Purpose of the Degree

The Specialist in Education degree (Ed.S.) with a major in Psychology and Counseling offers a planned program of studies designed to lead to state licensure in school psychology. Information about requirements for licensure can be obtained from the Arkansas Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), and from the Program Coordinators in the Department of Psychology and Counseling.

NOTE: Enrollment in 7000-level courses with COUN and PSY prefixes requires admission to the Ed.S. in Psychology and Counseling, unconditional admission to another university’s accredited post-master degree program with a major in psychology or counseling, or (with permission) admission to the Ed.S. in Educational Leadership, or the Ed.D. in Educational Leadership

Admission to the Specialist Degree Programs

Applicants to the Specialist in Education in Psychology and Counseling must hold either an earned bachelor’s or an earned master’s degree from an accredited institution. Applicants must submit the following to Graduate Admissions:

1. A completed application for admission. Applicants are encouraged to submit the application February 15 to be eligible to enter the following fall semester.
2. A $30 nonrefundable application fee. Checks must be made payable to Arkansas State University. If applications are received without payment, Graduate Admissions will hold all application materials and notify the applicants that no action will be taken until payment is received
3. One copy of official transcripts of all previous undergraduate and graduate coursework attempted to be sent directly from the institution(s) previously attended.
4. Please see program sections under the College of Education and Behavioral Science portion of this Bulletin for specific requirements or online at http://www.astate.edu/education.

Program Admission Procedures

1. Contact Graduate Admissions for an application materials packet.
2. Submit to Graduate Admissions all application materials, including:
   1. Completed Graduate Admissions application form with specified application fee, proof of immunization for mumps, measles and rubella, selective service status form, and separate official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate work from all colleges and universities attended
   2. A typed statement of personal, educational, and career goals and aspirations; personal perception of influences on the applicant’s choice of training in the areas of psychology and/or counseling; and personal view of the role and value of the chosen area of training.
   3. Four recommendations from persons qualified to speak with authority about the applicant’s professional abilities, dispositions, and work characteristics. At least two of these must come from faculty in the applicant’s most recent academic program of study. When the applicant has not completed that program of study, a statement of status in that program also is required. Applicants to the school psychology track must have their references complete the A-State School Psychology Application Evaluation form rather than letters. This form is available as a download on the A-State Department of Psychology and Counseling School Psychology webpage
   4. Applicants must provide verification of clearance of the Arkansas Child Maltreatment Central Registry Check.
3. Graduate Admissions reviews the application file and, if applicant qualifies for admission to Graduate Programs, forwards the file (including all materials listed above) to the appropriate Program Coordinator in the Department of Psychology and Counseling.
4. The appropriate Ed.S. Program Committee reviews the application file. This committee evaluates all materials submitted by the applicant and decides whether the applicant has the essential qualities to warrant an interview with the Committee.
5. Applicants who qualify for an interview appear before the Committee, which then decides whether the applicant meets program requirements and expectations. If an applicant is approved for admission to the program, the committee sets any conditions of admission and appoints an academic adviser.

NOTE: The school psychology track only accepts students in the fall semester of each semester of each academic year. Therefore, individuals who are applying for acceptance into the school psychology track of the program must submit their entire application to Graduate Admissions by February 15.

Program Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the Ed.S. Program in Psychology and Counseling, applicants must hold an earned bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited institution and present evidence of qualities consistent with those required for effective practice in the chosen area of study. The written statement prepared by the applicant, combined with recommendations and the personal interview, will be used as the basis for committee members’ judgment of the applicant’s professional dispositions and work characteristics. All persons admitted to the program are required to meet the same standard in regard to these qualities. Applicants also must present evidence of potential ability to perform academic work at the advanced graduate level. Past grade performance provides the primary data for judging academic ability; other indicators, such as quality of writing in the applicant’s prepared statement and faculty references, also will be considered. Based on past academic performance, an applicant may qualify for either unconditional or conditional admission status.

School Psychology

Unconditional Admission Status: Academic proficiency for unconditional admission may be established through satisfaction of either of the following criteria:

1. A minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 3.00 (or 3.25 on the last 60 hours of undergraduate work).
2. Unconditional admission to Graduate Programs, and a minimum cumulative graduate grade point average of 3.25 on 12 or more hours with no grade less than a “B.”

