to “demonstrate effective consultation and collaboration skills, using consultative models for problem-solving.” (https://www.stjohns.edu/academics/programs/school-psychology-master-science). Roberts Wesleyan College runs a three-year MS in School Psychology which includes one year’s paid internship and “prepares students to evaluate, diagnose, and treat children and adolescents, in consultation with parents and teachers”. The course gives “direct practice within public and private elementary, middle, and high schools. Direct practice includes diagnostic evaluation and treatment of children and adolescents, and parent and teacher consultation.” (https://www.roberts.edu/graduate/programs/school-psychology-ms/).

Pace University runs Masters in School Psychology (MSED) which emphasizes on “psychoeducational services at schools, providing assistance to students, teachers, and other education professionals and parents. Graduates typically provide assessment, consultation, and intervention services in school settings.” (https://www.pace.edu/academics/graduate-students/degrees/school-psychology-msed)

Mount Saint Vincent University, Canada thesis based MA in School Psychology “follows a practitioner-scholar model that emphasizes the importance of evidence-based practice and maintaining knowledge of current research.” (https://www.msvu.ca/en/home/programsdepartments/education/graduateprograms/schoolpsychology/default.aspx)

In Europe, the University of Leiden in The Netherlands runs an MSc in School Psychology which is helpful to “create positive environments to support talent development and potential for learning in all students regardless of their initial intellectual level and mental health problems such as behavior or learning difficulties”. (https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/education/study-programmes/master/psychology/school-psychology).

In South Africa, although not called School Psychology, the Stellenbosch University runs a Master’s in Educational Psychology (MEdPsych) which aims “to develop and implement appropriate inclusive school- and community-based educational psychological programmes as well as specialised programmes”. (http://www.sun.ac.za/english/faculty/education/educational-psychology