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School Psychology, Doctor of Psychology
Earn a doctoral degree in School Psychology from St. John's University in New York City!
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Earn a doctoral degree in School Psychology from St. John's University in New York City!
Earn a doctoral degree in School Psychology from St. John's University in New York City!
The School Psychology Psy.D. program is fully APA-accredited, as of April 2007, by the American Psychological Association, 750 First Street, NE, Washington, D.C., 20002-4242, tel. (202) 336-5979.
The Psy.D. in School Psychology is also fully approved/accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and has been since 2012. The program is due for review during the Fall 2022 semester. Information about our program's admission and outcomes data is available.
The School Psychology Psy.D. program is also approved by the ASPPB/National Register.
The program offers both a general track and a bilingual track of study. A listing of program requirements for each track is accessible in Courses section below.
Professional licensure and certification requirements often vary from state to state. St. John’s University has not determined requirements for individual states beyond New York. If you reside or plan to reside outside New York you are strongly encouraged to contact the appropriate state licensing agency in that state to seek information and guidance before beginning the program.
Read our frequently asked questions about the program, admissions, financial aid, and more within the Psychology Department.
Please see a list of our Psychology faculty.
Samuel O. Ortiz, Ph.D.
Program Director, School Psychology
Professor of Psychology
718-990-5388
[email protected]
Bobby Parag
Academic Support Assistant
718-990-6433
[email protected]
For admittance to the program, applicants must:
Prior to beginning required supervised clinical hours at the University Clinics and external clinical placement sites, students will be required to undergo and successfully pass a Criminal Background Check, at a cost of approximately $100. For more information, please consult the current Graduate Bulletin.
Advanced Standing applicants, please note:
The Advanced Standing program is highly competitive and is for students who have already earned their master’s degree in school psychology. Only one or two students are admitted into this program per year, and in some years no students are admitted. Applicants may choose to apply to the full Psy.D. general track, 105-credit program. The vast majority of courses for students in the advanced standing track are taught in the late afternoon/early evening. Some specific courses (i.e., Statistics) have been taught earlier during the day. This is important for advanced standing applicants to consider when applying for the program.
The University awards some Doctoral Fellowships annually to qualified graduate students. Doctoral fellows are generally appointed to the Department of Psychology where they work eighteen hours per week in support of faculty research. Additional assistantships are available in both academic and non-academic departments throughout the University. The University requires recipients to maintain a full-time course of study, and work in their respective department. The assistantships provide tuition remission and sometimes, a stipend. Recipients are prohibited from outside employment for the duration of their contract with the University.
Interested students must complete the Application for Graduate Assistantships/Doctoral Fellowships. Two letters of recommendation are required. Generally, Graduate Assistants have been selected based on academic achievement. Individual departments may have specific criteria for the consideration of assistants; the applicant should contact the Graduate Division of St. John's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences for more information.
Applicants for assistantships must also complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and a New York State Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) application; both forms are available in the Office of Financial Aid.
For further information about fellowships and assistantships at St. John's University please visit Graduate Assistantships and Fellowships.
The Psy.D. program requires the satisfactory completion of 105 credits, a comprehensive examination, the clinical competencies comprehensive examination, the PRAXIS II Examination, a doctoral dissertation, and a year-long internship.
Course Number | Course Name | Credits | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
661 | Psychoeducational Assessment I | 3 credits | ||||||||
665 | Introduction to School Psychology | 3 credits | ||||||||
666 | Interviewing and Case Formulation | 3 credits | ||||||||
Either 726 or 727 | Psychopathology Across the Lifespan I / Psychopathology Across the Lifespan II | 3 credits | ||||||||
Total credits completed | 12 credits |
Course Number | Course Name | Credits | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
662 | Psychoeducational Assessment II | 3 credits | |||||||||
671 | Child & Adolescent Personality Assessment | 3 credits | |||||||||
Either 726 or 727 | Psychopathology Across the Lifespan I / Psychopathology Across the Lifespan II | 3 credits | |||||||||
749 | Behavior Therapy: Assessment, Treatment, & Consultation | 3 credits | |||||||||
Total credits completed after the first year | 24 credts |
Course Number | Course Name | Credits | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
608 | Statistical Design in Research | 3 credits | |||||||||
615 | Research Methods in School Psychology | 3 credits | |||||||||
624 | Developmental Psychology | 3 credits | |||||||||
Either 715 or 716 | Assessment Diagnosis, & Remediation of Learning Disabilities / Psychoeducational Consultation | 3 credits | |||||||||
761 | Psychological Assessment Practicum I | 3 credits | |||||||||
Total Credits Completed | 39 credits |
Course Number | Course Name | Credits | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
614 | Multivariate Analysis for Psychological Research | 3 credits | |||||||||
