A career as a school psychologist provides many rewards and opportunities. School psychologists work with students, educators, parents, and community members to help provide better outcomes for youth. School psychologists work primarily in schools settings providing assessments, consultation, counseling, crisis intervention, and academic, behavioral, and social emotional interventions to support student’s academic, social and emotional development. School psychologists are mental health professionals who advocate for students, earn a respectable salary, and typically get the summers off! Not to mention, school psychology as a field has been ranked among the hundred best jobs in the nation.
The School Psychology Program in the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling at CSUN is geared for students who have a background in education and/or psychology. Applicants who are interested in entering the exciting field of school psychology and who have worked as teachers, special educators, teacher assistants, or have served in other capacities in the schools or other settings working with children will be well suited for entrance into the program.
The school psychology program at CSUN is a comprehensive, three-year full time Masters of Science degree program. Students applying will be seeking both a Masters of Science in School Psychology degree and an Advanced Pupil Personnel Services Credential. Courses in the School Psychology program are offered primarily during the evening hours (4 p.m. to 10 p.m.); however, there may be occasional courses offered during the day.
The mission of the school psychology program at CSUN is to prepare diverse culturally responsive school psychologists for careers within multidisciplinary school-based teams to help all students attain academic, behavioral, social, and emotional success through comprehensive and coordinated support delivery systems that provide prevention and/or appropriate interventions to help provide safe, healthy, and nurturing environments to support all students develop resilience and life success. To achieve this objective, candidates in the school psychology program use the systems ecological model to engage multi-systemic multi-tiered support to enhance developmental assets which lead to optimized life success for diverse populations. The school psychology program prepares candidates for the delivery of comprehensive school psychological services within the context of educational programs and educational settings, while emphasizing human diversity and social justice and advocacy. School psychology candidates are trained to have a background in psychological and educational theories in order to provide counseling; assessment; consultation; prevention and intervention services including academic, behavioral, emotional, and mental health needs in the schools; address school climate, school violence, and crisis intervention in the schools; and use ethics, law, and research to guide their practice. The problem-solving data-based decision-making process is emphasized in all aspects of service delivery, as well as the use of data and evidenced based interventions to maximize student success. Working at both the individual and systems level of service delivery, candidates develop the skills to facilitate collaboration among families, school personnel, and community members to create and maintain safe, supportive, and effective learning environments. They creatively use program evaluation methods, and culturally compatible educational, instructional, and program solutions to address barriers and address institutional biases that impede the learning process, social emotional adjustment, behavior, and life success of students. Through their development, candidates become competent professionals, life-long learners, innovators, social justice advocates, and leaders in the field.
For more information on the Michael D. Eisner College of Education and School Psychology Program Outcomes, please visit:
General Admission Requirements: All applicants must demonstrate evidence of suitability for graduate work in School Psychology. Applicants must complete the application process by the deadline. All applicants must submit an official transcript showing proof of at least a Bachelor’s Degree from a regionally accredited university or college, with a GPA of at least 3.0, preferably, but not limited, to psychology, education, or a related field. In addition to our application form, which can be found here , applicants must submit transcripts of all prior academic work, two to three letters of recommendation on the recommender’s stationery (at least one, when possible, from a professor, who can describe candidates academic preparation for graduate school), a statement of personal and professional goals, objectives, and paid and unpaid work history related to education and/or mental health. The personal statement must include information regarding applicants' experiences related to working with people from culturally and/or ethnically diverse groups. A resume is also required. Experience working with school aged children (voluntary or paid) in an educational setting is preferred.
All applicants must apply to the University AND to the Department. Please visit the Prospective Student webpage for more information about the admissions process.
Other Admission Requirements: ALL applicants must take the GRE General Test and submit scores by the application deadline. All candidates must also take the CBEST by the end of their first semester. This is a credentialing requirement. In addition to the general requirements stated above, all School Psychology applicants must have completed or be enrolled in the following undergraduate courses or their equivalents as prerequisites prior to beginning the graduate program coursework:
(Waived for applicants who have a teaching credential)
