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School Psychologist
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Admission to the Advanced Certificate Program in School Psychology is limited to (a) students already possessing a master’s degree in psychology, education, or related fields who want to obtain certification as school psychologists’ and (b) satisfactory completion of nine prerequisite courses. Six credits of full-time internship are required. The additional coursework (24–54 credits) will be determined from the list of program courses based on review of student’s prior graduate record.
Additional program criteria include the following:
Grade-Point Average: Students must maintain a B (3.0) grade-point average in order to remain matriculated in the program.
Seminars: Before receiving certification, New York State law mandates that all candidates provide documentation that they have completed seminars in (a) Alcohol and Substance Abuse, (b) Child Abuse, Prevention and Intervention, (c) Harassment, Bullying, and Discrimination Prevention and Intervention (DASA), (d) School Safety, which consists of Fire and Arson, Child Abduction, and Safety on Highways, and (e) School Violence Prevention and Intervention.
Culminating Experience: All candidates in their internship year prepare a Professional Performance-Based Portfolio for submission to faculty. This portfolio consists of case studies in areas including assessment, intervention, counseling and consultation, a research project, a resume, and a personal statement. The portfolio will be reviewed by the faculty and provide evidence of competency in all 10 NASP domains.
PRAXIS Examination: All candidates are required to take the PRAXIS II (specialty) exam in School Psychology prior to graduation. These scores must be reported to the program office and are required in order to become a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. Registration information can be obtained from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) at 609- 771-7395 or www.ets.org/praxis. Other information is available at nasponline.org
Candidate Personal Characteristics: Each semester a review of candidates will be conducted to decide whether they are progressing satisfactorily. Responsible training for work in school and mental health settings requires that in addition to meeting academic requirements, candidates have appropriate personal characteristics. These include but are not limited to communication skills, interpersonal skills, respect for human diversity, professional judgment, and ethical conduct. In addition, candidates are expected to demonstrate sensitivity to client issues and effective management of personal stress or adjustment difficulties. At the end of each semester, the faculty of the School Psychology program will evaluate each candidate’s suitability for continuation in the program, considering information from all sources in the program and related settings.
The decision that a student must leave the program on academic and/or personal grounds will be made by the program faculty and may be appealed, should the student wish, to a special Ad Hoc Appeals Committee of the department, which will include no one who participated in the initial evaluation.
Chalk &Wire: Candidates are required to purchase and maintain a Chalk & Wire ePortfolio subscription from the Queens College bookstore in order to submit their assignments as directed.
Candidate Professional Behavior: Candidates must demonstrate professional work characteristics, including ethical and legal conduct. All candidates must follow the APA and NASP Ethical Codes, and are expected to abide by the CUNY Policy on Academic Integrity.
Requirements
A review of undergraduate records with a minimum cumulative average of 3.0 and an average of 3.0 in all courses in psychology and education.
A personal statement.
Three written recommendations. At least two must be from undergraduate or graduate instructors in psychology and/or education. All reference letters should be on the instructors’ stationery. Additional letters of recommendation are also appropriate from a current job or from a recent job related to education and/or psychology.
A personal interview.
A writing sample at time of interview.
The program for each student will be modified individually depending on the student’s background and preparation. The program is a structured sequence that may be completed in three years of full-time study (including a one-year internship) or four years of part-time study (including a one-year full-time internship). In the Spring semester before internship, students must spend one day a week in a school setting chosen by the program. In addition, students must receive a grade of Pass in both semesters of internship in order to receive a degree and be eligible for a certificate.
Candidates who do not receive B or better in assessment or practica courses (ECPSP 770, 772, 773, 774, 775, 777, 778, 861, 867, 868) may not proceed to subsequent practica and internships except with permission of the faculty. Candidates may be asked to do additional work like retaking a course or courses and/or spending additional time in the field, if it is thought this will be sufficient to help them demonstrate competency in a reasonable time.
Candidate leaves or a break in the continuity of study requires a review by the faculty before candidates return to the program and study is resumed. Such reviews could result in requiring candidates to retake courses or other requirements to ensure competencies are maintained.
All candidates must meet appropriate academic and scholarship standards to remain in and complete the program. They must also demonstrate appropriate personal, professional, and ethical conduct as established by the program and school profession (i.e., ethical and professional standards in psychology and school psychology, including APA and NASP). Candidates are expected to abide by the CUNY policy on Academic Integrity. All candidates are subject to review and sanctions, including dismissal, as a result of academic and/or professional deficiencies. Candidates have the right to appeal all decisions regarding academic performance and personal and/or professional behavior as per college, department, and program policies.