627 | Cultural Diversity in Psychological Services | 3 credits | |||||||||
648 | Physiological Psychology | 3 credits | |||||||||
Either 715 or 716 | Assessment Diagnosis, & Remediation of Learning Disabilities / Psychoeducational Consultation | 3 credits | |||||||||
762 | Psychological Assessment Practicum II | 3 credits | |||||||||
Total credits completed after the second year | 54 credits |
Course Number | Course Name | Credits | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
722 | Social Basis of Behavior | 3 credits | |||||||||
752 | School Psychology Internship Seminar I: Professional Issues | 3 credits | |||||||||
764 | School Psychology Intervention Practicum II | 3 credits | |||||||||
Elective | 3 credits | ||||||||||
Total Number of credits completed | 72 credits |
Course Number | Course Name | Credits | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
105 | Comprehensive Examination | 0 credits | |||||||||
753 | School Psychology Internship Seminar II: Psychological Interventions | 3 credits | |||||||||
759 | Psychometrics | 3 credits | |||||||||
765 | School Psychology Intervention Practicum III | 3 credits | |||||||||
Elective | 3 credits | ||||||||||
Total credits completed after third year | 84 credits |
Note: PSY 752 and 753 - Students will be required to spend three days per week in a school setting working under a Certified School Psychologist who is also a Licensed Psychologist. The Praxis School Psychologist Examination and the Comprehensive Examination are taken during this semester. Students will receive the Master of Science (M.S.) degree in School Psychology at the end of the third year if they pass the Praxis School Psychologist Examination and the Comprehensive Examination.
Course Number | Course Name | Credits | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
617 | Cognitive and Affective Basis of Behavior | 3 credits | |||||||||
754 | School Psychology Internship Seminar III: Supervision and Advanced Clinical Field Placement | 3 credits | |||||||||
Elective | 3 credits | ||||||||||
Total credits completed | 93 credits |
Note: PSY 754 and 755 - Students will be required to spend three days per week in a clinical setting working under a Licensed Psychologist (doctoral level). Students must successfully defend their dissertation proposals by December 1 of their fourth year to qualify for the fifth-year internship.
Course Number | Course Name | Credits | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
105D | Comprehensive Exam | 0 credits | |||||||||
650 | History and Systems | 3 credits | |||||||||
755 | School Psychology Internship Seminar IV: Exploration of Current Research and Controversies in School Psychology and Field Placement | 3 credits | |||||||||
950 | Doctoral Research | 3 credits | |||||||||
Elective | 3 credits | ||||||||||
Total credits completed after fourth year | 105 credits |
Course Number | Course Name | Credits | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
905 | Internship I | 0 credits | |||||||||
950 | Doctoral Research | *1 credit | |||||||||
Total credits completed | 106 credits |
Note:* Students must take Psy 950 each semester until they complete their degree. However, they only receive 3 credits toward the degree. They will pay 3 credits until the dissertation is completed except for semesters when they are on internship when they will pay 1 credit.
Course Number | Course Name | Credits | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
906 | Internship II | 0 credits | |||||||||
950 | Doctoral Research | *1 credit | |||||||||
Total credits completed after fifth year | 107 credits |
Note:* Students must take Psy 950 each semester until they complete their degree. However, they only receive 3 credits toward the degree. They will pay 3 credits until the dissertation is completed except for semesters when they are on internship when they will pay 1 credit.
The curriculum requirements for the School Psychology Bilingual track meet the requirements for Bilingual Certification by the New York State Department of Education in the following manner:
Twelve courses (36 credits) in the general school psychology program are also required of students in the bilingual program.
The following four courses in the program were altered to reflect material required by the New York State Department of Education for Bilingual Certification:
Practicum I & II (PSY 761B & 762B) provides students in their second year (prior to their internship) practicum experience in serving bilingual children and their families. These courses are similar in structure to the courses taken by the general School Psychology program (PSY 761 & 762), except that students in these courses are typically supervised by a bilingual school psychologist and are trained to provide school psychological services to bilingual children and their families.
Three courses (9 credits) are also required for students in the bilingual program. These include:
To obtain certification as a bilingual school psychologist in NY State, a student must take and pass the Bilingual Education Assessment (BEA). It is the student’s responsibility to register for this exam on his/her own. The BEA assesses knowledge and skills in the foundations of bilingual education, listening and reading comprehension, and written and oral expression. Offered in the target language of the certificate extension sought, it consists of multiple-choice questions, audio-taped listening and speaking components in English and the target language and reading and writing components in the target language. For more information about the New York State Teacher Certification Examinations, including online test registration, study guides, testing schedules, and more, go to: www.nystce.nesinc.com.
Students must obtain approval from the Program Director to enroll in the bilingual track. This decision must be made prior to the second semester in the program (during the fall semester of the first year). Enrollment in the bilingual track is not contingent upon passing the BEA. Students are expected to take the BEA exam only if they want to receive the bilingual credential in New York State. Those who chose not to take the BEA can still utilize the bilingual training in their practice as school psychologists.
