Doctor of Philosophy in School Psychology, Ph.D.
Program Director: Nicholas F. Benson, Ph.D.
The School Psychology Ph.D. program is offered in the Department of Educational Psychology located in the School of Education. The program is accredited, on contingency, by the American Psychological Association. School Psychology is a general practice and health service provider specialty of professional psychology that is concerned with the science and practice of psychology with children, youth, families; learners of all ages; and the schooling process. The basic education and training of school psychologists prepares them to provide a range of psychological assessment, intervention, prevention, health promotion, and program development and evaluation services with a special focus on the developmental processes of children and youth within the context of schools, families, and other systems. School psychologists are prepared to intervene at the individual and system level, and develop, implement, and evaluate preventive programs. In these efforts, they conduct ecologically valid assessments and intervene to promote positive learning environments within which children and youth from diverse backgrounds have equal access to effective educational and psychological services to promote healthy development. The overall aim of the School Psychology Ph.D. program is to prepare highly skilled and competent scientist-practitioners. Earning a degree from this program requires mastery of a coherent body of knowledge and skills. Doctoral students must acquire substantial competence in the discipline of psychology as specified in the Standards of Accreditation and must be able to relate appropriately to clients/patients, fellow students, faculty and staff members, and other health care professionals.
Admissions
The admissions process for the SP Ph.D. program conforms to the general admissions requirements for the BU Graduate School, the SOE, and the EDP department. Prospective students are encouraged to access the admissions information available on the Graduate School’s website. The application is available online at https://www.baylor.edu/graduate/gobaylor or can a printed version can be obtained by telephoning the BU Graduate School at 254-710-3588 or by writing them at:
One Bear Place #97264
Waco, TX
76798-7264
Students are admitted for the fall semester only and the application deadline is February 15.The BU school psychology faculty desire to admit qualified applicants from a diversity of backgrounds. Students do not have to have an undergraduate degree in psychology, but should have taken courses in general psychology, introductory statistics, research design, and child/adolescent development. Admission decisions are made by consensus of the BU school psychology faculty based on multiple factors including:
- GRE scores
- Letters of recommendation
- Potential match between the applicant’s goals and the program goals
- Relevant work, clinical experience, research experience
- Previous course work and grades
Required Courses and Typical Course Sequence
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Hours | |
| EDP 5328 | Psychological Assessment of Children and Adolescents I: Cognitive | 3 |
| EDP 5340 | Measurement and Evaluation | 3 |
| EDP 5341 | Professional Practice, Law, and Ethics for School Psychologists | 3 |
| EDP 6360 | Experimental Design I | 3 |
| EDP 5366 | Psychology of Exceptional Children | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| EDP 5337 | Psychological Assessment of Children and Adolescents II: Psychoeducational | 3 |
| EDP 5360 | Psychological Interventions with Children and Adolescents II: Counseling | 3 |
| EDP 5367 | Developmental Psychopathology | 3 |
| EDP 6362 | Applied Multiple Regression/Correlation Analysis in Education | 3 |
| Hours | 12 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| EDP 5393 | Cultural Issues with Children and Families | 3 |
| EDP 5356 | Psychological Interventions with Children and Adolescents I: Behavior | 3 |
| Qualifying Exam | ||
| Hours | 6 | |
| Second Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| EDP 5362 | Psychological Interventions with Children and Adolescents III: Academic | 3 |
| EDP 5394 | Psychological Assessment of Children and Adolescents III: Social-Emotional | 3 |
| EDP 6350 | History and Systems of Psychology and Educational Applications | 3 |
| EDP 6365 | Latent Variable Models in Education | 3 |
| EDP 5V78 | Practicum in School Psychology | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| EDP 5327 | Educational Evaluation | 3 |
| EDP 5370 | Consultation, Collaboration, and Family-School Partnerships | 3 |
| EDP 6340 | Teaching in Higher Education | 3 |
| EDP 6332 | Advanced Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| EDP 5V78 | Practicum in School Psychology | 3 |
| Hours | 15 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| PSY 5339 | Social Psychology | 3 |
| EDP 5V78 | Practicum in School Psychology | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| EDP 6366 | Item Response Theory | 3 |
| EDP 6V78 | Advanced Practicum in School Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 5323 | Biological Foundations of Behavior | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| EDP 5333 | Psychology of Learning, Cognition, and Affect | 3 |
| EDP 5364 | Psychological Interventions with Children and Adolescents IV: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy | 3 |
| EDP 6V78 | Advanced Practicum in School Psychology | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| EDP 6356 | Doctoral Seminar in School Psychology | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| EDP 6V78 | Advanced Practicum in School Psychology | 3 |
| EDP 6V99 | Dissertation | 2 |
| Hours | 5 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| EDP 6V99 | Dissertation | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| EDP 6182 | 1 | |
| Hours | 1 | |
| Fifth Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| EDP 6182 | 1 | |
| Hours | 1 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| EDP 6182 | 1 | |
| Hours | 1 | |
| Total Hours | 101 | |