EdS School Psychology

The Education Specialist (Ed.S.) program in School Psychology is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP) in association with the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). It is designed to prepare students to meet the Department of Education requirements for certification in West Virginia and other states. The Ed.S. consists of 39 hours of required coursework and field experiences, in addition to a Master of Arts (M.A.) Degree in Psychology with an emphasis in School Psychology (36 hrs).

You apply to the Master’s Degree in Psychology with School Psychology Emphasis first. After successfully completing 12 hours in the fall semester, you apply to the Ed.S. in School Psychology. You receive two degrees in our program after three years of full time enrollment! Students who apply to the Ed.S. School Psychology program and already possess graduate degrees in psychology, counseling, or education may be considered for advanced standing after a review of coursework, grades and test scores by the School Psychology faculty.

The School Psychology Ed.S. Program at Marshall University focuses on practitioner training for the delivery of comprehensive school psychological services primarily in school settings. Ed.S. students are trained in a “scientist practitioner” model that emphasizes the use of research findings in clinical decision-making, both in terms of creating interventions as well as evaluating their efficacy. Ed.S. students draw upon scientific literature to make decisions regarding best practice with a focus on empirically supported services.

Students receive education and training in the following ten NASP domains:

Core Requirements:

Area of Emphasis Requirements:

Total: 36 Credit Hours

Core Requirements:

Ed.S. Program Requirements:

Students are admitted to the Ed.S. program with the expectation that they will complete the program within three to five years, depending on the number of classes in which they enroll each semester. Students are expected to enroll in all three semesters.

Failure to make the expected amount of progress may result in reassignment to another internship year. The internship requires a commitment to a school system for a full academic year and is 1200 hours (12 credit hours). A maximum of 18 students will be admitted to this final-year experience.

A minimum of half of this paid internship must occur within a school setting and meet stringent criteria specified by the program and the National Association of School Psychologists. In addition, students must defend a thesis or program evaluation and earn a passing score on the Praxis II Specialty Examination in School Psychology before graduation.

Total: 39 Credit Hours

Admission is competitive because of the limited number of available internships. Applicants should follow the admissions process described in this catalog or at the Graduate Admissions website at www.marshall.edu/graduate/admissions/how-to-apply-for-admission.

In addition, applicants must submit a sample of their professional writing (a scholarly paper on any subject) and a statement of their professional goals (1000 words or fewer). Submit all materials to Graduate Admissions.

Creating a diverse student body is a priority and minority applicants are encouraged to apply. A limited number of graduate assistantships are available. Students can be accepted into the school psychology program throughout the school year; however, school psychology competency classes begin in the fall semester of each academic year.

Lanai Jennings
Program Director
South Charleston GC 108
304-746-2067
jenningsknot@marshall.edu

School Psychology is a professional field that blends psychology and education. This program is designed to help you obtain the skills you will need to become a successful School Psychologist. If you are interested in the fields of Psychology and Education, and you like working with children, then this program may be right for you.

Yes! You obtain a Master of Arts in Psychology with a School Psychology Emphasis and an Education Specialist in School Psychology after three years of full time enrollment in this program.

While our program is not totally online, for all of our courses, students can attend the majority of class meetings virtually. We do however, require students to come to campus an average of 3 times a semester.

The purpose of the Education Specialist in School Psychology Program at Marshall University is to prepare professional school psychologists to work within the social systems of schools to meet the following goals:

Integrate technological applications to facilitate all the above goals.