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School Psychology Programs | |
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The School Psychology
programs are offered in the Department of Educational and Counseling
Psychology within the College of Education. Two degree programs are offered.
The Doctoral program in its entirety represents approximately a five-year course of study, including a yearlong internship. Students are accepted into this program at the bachelor's, master's, and specialist levels. The first two years of the Ph.D. program roughly parallel the specialist program and students without an advanced degree also typically earn a MS degree after the first year of the program. The Ph.D. program is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and NASP. The doctoral program also yields school psychology certification and is designed to qualify graduates for licensure as a psychologist. The program is fully described in the Ph.D. Handbook as a Word2000 file. Students
have access to departmental resources in the Counseling Psychology and Educational Psychology programs, as well as other departments
in the College of Education and the University. The
Educational
Specialist program
is a three-year program with two years of coursework on campus and a yearlong
internship. In the Ed.S. Program, students typically earn a Master of
Science (MS) Degree after the first year of coursework. Students with
a master's degree may transfer in credit, but they must meet the same
overall requirements. The Ed. S. program is fully accredited by the National
Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and the National
Council for Accreditation in Teacher Education (NCATE). Graduates
of the Ed.S. program are eligible for certification as a school psychologist
in the state of Kentucky and should meet certification standards in most
other states. Program completion also partially fulfills requirements
for certification as a Psychological Associate by the Kentucky
Board of Psychology. The program is fully described in the Ed.S.
Handbook as a Word2000 file. The programs are designed to prepare professional psychologists with educational expertise who can function in a variety of diverse educationally related settings. The "scientist practitioner" and "ecological systems"/"whole child" concepts guide the program. These views foster the conception of the school psychologist as broadly capable of conducting research and practicing effectively with clients, in addition to considering the ecological complex in which the child exists. The program faculty has a strong interest in the full service school model, which espouses a broad role for the school psychologist. The assessment of children and adolescents as well as planning for interventions necessitates this broader conceptualization of childhood problems. The programs emphasize a balance between psychological and educational theory and applied practice. Both programs also espouse a commitment to human welfare and service to others.
The University of Kentucky is the major graduate and research institution of the Commonwealth. There are approximately 25,000 students enrolled at the Lexington campus. The University has a wide range of departments, schools, and programs. The Lexington campus includes the University of Kentucky Medical School. Lexington is a city of approximately 240,000 residents in the Bluegrass area of Kentucky. A wide variety of cultural, shopping, entertainment, and recreation options are available in the Lexington area. Lexington is 1 1/2 hours from the larger metropolitan areas of Louisville and Cincinnati.
Students in both programs take course work in general areas of psychology (learning, development, social bases), research and statistics, professional areas (assessment, consultation, intervention, counseling, legal and ethical issues), and education (special education, reading, cultural foundations). Specialist students complete a project that can range from a review of the literature in a professional area to a formal research study. Doctoral students complete an empirically based dissertation. Practicum courses are taken throughout the program. Students without prior field experiences typically take a yearlong practicum in the second year of their program that combines applied work in the program's School Psychology Clinic and in the schools. Advanced practicum experiences are available in the School Psychology Clinic, schools, specialized educational settings, developmental disabilities settings, child/adolescent mental health settings, medical settings, and other agencies. At the completion of both programs, students complete yearlong (or equivalent) internships. Specialist students typically complete internships that are school-based, whereas doctoral students may combine school and agency internships. Doctoral students often complete their training in APA-approved internship settings.
Graduates of the programs are afforded a wide variety of opportunities. Specialist graduates are typically employed in public school positions, but opportunities also exist in educational cooperatives, specialized school settings, and agencies. Doctoral graduates have similar opportunities and also have opportunities for college and university teaching, research and program evaluation positions, and a broader array of positions in agencies providing mental health, health, and developmental services to children and adolescents. Placement in appropriate professional positions has been close to 100% in recent years.
Sigma Psi is the student organization for students in School Psychology. The organization elects representatives to sit on the School Psychology Advisory Committee. Student representatives provide input to most programmatic policy decisions. Sigma Psi also plans social and professional activities for students and faculty.
