School Psychology

School Psychology Website

The School Psychology programs of study train candidates using an ecologically oriented, scientist-practitioner model.  Students are immersed in faculty supervised, pre-professional activities including course work, delivery of services in school settings, and research.  School Psychology students develop the knowledge, skills, and dispositions needed to become leaders in schools and experts in addressing the individual needs of Pre-K through 12th grade youth.  Training is provided to help all School Psychology candidates become competent in responding to the wide range of issues that affect the academic success of today’s youth (e.g., cultural, contextual, educational, familial, behavioral, and emotional).

Click here for more information about our CAGS, and Ph.D. training programs in School Psychology.

Program Highlights

The following information describes the mission of our M.Ed., CAGS, and Ph.D. School Psychology training programs.

• Collaboration.  A major focus of our training is to engage students as quickly as possible in real world, school contexts.  Our goal is to train students in learning environments where within school collaborations between educational professionals and outside of school partnerships with family and community leaders are an integral part of our candidate’s program.  We collaborate with, support, and are accredited by the American Psychological Association, the National Association of School Psychologists, the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, as well as state and federal legislation.
• Reflective Practice.  We consistently challenge our students to reflect upon and challenge the knowledge, dispositions, and skills they are developing to help young people.  Candidates complete professional self-reflection work across the key transition stages of their training program.
• Multiple Ways of Knowing.  Our candidates develop strong empirical research competencies and can implement a variety of analytic strategies (e.g., single subject research designs, as well as parametric and non-parametric quantitative techniques).
• Access, Equity, and Fairness.  Our candidates learn how to practice school psychology with sensitivity to the individual student who is being served.  Careful attention is paid to the diversity of factors that influence each young person (e.g., their history, culture, context, community, as well as their individualized educational, social, behavioral, and emotional needs).
• Evidence-Based Practice.  Our candidates are trained to practice School Psychology within an ecological, problem-solving approach that emphasizes evidence-based practices to address the needs of today’s youth and to promote healthy development for all children, schools, and families.  Program faculty are nationally and internationally recognized leaders in the development, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based practices carried out by school psychologists (e.g., Response To Intervention).

Required Courses

Psychological & Educational Foundations of School Psychology (21 credits)

1. Theories of Learning, Cognition, & Instruction (6 credits minimum)
1. Historical Foundations & Contemporary Theories of Psychology and Education
2. Learning & Cognition
3. Cognitive Approaches to Learning & Instruction
2. Foundations of Social & Cultural Diversity (6 credits minimum)
1. Social Justice Issues in Education
2. Advanced Social Psychology
3. Learning Disabilities in Children & Youth
4. Social Psychology in the Schools
3. Individual Differences (3 credits)
1. Developmental Psychopathology
4. Human Development (3 credits)
1. Advanced Child Development
5. Biological Bases of Human Behavior (3 credits)
1. Neuroanatomical Bases of Behavior
2. Physiological Psychology
3. Brain Development & Behavior
4. Psychopharmacology
5. Drugs & Behavior

Psychometrics, Assessment, & Research (27 credits)

1. Measurement & Assessment (15 credits)
1. Principles of Educational & Psychological Testing
2. Assessment in School Psychology I: Cognitive Assessment
3. Assessment in School Psychology II: Educational Assessment
4. Assessment in School Psychology III: Social & Behavioral Assessment
5. Practicum in Assessment
2. Research Design & Methods (12 credits)
1. Time Series & Single Subject Designs
2. Quasi-Experimental & Group Designs
3. Program Evaluation
4. Introduction to Statistics and Computers II

Methods of School-Based Intervention (15 credits)

1. Intervention Methods (12 credits)
1. Applied Behavior Analysis
2. Language & Literacy Instruction for Students with Disabilities
3. Intervention for Achievement & Behavior Problems
4. Prevention of Achievement & Behavior Problems
2. Consultation (3 credits)
1. Consultation in School Psychology

Professional School Psychology (18 credits)

1. Professional School Psychology
1. Principles & Practices of School Psychology
2. Policy & Legal Perspectives in Special Education
3. Special Education Organization & Management
4. Practicum in Professional Supervision & Teaching

Application of Research Skills (up to 18 credits)

1. Dissertation

Practicum & Internship in School Psychology (12 to 18 credits)

M.Ed./CAGS in School Psychology

Psychological & Educational Foundations of School Psychology (15 credits)

1. Theories of Learning, Cognition, & Instruction (3 credits minimum)
1. Historical Foundations & Contemporary Theories of Psychology and Education
2. Foundations of Social & Cultural Diversity (3 credits minimum)
1. Social Justice Issues in Education
3. Individual Differences (3 credits)
1. Developmental Psychopathology
4. Human Development (3 credits)
1. Advanced Child Development
5. Biological Bases of Human Behavior (3 credits)
1. Neuroanatomical Bases of Behavior
2. Physiological Psychology
3. Brain Development & Behavior
4. Psychopharmacology
5. Drugs & Behavior

Psychometrics, Assessment, & Research (21 credits)

1. Measurement & Assessment (15 credits)
1. Principles of Educational & Psychological Testing
2. Assessment in School Psychology I: Cognitive Assessment
3. Assessment in School Psychology II: Educational Assessment
4. Assessment in School Psychology III: Social & Behavioral Assessment
5. Practicum in Assessment
2. Applied Research & Evaluation (6 credits)
1. Time Series & Single Subject Designs
2. Program Evaluation

Methods of School-Based Intervention (15 credits)

1. Intervention Methods (12 credits)
1. Applied Behavior Analysis
2. Language & Literacy Instruction for Students with Disabilities
3. Intervention for Achievement & Behavior Problems
4. Prevention of Achievement & Behavior Problems
2. Consultation (3 credits)
1. Consultation in School Psychology

Professional School Psychology (3 credits)

1. Professional School Psychology
1. Principles & Practices of School Psychology

Practicum & Internship in School Psychology (12 to 18 credits)

Contact Information

For more information about the School Psychology program, please contact:

Concentration Coordinator: John M. Hintze, Ph.D. (Professor)
Email: hintze@educ.umass.edu

Associated Faculty

John M. Hintze (Professor), Amanda M. Marcotte (Assistant Professor), William J. Matthews (Professor)