• ISU A-Z
• MyISU
• CURRENT STUDENTS
• ALUMNI
• PARENTS
• FACULTY & STAFF

Communication Disorders and Counseling, School, and Educational Psychology

EDUCATIONAL AND SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is a School Psychologist?

  • Visit http://www.nasponline.org/about_sp/whatis.aspx to find out about what a school psychologist does and if it is the right career for you!

• How is a school psychologist different than a school counselor?

  • School Psychologists focus on instructional assessment and intervention, social and emotional assessment, and mental health and counseling.

• What types of settings are school psychologists typically employed?

• Employment opportunities vary depending on the degree you choose. For differences in employment settings for Ph.D. and Ed.S. students please refer to the following chart: DEGREE PROGRAM Ph.D. (Doctoral) Degree in School Psychology Ed.S. (Specialist) Degree in School Psychology Internships A Ph.D. student completes 2 internships. The first Internship is completed during the third year, is school-based, and is 9-months. The second internship is completed during the fifth year and is approximately 12-months in length and may be located in a school or clinical setting. Both internships are supervised. An Ed.S. student completes a 9-month (1200 hour) supervised internship in the school setting. Career Objectives A person who receives a Ph.D. may wish to work in a clinical, school, academic, or private practice setting. Students completing the program will be eligible for their licensure as a professional psychologist. A person who receives an Ed.S. degree is usually interested only in practicing school psychology in the school setting. Licensure/Credentials A person with a Ph.D. in School Psychology often becomes licensed at the state (SDE) and national level in school psychology (NCSP). Students completing the program will also be eligible for their licensure as a professional psychologist. A person with an Ed.S. becomes licensed at the state level (SDE) to practice in the school setting. They also may wish to become licensed at the national level, Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP), by passing NASP’s school psychology licensing exam.

• What does NCSP mean?

  • NCSP stands for Nationally Certified School Psychologist.

• Do I have to have an undergraduate degree in psychology or education to become a school psychologist?

  • No, there are many related degrees that may qualify you to be admitted to a school psychology program.

• Does ISU offer a Master's of Education (M.Ed.) degree in school psychology?

  • No. Indiana State University does not offer at terminal Master's degree.
  • Students will apply to either the Ed.S. or Ph.D. program and will receive their Master’s of Education (M.Ed.) along the way.
  • If you already have a Master's degree, once you have been admitted to the school psychology program, contact the director of training to determine what classes may transfer to Indiana State University.
    

• Can I apply to the school psychology program at ISU if I already have a Master's degree?

  • If you do have a Master's degree already, you can be admitted. After you have been admitted to the program, please contact the director to determine which coursework will transfer.
    

• How long do I have to attend school to become a school psychologist?

  • A Ph.D. often takes 5 years to complete while an Ed.S. is typically completed in 3 years.
  • Which degree you choose will depend on career interests!

• What is the difference between an Education Specialist Degree (Ed.S) and a Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D) in School Psychology?

• DEGREE PROGRAM Ph.D. (Doctoral) Degree in School Psychology Ed.S. (Specialist) Degree in School Psychology Time to Complete Program A Ph.D. program generally takes 5 years of graduate training to complete. An Ed.S. program generally takes 3 years of graduate training to complete. Core Coursework The ISU Ph.D. program is comprised of 4 years of coursework, a pre-doctoral internship, successful completion of preliminary exams, and a dissertation. The Specialist program consists of 2 years of coursework and a 9-month school-based internship. Research Interests A Ph.D. student completes a dissertation which is an extensive research project in an area of interest. Doctoral students often actively engage in research while completing their degree. A student in the Ed.S. program learns the importance of research in practice and demonstrates competence in research by completing an Ed.S. research project in their own area of interest. Practicum Experiences A Ph.D. student engages in practicum experiences each semester for the first two years (160 hr/semester). An Ed.S. student engages in practicum experiences each semester for the first two years (160 hr/semester). Internships A Ph.D. student completes 2 internships. The first Internship is completed during the third year, is school-based, and is 9-months. The second internship is completed during the fifth year and is approximately 12-months in length and may be located in a school or clinical setting. Both internships are supervised. An Ed.S. student completes a 9-month (1200 hour) supervised internship in the school setting. Career Objectives A person who receives a Ph.D. may wish to work in a clinical, school, academic, or private practice setting. Students completing the program will be eligible for their licensure as a professional psychologist. A person who receives an Ed.S. degree is usually interested only in practicing school psychology in the school setting. Licensure & Credentials A person with a Ph.D. in School Psychology often becomes licensed at the state (SDE) and national level in school psychology (NCSP). Students completing the program will also be eligible for their licensure as a professional psychologist. A person with an Ed.S. becomes licensed at the state level (SDE) to practice in the school setting. They also may wish to become licensed at the national level, Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP), by passing NASP’s school psychology licensing exam. Accrediting Body The Ph.D. program is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA Division-16), and approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)/National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), and the North Central Association (NCA). Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation American Psychological Association (APA) 750 First Street, NE Washington, DC 20002-4242 Phone: 202-336-5979 Fax: 202-336-5978 The Ed.S. program is approved by NASP and NCATE.

