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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is there a specific area of focus in this program?
How many credits is the School Psychology degree?
How long is the program?
How many credits would I take per semester?
When are classes offered?
Can I work and go to school?
Are classes available online?
What are the class sizes?
What are my options for internship training?
Is the University of Utah program accredited?
Is the degree portable to other states?
Can I do a research thesis?
What are the tuition costs?
Is funding available for graduate students to offset tuition costs?
What do I need to know about applying to the program?
What kind of jobs do graduates of this program find?
Who do I contact for information?

Is there a specific area of focus in this program?

The Education Specialists Program in School Psychology is designed to prepare qualified and effective psychologists who will practice in schools or school-related situations. The program complies with the Utah State Office of Education competency guidelines for School Psychology and is consistent with certification standards adopted by the National Association of School Psychologists.

The Ph.D. Program in School Psychology is designed to prepare psychologists who will practice in the schools or other educationally related settings and to meet the professional employment demands for (1) psychologists in psychoeducational research; (2) administrators of pupil services; (3) mental health research specialists in child psychology; (4) psychologists in child treatment agencies, and hospitals; and, (5) faculty professionals in higher education. The program adheres to the scientist-practitioner model of graduate education in psychology. Integrated didactic and applied courses aid the students' attainment of a knowledge base and the expertise to enhance the professional practice of school psychology through the employment of the scientific method. Major strengths of the program include the preparation of practitioners and researchers who will function as leaders in the area of interventions, and specific training in neuropsychology, severe disabilities, and developmental psychopathology and psychology, including autism spectrum disorders.

How many credits is the School Psychology degree?

Seventy three (73) semester hour credits are required to complete the Education Specialists degree program, while the Doctoral program involves a total of one hundred and eight (108) semester hours (excluding thesis hours and any prerequisite courses).

How long is the program?

The Program Handbook indicates that the EdS degree courses/practica are typically completed in three years, with a final 1500 hour internship during a 4th year. Students can elect to take additional credits in the summer, thereby shortening their total time to degree completion. The Ph.D. program is designed to be at least five academic years of full-time study beyond the baccalaureate. Students accepted for the Doctoral program must complete all requirements for the Education Specialists degree, except internship hours, before taking a qualifying examination. The Doctoral program also requires a 2000-hour internship in school psychology. NASP standards require that 600 hours be completed in the schools. Students are encouraged to fulfill a 2,000-hour APA-accredited (or APPIC approved) internship following a 600 hour school-based internship.

How many credits would I take per semester?

In order to finish a doctoral degree in five years, most semesters you would register for 12 - 15 credit hours (See the Program Handbook or Course Sequencing for details on curriculum/credits by semester).

When are classes offered?

Most courses are offered in the Fall and Spring semesters. There are a few course offerings in the summer. With respect to the times that courses are offered, many classes are offered in the late afternoon/evening and meet Monday through Thursday from 4:30-7:30 p.m. However, some classes are only offered during day-time hours, making it difficult to maintain full-time, 8-5 employment obligations when taking those courses.

Can I work and go to school?

The majority of our students initially supplement their income with part time employment during off days, evenings and weekends. Many students are able to secure grant, research or teaching assistantships that are consistent with their graduate training interests.

Are classes available online?

Not presently. At this time, the nature of the coursework and professional preparation involves active attendance and face-to-face involvement in the curriculum and with other students. Our commitment to high quality programming involves fostering a close, collegial atmosphere with you, your instructors, and your peers.

What are the class sizes?

The majority of courses enroll from 10 to 20 students. It is our goal to keep class size small so that you can become personally familiar (and interact) with your other classmates.

What are my options for internship training?

The program retains an extensive list of local potential internship training sites. These sites are in settings that are highly regarded; including the Children's Center, Primary Children's Medical Center, University Neuropsychiatric Institute and several school districts (Jordan, Davis, Salt Lake City, Granite, Park City, and Murray), to name a few. Students interview with prospective sites and are offered placements on the basis of those interviews. Students are also encouraged to seek out APPIC and APA approved internship experiences where appropriate. The program has an outstanding record for placing student interns in many different sites. The internship experience is individually coordinated by a departmental faculty member and placements are based on maximizing your unique strengths and interests.

