CANDIDACY
For the first 20 credits in the program, degree-seeking students are pre-candidates. The candidacy review occurs the quarter following completion of 20 credits. Students must be approved for candidacy in order to advance to practicum. Faculty review academic progress and personal competencies (using the School Psychology Faculty Evaluation of Personal Competencies form). This form is provided during SPSY 501 Introduction to School Psychology and in the Student Handbook.
Candidates are assessed in every course throughout the program via papers, in-class writing assignments, written and oral test reviews, and written exams, as well as direct observation of skills; audio and video tapes of counseling sessions and assessments with volunteers; write-ups of student-facilitated consultation sessions; poster sessions; and reports on evaluation results and intervention recommendations.
Students will be contacted by email and letter when they have reached candidacy. Once you have been approved for candidacy, complete the Graduate School Candidacy Form and the Practicum/Internship Sign Up and contact your advisor. For more information about candidacy, please see the Student Handbook.
PRACTICUM
The three practicum experiences are distinct from the internship and are designed as a field-based orientation to school psychology. The practicum sequence includes Consultation and Academic Intervention (Fall), Counseling and Behavioral Intervention (Winter), and Psychoeducational Assessment (Spring).
Practicum orients students to the culture of the public school, to general and special education, and to the specific role and functions of the school psychologist. The practicum is a developmental experience that begins with indirect experiences (e.g., shadowing and observing the site supervisor deliver school psychological services) and ends with direct delivery of school psychological services under supervision.
For important information about practicum, see the Practicum Handbook.
INTERNSHIP
School Psychology Interns will complete a full time, 1200-hour internship over the period of an academic year, or half time over a period of two years (1200 hours total) under the combined supervision of the agency/school district supervisor and the university supervisor.
During the fall quarter prior to internship, students will need to submit a “Request for Internship Placement” (provided in the Internship Handbook) to the Internship Coordinator. Final approval to start internship is granted at the end of the summer quarter prior to the internship year if the following requirements are met:
- completion of all coursework, including the practicum
- a minimum GPA of 3.0
- grades of B or higher in three assessment courses (SPSY 564 Individual Educational Assessment, SPSY 566 Individual Intellectual Assessment, SPSY 567 Personality and Behavior Assessment)
- ratings of at least “satisfactory” on the Faculty Evaluation of Personal Competencies form completed prior to internship
- completion of a required 10-hour child abuse course.
For important information about internship, see the Internship Handbook.