• What tests do I have to take to get admitted to the graduate program in school psychology?

  • The school psychology program requires the Graduate Records Exam (GRE) in order to be admitted to our program.
  • We do not accept any tests in place of the GRE (e.g. Miller Analogies Test--MAT).
    

• What is the admissions timeline from the application process to beginning classes at ISU?

  • Application Process:
    • All application materials must be postmarked no later than December 15th for full consideration for Fall admission.
    • Department faculty will review all completed applications throughout the month of January.
    • Students are often notified by February if they have been selected to attend an on-campus interview scheduled in late February or early March.
    • Students are notified via telephone by department faculty by the end of March if they have been offered admission to the school psychology program at Indiana State University.
  • Once Accepted to ISU
    • Contact the department of Communications and Counseling, School, and Educational Psychology (CDCSEP) at (812)237-2880 and the College of Graduate and Professional Studies at 1-800-444-GRAD (4723) to make sure all necessary paperwork has been completed.
    • If you are requesting a student loan to fund your graduate career, contact the Office of Financial Aid at (812) 237-2215 and complete your FAFSA application.
    • Log on to the Indiana State MyISU portal at http://myisu.indstate.edu. Here you can update your contact information such as current address and phone number.
  • Moving to ISU
    • Current students and department faculty will be in contact with incoming students throughout the summer prior to starting at ISU in the fall.
    • Once you arrive in August, current students and department faculty will assist you with registering for classes, obtaining department keys, purchasing parking passes, getting a student ID, and purchasing text books.
      

• How much are tuition and fees?

• Fall 2008 thru Summer II 2009
  Student Fees

  Undergraduate
  Hours	Instate Student	Out-of-State Student
  Above 18 hours (per semester)	$3,959.00	$8,906.00
  12-18 hours (per semester)	$3,396.00	$7,523.00
  .5-11.5 hours (per credit hour)	$245.00	$530.00
  Graduate
  All hours (per credit hour)	$309.00	$614.00

  A $63 per semester Technology Fee will be assessed in addition to the above fees.  
  
  In addition, a Student Recreation Center Fee will also be assessed when a student enrolls in six or more on-campus credit hours, beginning with the first fee assessment of the respective term. The assessment of the fee will be $100 per semester Fall/Spring and $40 per each Summer session.

  A transportation fee of $15 per semester Fall/Spring will also be assessed when a student enrolls in six or more on-campus credit hours, beginning with the first fee assessment of the respective term.
  
  A distance education delivery fee of $30 per undergraduate course and $50 per graduate course will also be assessed to correspondence courses (section numbers 300, 620), internet and tele-courses (section numbers 301-309) and ICN courses (section numbers 526-529).

  You are also charged laboratory fees, course fees, and/or applied music fees in certain classes for supplies and equipment usage, and/or special instruction/supervision. In addition, you are required to purchase text books for the respective programs.

  The University Board of Trustees reserves the right to change fees at any time in the future. The right to correct errors is also reserved.

• What funding opportunities are available for School Psychology students?

  • Several students in the department are funded each year through graduate assistantships and tuition waivers. Those students who receive assistance are required to hold an assistantship position, which requires 15 hours of work per week. Students awarded a graduate assistantship receive a monthly stipend and a tuition waiver which help to defray the costs of tuition.
  • Assistantship positions are competitive. Receiving an assistantship depends upon several factors including: GPA; type of position desired; previous work experience; and the amount and type of positions available.
  • Scholarship and stipend amounts vary each year depending upon the number of students in the program, the amount of needed positions, and the amount of funding available.
  • A student may also apply for assistantship positions outside the Department of Communication Disorders, and Counseling, School and Educational Psychology. Feel free to contact other departments on campus to see if they have available positions.
    

• When and where are courses offered?

  • Most courses offered through the Department of Communication Disorders and Counseling, School,and Educational Psychology are scheduled during the day and are housed in the college of education.
  • Some students may be required to take courses in the evening or online.
  • Students should expect to be on campus for the majority of each week during their first two years of the program.
  • Course schedules vary by semester depending on when and where courses are offered.
  • All students are required to attend the school psychology program full-time.

• What is a typical course load?

  • Ed.S. students are usually enrolled in four classes each semester while Ph.D. students typically take three.
  • The majority of your classes will be academic, but you will also be required to take several practicum courses throughout the program.

• What is the typical class size?

