Education Specialist Degree
Program in School Psychology
The graduate program in school psychology is a three-year, 66-credit program that prepares students to practice school psychology in public schools. The program is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists, permitting students to qualify for the National Certified School Psychologist license.
The school psychology program aims to:
- Develop a practitioner who can provide a broad range of diagnostic and intervention services emphasizing the behavioral, but including clinical, medical and educational perspectives.
- Develop direct service competencies.
- Develop research skills.
The school psychology program provides the following unique educational opportunities:
- Collaboration with faculty in research projects.
- The Human Development Center, the campus interdisciplinary clinic, provides high quality, low cost diagnostic services to clients of all ages. Students from school psychology, communication disorders, special education, social work, reading and nursing collaborate to provide a complete assessment and recommendations for intervention.
- The Psychological Services Center provides behavioral and counseling interventions in the clinic on campus or in clients’ homes.
- School psychology students provide culturally appropriate diagnostic and intervention services to children and families on the Lac Du Flambeau Indian reservation.
- School psychology students assist local Hmong children and families through tutoring and other education-related services.
Academic requirements for admission
- Total undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher.
- GRE Verbal score of 400 or higher.
- Completion of undergraduate courses in statistics, behavior modification, psychopathology, psychology of exceptionalities and theories of counseling.
Program content
The school psychology program is a three-year program. The MSE school psychology degree, the first 30 credits of graduate course work, provides academic background, introduction to research, professional seminars, and practice in diagnostic and intervention skills. The MSE degree is granted upon completion of all required course work and successful performance on the written comprehensive examination.
The remaining two years are devoted to the educational specialist degree. During the second year of the program students complete 30 credits, including course work in educational foundations and methods, and the thesis. The focus of this year is the two-semester practicum placement in the public schools and participation in interdisciplinary clinical practice at the HDC on campus. Completion of all required course work and successful defense of the thesis result in a recommendation for the initial five-year license in school psychology. Students also complete the National Association of School Psychologists Professional Examination.
The internship phase, consisting of six credits, is the capstone of the school psychology program. Students complete 1,200 hours of supervised professional practice as school psychologists.
Successful completion of the internship and the NASP Professional Examination qualifies the student for the National Certified School Psychologist license and the educational specialist degree.
Financial aid
The school psychology program provides financial support for all school psychology students who desire it. The financial support includes:
- A limited number of graduate assistantships and fellowships.
- Part-time employment with local agencies serving individuals with exceptional needs.
- Work study positions providing opportunities for research and other work related to the profession.
Job placement of graduates
All UW-Eau Claire graduates find employment upon completion of the program, many in school districts in which they complete their internships. Most graduates, by choice, remain in Wisconsin and Minnesota, but can also be found in many other states.
Admission application requirements
To apply to the school psychology program, an applicant must submit the following documents by March 1 to be considered for the fall:
- A complete application for graduate admission along with the application fee.
- Official transcripts from all postsecondary institutions attended.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- Personal statement describing professional goals.
- Scores from the general aptitude test of the Graduate Record Examination.
Send materials to:
Graduate Admissions
UW-Eau Claire
Schofield Hall 112
Eau Claire WI 54702-4004
The Eau Claire Advantage
- The Wisconsin School Psychologists Association has named a UW-Eau Claire student the top psychology graduate student in Wisconsin for eight consecutive years — from 1997 to 2005.
- U.S. News & World Report magazine consistently ranks UW-Eau Claire among the top public regional universities in the Midwest in its annual America’s Best Colleges guidebook.
- Four UW-Eau Claire professors have been recipients of Wisconsin Professor of the Year awards.
- UW-Eau Claire is a member institution of The Council of Graduate Schools and is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
For more information
For more information about the options available in the MSE school psychology program at UW-Eau Claire, contact: |
For general information about the campus and admission to a program, contact: |
