Overview

Program Chair: Susan Eldred · (858) 642-8372 · seldred@nu.edu
Program Lead Faculty:
San Diego: Michael Anderson · (858) 642-8353 · manderso@nu.edu
Lead Faculty Advisors:
Bakersfield: Bill Matthew · (661) 864-2360 · wmatthew@nu.edu
Fresno: Carol Cerioni · (559) 256-4949·ccerioni@sti.net
Costa Mesa: Diana Wheeler · (714) 429-5129 · dwheeler@nu.edu
Los Angeles: Linda Smedley · (310) 662-2148 · lsmedley@nu.edu
Sacramento: Joe Cunha ·  (916) 855-4303 · jcunha@nu.edu
Barbara Ray ·(916) 855-4313 · bray@nu.edu
San Diego Practicum/Internship Coordinator: Larry Johnson · (858) 642-8362 · ljohnson@nu.edu

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. Candidates should see "Admissions to Credential Programs" for specific admission information.

Candidates 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, candidates 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. Course equivalence cannot be granted for life experiences.

Candidates must maintain a 3.0 GPA. Candidates who receive a grade lower than a "B minus" 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. No grades lower than a B minus in all assessment courses (PED 671, PED 672, PED 673, PED 674 and PED 675) will be accepted.

Requirements

Admission Requirements

  • Candidates must hold an accredited bachelor's degree and be admitted to National University.
  • Complete all program prerequisites
  • Enroll in PED 604, (School Psychology Orientation). Attendance to all sessions and completion of all required assignments is mandatory (make-up session not available). Successful completion of PED604 is mandatory prior to program admission.
  • Receive a credential packet and complete a "candidate statement" (occurs in PED 604) that is reviewed and signed by faculty advisor for admission to School Psychology program.
  • Return the credential packet to the credential advisor by the end of the PED 604 course, otherwise candidates will receive an "I" for the course. See a credential advisor for specific information regarding any of these requirements.

Program Advisement

All coursework must be completed within seven years with a 3.0 GPA. Candidates who are absent for a period of 12 months or more must re-enroll and will be subject to the catalog requirements in effect at the time of their re-admission.

All PPSP candidates will be assigned a faculty advisor. Candidates will meet with a faculty advisor for evaluation of prior coursework to meet program prerequisites. Only PED 604 and prerequisites can be taken prior to admission.

All candidates are expected to meet with their assigned faculty advisor at the following times: (1) upon admission into the program, (2) at several designated checkpoints, (3) before starting their internship, (4) after completion of coursework and (5) at the completion of internship hours.

Candidates who receive a grade lower than a "B minus" 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. No grades lower than a B minus in all assessment courses (PED 671, PED 672, PED 673, PED 674 and PED 675) will be accepted.

Program Learning Outcomes

A candidate who has successfully completed this program:

  • Demonstrates advanced skills in all aspects of psycho-educational assessment; keeps current with technology in the field; presents information and teaches others new assessment techniques; becomes expert at aspects of various disabilities/ learning problems of children and teaches others ways to evaluate
  • Demonstrates outstanding leadership skills; well-versed in communicating results and information to others; demonstrates and applies consultation/collaboration techniques and models, and teaches those to others
  • Independently researches cutting edge technologies related to learning, and learning problems; fully aware of current theories and is adept at instructing others; presents information on advances in the field; is completely competent in practice.
  • Demonstrates full implementation of school-wide programs for social/behavioral needs of children; keeps up to date on emerging interventions and techniques; provides in-service training and expertise in the area of social and behavioral interventions
  • Demonstrates advanced training and competence in working with individuals with diverse backgrounds; teaches other techniques and concerns for working with individuals of specific backgrounds.
  • Demonstrates expertise in school systems knowledge and practice; works at both local and district level in programming and planning for effective schools; is knowledgeable about cutting edge technologies and programs for effective schools and teaches that material to others
  • Demonstrates expertise in crisis prevention and intervention; consults with others in developing and implementing programs; demonstrates extensive knowledge in specific health related disorders and school-related safety issues; provides education and training in working with specific candidate populations
  • Demonstrates expertise in collaboration skills; consults with others in developing programs and obtaining resources; acts as a resource to the school and community
  • Demonstrates expert knowledge and ability in research; consults with others in developing and evaluating intervention or research plans; continues with independent research; produces published, or publishable, material
  • Demonstrates in-depth knowledge of legal issues and shows the highest ethical standards in practice; educates others in developing ethical decision-based models for practice
  • Demonstrates in-depth knowledge and understanding of technologies related to the field; can instruct others in the uses available; and can assess and make program or system-wide decisions for technology use.

Program Requirements- PPSP Credential
(28 courses; 117 quarter units)

To receive a PPSP credential, a total of three graduate courses (13.5 quarter units) may be transferred for equivalent graduate work completed at another institution, as it applies to this degree and if the units were not used in earning another advanced degree.