Is the University of Utah program APA accredited or NASP approved?

The Doctoral program is accredited by the American Psychological Association, office of Program Consultation and Accreditation; 750 First Street, NE; Washington, DC 20002-4242; Phone: 202-336-5979/TDD/TTY: 202-336-6123; Fax: 202-336-5978 and is also NASP approved. EdS programs are also NASP approved. Students are eligible to apply for the National Certified School Psychology (NCSP) credential.

Is the degree portable to other states?

Because both the Education Specialists and Doctoral programs meet or exceed standards for school psychology licensure from the Utah State Department of Education, our graduates generally have no trouble obtaining licensure in other States and/or jurisdictions in the United States.

The minimum 73 semester hours for the degree which includes 1,500 hours of supervised internship in the schools, also meets school psychology licensure/certification requirements in Utah, as well as most other States.

Do I have to do a research thesis or Dissertation?

The EdS is predominantly a practice-based degree with the goal of helping you to become a licensed school psychologist. Students at the Education Specialists level are required to complete or participate in an extended research project within the limited program timeline. You must identify a faculty advisor who is willing to chair your Education Specialists thesis research. Students continuing on to pursue Doctoral studies are required to complete a dissertation project under the supervision of a five member committee chaired by a faculty member.

What are the tuition costs?

Tuition and fees (per semester) are approximately $4,218 for residents of the State of Utah and $12,100 for non-residents (based on 12-credits per semester at current tuition rates). Exact, up-to-date tuition rates can be found by consulting the appropriate link below:

Resident Tuition and Fee Schedule
Non-Resident Tuition and Fee Schedule

As is typical for many professional graduate programs, students are charged differential tuition of $53.90 per credit hour to support student attendance at professional meetings, supervision at field settings, and other related costs.

Is funding available for graduate students to offset tuition costs?

There are no scholarships specifically geared to School Psychology students. There are, however, occasional opportunities to work on campus or assistantships that come available that can be filled by School Psychology students.There are some general scholarships provided through the College of Education for which students may apply. University of Utah Scholarship information is here. The vast majority of students elect to work off campus.

What do I need to know about applying to the program?

Most of what you need to know about the process of applying to the School Psychology Program is contained within the standard application process for the Department of Educational Psychology. When completing your application be sure to check the box to indicate your interest in being considered for the Education Specialists or Ph.D. program in School Psychology.

What kind of jobs do graduates of this program find?

Most of the graduates from this program pursue professional practice in a public education setting. Some students at the Doctoral level have found positions in other employment settings (hospitals, specialty treatment unites, mental health settings, university teaching, etc).

Who do I contact for information?

For more information about the program, contact:

Dr. Elaine Clark, Ph.D.
(801) 581-7968
el.clark@utah.edu

You may also contact our Academic Programs Specialist, by phone at 801.581.7148.

 

School Psychology Information Sessions

These informational sessions will provide you with important information about our Ph.D. Program in School Psychology. What professionals in these careers do, the job outlook, program requirements, admissions requirements, and the admissions process.

Information sessions for the School Psychology Program will be held using the on-line Zoom videoconferencing platform.  You will need a computer (or similar device) with audio/video capability and the ability to download/install the Zoom software. For more information, email the Director, Dr. Keith Radley: keith.radley@utah.edu.

Upcoming SLC Info-Session Dates

Zoom Sessions:

Wednesday., August 30 —-3:00 

Monday, Sept 18 —1:00

Tuesday, October 17 —9:00 

Thursday, November 2 — 6:00

 

Links for Zoom information sessions may be obtained through email request to Dr. Radley (keith.radley@utah.edu)

Last Updated: 8/17/23