Overview
Lead Faculty: Dr. Michael Anderson
Phone: (858) 642-8353 Email: manderso@nu.edu
(24 courses; 97.5 quarter units)
This credential authorizes the holder to serve as a school psychologist in a school setting at any grade level K-12. This credential is valid for a maximum of five years. Students should see "Admissions to Credential Programs" for specific admission information.
Students who have completed an appropriate master's degree in counseling, social work, or psychology from this or another regionally-accredited institution can work toward a Pupil Personnel Services Credential with a School Psychology Specialization (i.e. without receiving another master's degree). To meet state-required competencies for the credential, students must complete either the entire Master of Science in School Psychology or the prerequisites and requirements for the MS in School Psychology not already met in graduate coursework.
Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA. Students who receive a grade of a "C" in two or more courses will be evaluated by the faculty and will be required to repeat the coursework at their own expense before being allowed to continue in the program. A grade less than B- is not accepted in CED 600, PED 665, PED 680, and PED 667
Admission Requirements
Students seeking a Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Psychology (PPSP) must:
- Possess an appropriate master's degree in educational counseling or psychology if entering the credential ONLY program.
- Attend PED 604, Orientation and Field Experience in School Psychology. Students may take prerequisites only while taking PED 604.
- Students will receive a credential packet, and complete a "candidate statement" that is reviewed and signed by the faculty advisor for admission into the program.
- Students must return their credential packet to the credential advisor by the end of the course otherwise students will receive an "I" for PED 604.
Program Advisement
All PPSP students will be assigned a faculty advisor. All students are expected to meet with their assigned faculty advisor upon admission into the program, before starting their internship and after completion of coursework and internship hours.
Requirements
Program Prerequisites
(4 courses; 18 quarter units)
It is strongly recommended that applicants have one year of related professional experience working with school-age children, preferably in a school or other institutional setting. Before being admitted to this program, students must complete the following coursework (or equivalent).
MTH 210 Introduction to Probability and Statistics
(Prerequisite: Placement Evaluation)
PSY 301 Child Development
(Prerequisites: ENG100/101)
PSY 430 Introduction to Psychopathology
(Prerequisites: ENG 100/101 and PSY 100)
EXC 625 Exceptional Children in the Classroom
Students will meet with a faculty advisor for evaluation of prior coursework to meet program prerequisites. Only PED 604 and prerequisites can be taken concurrently prior to admission.
Core Requirements
(19 courses; 78 quarter units)
PED 604 Orientation and Field Experience in School Psychology (1.5 quarter units)
CED 600 Advanced Child and Adolescent Development
PED 665 Tests and Measurements
(Prerequisite: PED 604 )
PED 680 Roles, Issues and Ethics in School Psychology
PED 667 Graduate Seminar in Child and Adolescent Psychopathology
CED 610 Advanced Counseling Theories and Techniques
(Prerequisites: CED 604)
PED 666 Graduate Seminar in Human Neuropsychology
(Prerequisite: PED 600)
PED 683 Program Evaluation
CED 601 Consultation in the Schools
(Prerequisite: CED 610)
PSY 653 Psychopharmacology
PED 670 Graduate Seminar in Social Psychology
(Prerequisite: PED 604 and Advancement to Candidacy)
PED 671 Assessment of Cognitive Abilities
(Prerequisites: PED 604, PED 665 and PED 680)
PED 672 Advanced Psycho-educational Assessment
(Prerequisite: PED 671)
PED 673 Emotional/ Behavior Assessment of Children and Adolescents
(Prerequisite: PED 672)
PED 674 Preschool/Low Incidence Assessment
(Prerequisite: PED 673)
PED 675 Alternative Assessment for Multicultural Populations
(Prerequisite: PED 674)
PED 676 Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis
PED 677 Graduate Seminar in Curriculum Assessment and Interventions (1.5 quarter units)
PED 678 Practicum in School Psychology (3 quarter units)
(Prerequisites: PED 671, PED 672, PED 673, PED 674, and PED 675)
Students are required to complete 450 hours of practicum prior to starting their internship. Students must complete the practicum experience under the supervision of a credentialed (two years) school psychologist. National University school psychology students will complete all practicum experiences in the school setting.
In PED 678 (Practicum in School Psychology) students will do their practicum hours and experiences only in school based settings. Student performance will be evaluated by program faculty and a school site psychologist through completion of course requirements.
Internship Prerequisites
Before beginning internship, students must:
- Provide Proof of Certificate of Clearance
- Provide verification of a negative tuberculin examination taken within the last four years
- Complete prerequisite coursework and all PED courses (except PED 685)
- Complete 450 hours of approved, logged practicum
- Submit an Internship Application to the internship coordinator/lead faculty and be assigned a university supervisor.
- Internship is then scheduled by placement specialist
- Pass the Basic Skills Requirement
Students should refer to the current PPS Graduate Handbook for School Psychology for specific information about the practicum and internship requirements.
Students interested in a district paid internship need to contact a credential advisor for prerequisite and process information.
Internship
(5 courses; 21 quarter units)
(Must be completed in residence/1200 hours)
Each 4.5 units of internship require 300 direct service hours. A minimum of 1200 clock hours is required. The student will draft a plan with the site supervisor and university supervisor, meet weekly with site supervisor for supervision, keep weekly logs of each 300 hours of internship, and submit logs to university supervisor. The internship consists of the following:
- No more than two sites at one time with no more than two site supervisors at one time
- Includes two levels (Elementary and Secondary)
- Students currently employed at a school setting (i.e. teacher, school counselor) will need to do internship at another school location
PED 685 Best Practices Seminar in School Psychology (3 quarter units)
(Taken concurrently with internship)
PED 687 School Psychology Internship Part I (300 hours)
PED 688 School Psychology Internship Part II (300 hours)
PED 689 School Psychology Internship Part III (300 hours)
PED 690 School Psychology Internship Part IV (300 hours)
Exit Requirements
In order to receive a PPSP credential, students must complete courses within seven years and do the following requirements:
- Successful completion of coursework, portfolio, practicum, internship, and the exit process.
- Schedule and pass an exit interview with faculty advisor and university supervisor
- Submit passing scores from the ETS National Praxis examination-School Psychology (passage score is 590)
- Complete online program Evaluation Form-School Psychology
- Submit written evaluations of performance in Internship experiences by site supervisor to university supervisor
- Schedule and attend exit appointment with credential advisor to receive final clearance and credential documents
- Have a zero account balance
Credential Application Information
Candidates must complete their internship within 18 months. Upon successful completion of the coursework and internship, students must meet with a credential advisor to complete and submit the Commission on Teacher Credentialing application form for the PPSP School Psychology credential.
| Degree Program Locations | |
|---|---|
| Bakersfield Campus | |
| Costa Mesa Campus | |
| Fresno Campus | |
| Los Angeles Campus | |
| Sacramento Campus | |
| Spectrum Business Park Campus | |