* Students must take Psy 950 each semester until they complete their degree. However, they only receive 3 credits toward the degree. They will pay 3 credits until the dissertation is completed except for semesters when they are on internship when they will pay 1 credit.
Students admitted with a master's degree in School Psychology and a permanent or provisional certification in school psychology can be admitted with advanced standing. These students will be required to take 50 credits at minimum. If the student’s masters did not include courses that are required for licensure as a psychologist in New York State, the student will be required to substitute these courses for his or her electives. In addition, the student’s elective courses may be used to take courses that the Program Director deems were deficient or absent in their School Certification education. They must take courses that exist in our program if they did not have equivalent courses in their masters/certification program. Courses required for licensure include: Social (Psy 722) or Cross-Cultural (Psy 625); Cognition (Psy 617); Physiological (Psy 648) or Biological bases; Scaling and Measurement (Psy 659); and Research Methods (Psy 615).
Advanced Standing Track Course Schedule
763 | School Psychology Intervention Practicum I | 3 credits |
850 | Cognitive Psychotherapies | 3 credits |
Total credits completed | 6 credits | |
Note: PSY 763 - Students will work in the Center for Psychological Services and Clinical Studies and other University-approved sites for external practica. |
608 | Statistical Design in Research | 3 credits |
624 | Developmental Psychology | 3 credits |
650 | History and Systems | 3 credits |
764 | Psychological Intervention Practicum II | 3 credits |
Total credits completed | 18 credits |
614 | Multivariate Analysis for Psychological Research | 3 credits |
Elective | 3 credits | |
627 | Cultural Diversity in Psychological Services | 3 credits |
765 | Psychological Intervention Practicum III | 3 credits |
Total credits completed after the first year | 30 credits | |
Note: PSY 764 and 765 - Students will be required to spend three days per week in a clinical setting working under a Licensed Psychologist (doctoral level). |
Second Year Fall Semester
754 | School Psychology Internship Seminar III: Supervision and Advanced Clinical Interventions to Meet the Mental Health Needs of Students and Field Placements | 3 credits |
Elective | 3 credits | |
Elective | 3 credits | |
Total credits completed | 39 credits |
105D | Comprehensive Examination | 0 credits |
755 | School Psychology Internship Seminar IV: Exploration of Current Research and Controversies in School Psychology and Field Placement | 3 credits |
950 | Doctoral Research | 3 credits |
Elective | 3 credits | |
Total credits completed after the second year | 48 credits | |
Note: PSY 754 and 755 - Students will be required to spend three days per week in a clinical setting working under a Licensed Psychologist (doctoral level). Students must have successfully defended their dissertation proposal by December 1 of their second year in the program to be permitted to go on internship the following year. |
Third Year Fall Semester
905 | School Psychology Doctoral Internship I | 0 credits |
950 | Doctoral Research | 1 credit |
Total credits completed | 49 credits | |
Note: Students must take PSY 950 each semester until they complete their degree. However, they only receive 3 credits toward the degree. They will pay 3 credits until the dissertation is completed except for semesters when they are on internship when they will pay 1 credit. |
Third Year Spring Semester
906 | School Psychology Doctoral Internship II | 0 credits |
950 | Doctoral Research | 1 credit |
Total credits completed after the third year | 50 credits | |
Note: Students must take PSY 950 each semester until they complete their degree. However, they only receive three credits toward the degree. They will pay three credits until the dissertation is completed except for semester when they are on internship, when they will pay one credit. |
In accordance with the Vincentian mission of St. John¹s University and the 11 stated training goals for the Graduate Programs in School Psychology, the Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) Program in School Psychology specifically aims to prepare doctoral candidates to be:
For more information about who are school psychologists, please visit the NASP website.
Professional licensure and certification requirements often vary from state to state. St. John’s University has not determined requirements for individual states beyond New York. If you reside or plan to reside outside New York you are strongly encouraged to contact the appropriate state licensing agency in that state to seek information and guidance before beginning the program.
Explore opportunities at St. John's with our pathway generator.
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Students in this program further develop the attitudes and abilities needed to identify and remediate major learning and behavior disorders, ranging from mild to profound, regardless of etiology.
This degree will give teachers the opportunity to enrich their classroom pedagogy with specialization in Literacy instruction and instruction for the English Language Learner.
This degree will give teachers the opportunity to enrich their classroom pedagogy with specialization in Literacy instruction and instruction for the English Language Learner.
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The Office of Student Financial Services is committed to providing students and their families with the information they need to navigate and understand the financial aid and payment process.
St. John’s offers a free online application for all 100+ undergraduate programs, and graduate applications carry a low cost for most programs.