  • Class size varies. Most courses taken during your first two years on campus will be with the cohort in which you entered into the program, ranging from 10-15 students.
  • Additional classes taken as degree requirements may have 30 or 40 students.

• How can I find out more about specific courses?

  • Visit your area of study's web site

• Will any previous graduate level courses that I have taken transfer into the program?

  • Decisions about whether previous courses taken will transfer can only be decided after a student has been admitted to the program.
  • Please meet with your director of training once you have been admitted to discuss which courses may transfer.

• How do I register for classes?

  • Students will register for classes during the new student orientation with department faculty.
  • Do not worry about registering for classes prior to coming to campus in August.

• What is the practicum requirement for the School Psychology program at ISU?

  • All students are required to complete 160 hours of practicum for each Fall and Spring semester.
  • Each practicum course is supervised by a school psychology faculty member who may require you to attend weekly class discussions.

• What is the internship requirement for graduation and licensure?

  • Ph.D. Students must complete a one-year, full-time pre-doctoral internship (2000 hours) after the completion of coursework and advancing to candidacy. Students wishing to obtain licensure as psychologists will be encouraged to pursue an APA-accredited internship placement through APPIC.
    • The students applying for internship through APPIC will meet with Dr. Roberts-Pittman weekly in order to prepare the APPI and prepare for interviews.
    • All other internships must be approved by the Director of Training. Students must comply with all policies and procedures stated in the School Psychology Practicum and Internship manual.
    • All students must have an approved dissertation proposal before beginning their pre-doctoral internship and enrolling in SPSY 891.
  • Ed.S students must complete a one academic year full-time internship (1200 hours with a minimum of 600 hours in a school setting) after the completion of coursework. The internship must be approved by the Director of School Psychology Internship Training.
    • Department faculty and current students are a great recourse in finding sites with available internship positions.
    • State and national conferences are an excellent way to network with potential internship and employment sites.

• What research opportunities are available?

  • Students are encouraged to participate in research activities, in addition to research requirements associated with classes, practica, assistantship and dissertation.
  • Students may participate as part of a research team or they may create an independent research project under the supervision of a university faculty member.
  • Several faculty members have ongoing research projects in which students can get involved. If you are interested in starting a new research project you are encouraged to discuss your research interests with your director of training who will be able to help you find appropriate placement.
  • Students are encouraged to submit their research for publication and presentation. Possible presentation sites include: local sites (e.g., Graduate Research Showcase), state sites (e.g., Indiana Association of School Psychologists), and national sites [e.g., National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), or American Psychological Association (APA)].
  • Students engaged in research must abide by all university research related policies. Students are also required to conform to standards provided by NASP and APA.

• What student organizations are Available at ISU?

  • Students are encouraged to become members of American Psychological Association, Division 16 which also provides membership in ISU’s, Student Affiliates in School Psychology (SASP).
  • The majority of current students are also active members of National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and Indiana Association of School Psychologists (IASP).
  • The College of Graduate and Professional Studies also has a Graduate Student Association in which membership is open to all graduate students at ISU.

• What kind of technology services are available for students to use on campus?

  • All ISU students are assessed a technology fee each semester, around $60 for graduate students for 2007-08. As part of your technology fee you will receive:
    • The use of computers in campus labs (some labs are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week) staffed with consultants to help you. There are two public-access computer labs on the first floor of the College of Business and College of Education complex.
    • Laser printing of approximately 1000 pages (black ink) each semester for graduate students in campus computer labs.
    • Microsoft application software through the Microsoft Campus Agreement
      • Microsoft Office 2007 Enterprise (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, OneNote, and Groove.
    • McAfee Enterprise Virus Scan is available for download free to ISU students.
    • For more information on the technology services provided visit the Office of Technology website: http://www.indstate.edu/oit/.
    • Also available is the student technology guide: http://www.indstate.edu/cirt/comm/studentguide.htm

• Who can I contact for more information regarding the School Psychology Program? ISU? Terre Haute?

  • Department Faculty
    • Ph.D. Director of Training: Dr. Leah Nellisleah.nellis@indstate.edu
    • Ed.S. Director of Training: Dr. Damon Krug damon.krug@indstate.edu
  • Current Students
  • Ph.D. Liaison: Ke'Shana Griddinekgriddine@indstate.edu
  • Ed.S. Liaison: Stephanie Pemberton spemberton@indstate.edu
  • SASP President: MKe'Shana Griddinekgriddine@indstate.edu
• To learn more about Terre Haute visit the city’s website here: http://www.terrehaute.com/

• Maps & Directions
• Contact Us
• Careers
• MyISU
• ISU A-Z

200 North Seventh Street, Terre Haute, Indiana, USA 47809-9989
Copyright © 2012 by Indiana State University. 1-800-GO-TO-ISU | 1-800-468-6478