Program Details

Vision and Mission

Vision

School Psychology program graduates are knowledgeable, ethical, and reflective educational professionals who lead and advocate for social justice.

Mission

Consistent with the Jesuit mission of Seattle University and the College Of Education, the School Psychology program prepares school psychologists to collaborate with professional colleagues, families, and the larger community to serve and advocate for all students. The program develops school psychologists who embody and act upon a commitment to social justice, particularly among disenfranchised students and families. Program faculty embody caring, the pursuit of knowledge, and a commitment to justice, so that our graduates enact these values in their own works. 

Program Features

We understand there are many options when deciding what graduate program is best for you. Here are some features that make our program unique:

• Social Justice Focus: Consistent with the Jesuit mission of Seattle University, our program develops school psychologists who embody and act upon their commitment to social justice, particularly among disenfranchised students and families.
• Supporting Our Students:The Jesuit education mission focuses on cura personalis, which is Latin for “care for the whole person". We understand you have complexities in your life and we work with every student individually to respond to their specific needs - whether it's related to work, family, linguistics, diversity, disability, etc. 
• Program Cost: Earn your School Psychology degree through private school experience at a cost comparable to, or even less than, in-state tuition at a public university. Non-Washington state residents incur no additional costs for earning their degree at SU. Learn more about our program cost here. 
• Flexibility: Our program offers flexibility for working professionals, including degree completion plans tailored to their unique needs.
• Career Change: For those seeking to change careers, we offer credit for relevant prior graduate coursework.
• Established Program: We have been approved by and nationally recognized by the National Association of School Psychologists since 1998. Learn more about our program outcome data and our accreditation through 2031 through the NASP website here.

Program Goals

Dedicated to a practitioner-scholar model, the program is designed to provide students with a solid grounding in research-based practices that will equip them with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to be effective school psychologists. With the overarching vision of preparing knowledgeable, ethical, and reflective school psychologists for leadership and service in diverse communities, the following program goals guide the preparation of all students:   

1. Practice in accordance with professional, ethical, and legal standards.   
2. Demonstrate knowledge, skills, and dispositions to advocate for services responsive to the needs of diverse learners at all systems levels and the promotion of justice for underserved populations.   
3. Apply knowledge of theory and practice to promote cognitive, academic, social, and emotional competence for youth at all school systems levels.   
4. Apply knowledge and skills to make data-based decisions that produce positive educational outcomes for youth.   
5. Demonstrate effective interpersonal, consultation and collaboration skills to promote competence for all youth and to build the capacity of systems.     
6. Use self-reflection to guide their work with youth, families, and professional colleagues.   
7. Demonstrate knowledge and skills to promote programs that make schools more safe, compassionate, and responsive to the academic and mental health needs of youth.     
8. Use technology to enhance and safeguard their work, promote positive educational outcomes for youth, and advocate for equitable access to technology within educational settings.