Advancement to Candidacy

Advancement to Candidacy is a process and is one of several evaluative steps to help ensure that program objectives are met and that candidate outcomes are attained.

After admission as a degree and credential seeking candidate, a candidate must also Advance to Candidacy. To qualify for candidacy, a candidate must:

  • Complete prerequisite coursework or equivalent (MTH 210, PSY 430, PSY 301, and EXC 625)
  • Complete PED 604 and four graduate PED courses (PED 665, PED 666, PED 652 and PED 680) with no grade lower than a B minus
  • If a candidate earns less than 3.0 GPA upon completion of the above courses, the candidate will not Advance to Candidacy. The candidate will be required to meet with lead faculty. A plan for  remediation or possible dismissal from the program will be considered.

Program Prerequisites
(4 courses; 18 quarter units)

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 Children w/Excep. in class

Note: Only PED 604 and prerequisites can be taken prior to admission.

Program Requirements
(19 courses; 78 quarter units)

PED 604 School Psychology Orientation (1.5 quarter units) 
PED 665 Tests and Measurements
PED 666 Human Neuropsychology
 (Prerequisite: PED 604) 
PED 652 Child Psychopharmacology
PED 680 Roles, Issues and Ethics

Advancement to Candidacy

PED 670 Advanced Social Psychology
PED 667 Advanced Child Psychopathology
PED 683 Program Evaluation
CED 600 Applied Child/Adol Development
CED 601 Consultation in the Schools
CED 610 Advanced Counseling Theories & Methods
 (Prerequisite: CED 600)
PED 671 Cognitive Assessment
 (Prerequisites: PED 604, PED 665, PED 680)
PED 672 Psycho-Academic Assessment
 (Prerequisite: PED 671)
PED 673 Emotional/Behavioral Assessment
 (Prerequisite: PED 672)
PED 674 Special Populations Assessment
 (Prerequisite: PED 673)
PED 675 Alternative Assessment
 (Prerequisite: PED 674)
PED 676 Intro Applied Behavior Analysis
PED 677 Curriculum Interventions (1.5 quarter units)
PED 678 Practicum in School Psychology (3 quarter units)
 (Prerequisites: all assessment courses)

Practicum (450 hours)

  • Candidates should refer to the current PPS Graduate Handbook for School Psychology for specific information about the practicum and internship requirements.
  • Candidates are required to complete 450 hours of practicum prior to starting their internship. Candidates must complete the practicum experience under the supervision of a credentialed and experienced (three years) school psychologist. National University school psychology candidates will complete school-based practicum during the PED 678 course.
  • In PED 678 (Practicum in School Psychology) candidates will do their practicum hours and experiences only in public school based settings. Candidate performance will be evaluated by PED 678 course instructor and a school site psychologist through completion of course requirements.

NOTE: Candidates cannot be placed at practicum or internship sites where they are currently or have recently been employed. Dual roles and relationships will be prohibited. Discovery of such activity will result in candidates being removed from that site with accrued hours not counting toward practicum or internship.

Internship Prerequisites
Before candidates can begin the internship, they must:

  • Complete PED 678
  • Provide proof of Certificate of Clearance
  • Provide verification of a TB Clearance
  • Pass the Basic Skills Assessment (CBEST)
  • Complete prerequisite coursework, all CED and PED courses (except PED 685)
  • Complete 450 hours of logged, approved practicum
  • Submit an Internship application to the Internship Coordinator (or Lead faculty at a center other than San Diego) and be assigned a University Supervisor.
  • Internship and PED 685 are then scheduled by the Internship Coordinator (or the lead faculty at centers other then San Diego).

Internship Requirements
(5 courses; 21 quarter units)
(Must be completed in residence/1200 hours)

A minimum of 1200 clock hours is required. The candidate 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)

PED 685 Internship Seminar (3 quarter units) 
PED 687 School Psychology Internship I
PED 688 School Psychology Internship II
PED 689 School Psychology Internship III
PED 690 School Psychology Internship IV

Note: PED687, 688, 689, 690 require 300 hours each

Exit Requirements

In order to receive a Master's degree and a PPSP credential, candidates must complete courses within seven years and fulfill the following requirements:

  • Successful completion of all coursework, portfolio, practicum, internship and the exit process.
  • Schedule and complete an exit appointment with faculty advisor or University Supervisor
  • Pass ETS National Praxis (#0400) examination-School Psychology (passage score is 590)
  • Complete Program Evaluation Form-School Psychology
  • Submit written evaluations of performance in Internship experiences by Site Supervisor to University Supervisor
  • Successful completion of an exit appointment with credential advisor to receive final clearance and credential documents
  • Have a zero account balance

Credential Application Information

Candidates are expected to complete their internship either on a full time basis of 8 months (40 hours per week) or part time basis of 16 months (20 hours per week). Less that 20 hours per week at the internship site will be not approved. Upon successful completion of the coursework and internship, candidates must meet with a credential advisor to receive, 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