All applicants to the School Psychology program must make application both to The Graduate School and to the Program. Application and Admission to The Graduate School: Applicants must meet the minimum standards listed in the Bulletin of the Graduate School to be considered for admission. Application material and additional information can be obtained from the office of Graduate School Admissions, Gillis Building, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506-0033; or at www.rgs.uky.edu/gs/gsapplication.html. Application to the School Psychology Program: When an individual is in the process of applying to the School Psychology program, the contact person in the program is typically the Director of the School Psychology Program or the Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology. The Director of the School Psychology Program can provide specific information about the program of study. However, questions about the process of application, deadlines, forms, etc., should be directed to the Director of Graduate Studies. Among the responsibilities of the Director of Graduate Studies is the coordination of application materials from prospective graduate students. The Director of Graduate Studies will ensure that applicants are kept informed about the status of their application for admission. Application for admission to the School Psychology program is filed with the Director of Graduate Studies and reviewed by the program faculty. Applications for admission to the program are considered once a year and must be received in completed form (including letters, etc.) by January 15 for doctoral and by March 1 for master/specialist. At that time, the Program Admissions Committee will review all applications that are complete. Typically, students accepted during the spring semester commence advanced graduate study the following fall semester. Inquiries related to the School Psychology program should be directed to the Director of the School Psychology Program, Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology, 245 Dickey Hall, College of Education, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506-0017; (859) 257-1381. Specialist applicants without a master's degree in a related field must apply for admission to the master's degree program in educational psychology with an intention to complete the specialist degree in school psychology. According to University regulations, a student without a master's degree cannot be admitted directly into a specialist degree program. Students holding a prior master's degree in a related field may apply directly for a specialist degree. Upon petition by the student, the school psychology program faculty will determine credit for prior course work towards satisfaction of requirements in the school psychology program. This information may be obtained either prior or subsequent to application, admission, or acceptance of admission. Admission to the School Psychology Program: Admission to the program is competitive and limited by available resources. Decisions regarding acceptance are based on the following factors: (a) Undergraduate Grade Point Average; (b) Graduate Grade Point Average; (c) Verbal and Quantitative scores on the Graduate Record Examination; (d) letters of recommendation; (e) previous related volunteer or appropriate work experience; (f) statement of professional goals; (g) a sample of scholarly work; (h) evidence of professional promise; (i) a personal interview, when possible; and (j) student diversity. The interview, conducted with a selected pool of final applicants, is recommended but not required for admission to the program. The number of students admitted is subject to the availability of resources and is re-evaluated each year. Every year the applicant pool for the school psychology program seems to become more competitive. Typically, an effort is made to select highly qualified individuals who will enrich the program's commitment to a diverse student population. Students are selected on the basis of their compatibility with the overall goals of the school psychology program and the profession of School Psychology. Our intention is to select students whose professional goals, interests, and expertise match the available resources within the school psychology program. The typical entering student is about 30 years old and has completed a master's degree either at the University of Kentucky or at another university. Program attrition rates are low, with a high completion rate among students accepted into the program. The program faculty is committed to offering a high quality program and makes every effort to facilitate student progress. Minority and Ethnically Diverse Students: According to university policy, students from minority and ethnically diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply to the School Psychology program. Because of the changing demographics of the United States, there is a dire need for persons from diverse backgrounds to select school psychology as a career. Moreover, a diverse environment provides an opportunity for everyone to develop an understanding of persons from differing backgrounds. Efforts are made annually to recruit students from ethnic and racial minority groups as the program benefits from diversity in the constituency of its students. Although the ethnic population within Lexington is low, there are campus organizations which can bring one closer to persons who share a similar ethnicity, for example, organizations such as the Black Graduate and Professional Students Association. Special financial support is available for students from diverse backgrounds through the Graduate School and the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Minority Affairs. For example, the Graduate School offers non-service minority fellowships, which provide funds for partial tuition payment and a stipend. Also, the Office of Minority Affairs administers a cultural center and specific cultural events during the year. In addition, the College of Education often sponsors conferences focused on minority issues, e.g., the African American parent and community involvement conference.
Financial assistance is a complex subject. Students are urged to discuss financial needs with the Office of Financial Aid, 131 Funkhouser Building (859) 257-3172. Fellowships: A limited number of University non-service fellowships are awarded each year on the basis of the applicant's qualifications and characteristics. These non-service fellowships include funds designated for the purposes of recruiting minority students. In addition, funds are awarded to each department on a competitive basis, to be awarded to students of high academic promise. Generally all applications for fellowships must reach the Graduate School before February 1. A limited number of summer stipends are available. Information about fellowships may be obtained by writing to the following address: The Associate Dean for Program Support, 329 Patterson Office Tower, The Graduate School, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506. Assistantships: The Department has a number of teaching and research assistantships available each year for qualified students. More information is available about assistantships from the Director of Graduate Studies, Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology. The latter information is also available via postings on electronic mail. Students are encouraged to keep their advisor aware of their need for assistantships. Grants for research and training projects are received periodically and usually employ students as research assistants. Most doctoral students who wish to receive an assistantship can be supported in this manner. Students who accept full-time assistantships may be limited to nine credit hours of course work per semester.
Department of Educational and Counseling Psychology
Content by H. Thompson Prout - Updated on March 14, 2008 08:55 by the webmaster
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