DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
Mission Statement
The mission of the Department of Educational Psychology is to promote the development and application of scientific knowledge. To do so, our faculty members are committed to: Producing high-quality, innovative research and scholarship; Providing effective and culturally inclusive instructional technologies to prepare practitioners and researchers to use the tools, resources, and strategies necessary to improve the educational experience of all learners; Preparing culturally competent scientist-practitioners and researchers to effectively contribute to the applied psychological development and well-being of children and adolescents; Providing responsive educational and psychological services to the local community, schools, and beyond; Engaging in participatory and leadership roles in local, national, and international institutions and organizations.
The Department of Educational Psychology faculty provide valuable support to other departments and program areas within the College of Education and Human Development and throughout the University by teaching courses based on foundational educational psychology concepts in areas such as learning, motivation, development, assessment, and research methods. At this time, the Department of Educational Psychology offers one graduate degree: the Master of Arts degree in School Psychology.
Master of Arts Degree in School Psychology
The Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in School Psychology includes advanced coursework and field-based experiences related to psychological assessment, counseling, consultation, learning, development, child psychopathology, research, statistics, and professional issues. Students will also complete a full-time internship in a school setting. The program is designed to provide the academic and practical training necessary to become a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists. Graduates also will be eligible to apply for certification as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist, which is a nationally-recognized professional certification granted by the National Association of School Psychologists. Due to the clinical nature of this program and number of hours required, the degree does not have a Thesis option.
Program Admission Requirements. The M.A. in School Psychology is designed for students who aspire to practice psychology in educational settings. Admission to the program is based on the following criteria:
- Applicants must provide official transcripts indicating a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Special Education, Curriculum & Instruction, Sociology, or closely related field from a regionally accredited college or university in the United States, or show proof of equivalent training at a foreign institution.
- Acceptance to the M.A. program is contingent on having a grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) in the last 60 semester credit hours of coursework for the baccalaureate degree, as well as in all graduate-level coursework taken (if applicable). If an applicant’s GPA is between 2.70 and 2.99, probationary admission may be granted and the student must maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA during the first 12 hours of coursework. Applicants who have a GPA below 2.70 are denied admission as degree-seeking students.
- Applicants must submit an official score on the Graduate Record Examination (GRE; including the Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing tests). GRE scores cannot be more than five years old. Please note that there is not a cutoff score for the GRE; rather, GRE scores will be balanced with GPA and other criteria.
- Applicants whose native language is not English must submit an official score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Minimum scores include a score of at least 500 on the TOEFL paper version, or a score of at least 61 on the TOEFL Internet version.
- Applicants must provide two letters of recommendation from professional references. These letters should specifically address the applicant’s academic and/or professional skills, and potential to succeed in a rigorous graduate program.
- Applicants must prepare a Statement of Purpose (approximately 500 words) which outlines the applicant’s (1) reasons for pursuing the M.A. degree in School Psychology, (2) experiences relevant to the field of psychology or education, and (3) career plans.
- Applicants who lack appropriate academic background in psychology or a closely related field may be admitted conditionally, and specific coursework will be required to address areas of deficiency. The hours of coursework required will be determined on a case-by-case basis between the student and the student’s advisor.
Interested persons should contact the Student Development Specialist for the School Psychology program or check the Web site for more information.
Degree Requirements. Candidates for the Master of Arts degree in School Psychology must earn a minimum of 66 semester credit hours. Students must pass a comprehensive written examination toward the end of their formal coursework. The examination may be repeated, but students must be registered for coursework at UTSA during the semester in which they take the exam. Thus, students who have finished all of their required coursework but have not passed the comprehensive examination must register for EDP 6961 during the semester in which they take the exam.
The following 66 semester credit hours of coursework are required for all students in the School Psychology program:
COU 5213 Counseling Theories
EDP 5003 Psychological Learning Theories
EDP 5033 Human Development Across the Life Span
EDP 5053 Psychosocial Contexts of Learning
EDP 5303 Principles and Techniques of Evaluation
EDP 6033 Legal, Ethical, and Professional Issues in School Psychology
EDP 6103 Methods and Techniques of Inquiry I
EDP 6203 Methods and Techniques of Inquiry II
EDP 6233 Mental Health Services in the Schools
EDP 6243 Assessment of Intelligence and Achievement
EDP 6263 Behavioral Assessment and Intervention
EDP 6293 Consultation in the Schools
EDP 6323 Advanced Psychological Assessment
EDP 6643 Child and Adolescent Psychopathology
EDP 6703 Clinical Neuropsychology
EDP 6733 Multicultural Assessment and Intervention
EDP 6833 Practicum in School Psychology (must be repeated for a total of 6 credit hours)
EDP 6943 Internship in School Psychology (must be repeated for a total of 6 credit hours)
SPE 5403 Exceptional Children and Youth in the Schools
SPE 5513 Curriculum and Instructional Applications for Children and Youth in Special Education
Standards and Procedures
In order to complete the M.A. in School Psychology and to be eligible to take certification or licensing examinations, students must:
- Maintain scholastic performance, meeting or exceeding department standards.
- Demonstrate the acquisition of, and ability to apply, skills necessary to work effectively with persons and systems having diverse needs.
- Demonstrate professionalism in their interactions with others.
- Conform with the codes of ethics of relevant professional associations in psychology (e.g., National Association of School Psychologists, American Psychological Association) in addition to the ethical and legal regulations relevant to the practice of psychology in the State of Texas (e.g., Texas Administrative Code, Rules and Regulations of the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists).
It is the duty of faculty members in the School Psychology program to evaluate all students according to these standards in all settings in which faculty members and students interact, including classes, practicum and internship sites, advising, and supervision. It is expected that students will respond to evaluations, formal or informal, in appropriate ways and will attempt to conform to professional standards as explained to them.
Admission to the program does not guarantee fitness to remain in the program to completion. Only those students who meet program standards will be allowed to continue in the program. If and when a student is judged not to meet program standards sufficiently to be allowed to provide psychological services to others, that student will be removed from continuation in the program.
Only two courses with the grade of “C” will be accepted toward this degree. A minimum of a 3.0 grade point average will be required for graduation. Those who obtain more than two grades of “C” will be put on probation and may be required to complete appropriate remedial work.