Conditional Admission Status: Academic proficiency for conditional admission maybe established through satisfaction of either of the following criteria:

1. A minimum cumulative undergraduate grade point average of 2.75 (or 3.00 on the last 60 hours of undergraduate work).
2. Unconditional admission to Graduate Programs, and a minimum cumulative graduate grade point average of 3.00 on 12 or more semester hours with no more than one course with a grade of “C” and no grade less than a “C.”

Eligibility to Continue in the Ed.S. Program

Students admitted in Conditional status must earn a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.25 on the next 12 hours of course requirements and have no grade less than “B” in any course in order to advance to Unconditional status. Students who fail to remove Conditional status in this manner will be dropped from the Ed.S. Program in Psychology and Counseling. Retention checkpoints for students admitted to the Ed.S. Program in Psychology and Counseling include the following:

1. Annual Review: In addition to the academic standards for continuing enrollment, all students admitted to the Ed.S. Program will be subject to annual review by the appropriate Committee. This annual review will be conducted at some time during the summer term. At this review, the Committee will assess current evidence of each student’s professional dispositions and work characteristics deemed essential for the chosen area of study. The Committee also will assess overall quality of academic performance, and any student having earned a grade of “C” in any course will come under close scrutiny. Outcomes at each review may be approval for unrestricted continuation in the program, approval for continuation in the program with specified contingencies, suspension from the program with specified contingencies, suspension from the program with specified contingencies for re-admission, or removal from the program.
2. Approval to Register for Practicum and Internship Courses: Eligibility to enroll in supervised clinical training (i.e., COUN 6203  and PSY 782V ) is subject to approval of the student’s adviser and/or the program committee. To obtain this approval, a student must have successfully completed all prerequisites and be deemed to have shown evidence of readiness for the level of practice required in the particular course.
3. Eligibility for Comprehensive Examination: Students who have earned an overall graduate grade point average of 3.00, have earned a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 for all courses completed in the Ed.S. Program in Psychology Form Revised: 08/06/2019 11 and Counseling, and are enrolled in PSY 782V Supervised Internship will be eligible to sit for the comprehensive examination (i.e., Praxis School Psychologist exam).
4. Eligibility for Graduation: Students who have earned an overall graduate grade point average of 3.00, have completed all courses required for the Ed.S. Program in Psychology and Counseling and earned a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.00 for these courses, and have passed the comprehensive examination (i.e., Praxis School Psychologist exam) will be eligible for conferral of degree.

Academic Credit

Graduate Programs policy prohibits credit toward degree requirements for any courses completed more than six years prior to completion of the degree program. In addition, both degree-seeking and non-degree seeking students enrolling in COUN and PSY courses are expected to provide evidence that prerequisite knowledge is sufficiently current to support successful academic and/or clinical performance. Thus, students with dated courses may be asked to repeat such courses whether or not they have been used to fulfill requirements of another degree.

Thesis/Non-Thesis Option

Candidates may elect to complete a six-hour thesis in psychology in addition to the minimum 64 semester hours required for the degree. The topic of the thesis must be acceptable to the student’s thesis committee. Candidates electing the thesis option must comply with the standards specified in the Guide to Thesis and Dissertations: Preparation and Electronic Submission, available on the Graduate Programs website, http://www.astate.edu/college/graduate-school/thesis/.

Supervised Internship

Supervised internship requirements include a minimum of 1200 clock hours (i.e., 600 clock hours per semester). A minimum of 600 clock hours must be completed in a school setting. The student is responsible for securing the internship with assistance and approval of the committee and the faculty members assigned to the course. A completed, signed, and dated Supervised Internship Agreement/Memorandum of Understanding must be finalized before the initiation of the experience.

Candidates enrolled in a program of study that leads to professional licensure in psychology or counseling will complete supervised internship experiences that are consistent with state and/or national requirements/standards.

Comprehensive Examinations

A written comprehensive examination consisting of the Praxis School Psychologist examination must be completed in the last academic year of the program during the fall semester of PSY 782V Supervised Internship. Committee evaluation of the examination will result in a recommendation for graduation, a requirement of additional coursework or assignment(s) prior to repeating the comprehensive examination, repeating the comprehensive exam, or removal from the program as specified by Graduate Programs.

Program of Study

Candidates for the Ed.S. degree with a major in Psychology and Counseling who wish to seek a license from the Arkansas DESE must take and achieve a passing score on the Praxis School Psychologist examination which is also the comprehensive examination. The candidate must arrange for a score to be sent to Arkansas State University and must provide a copy of the individual score report to the school psychology coordinator.

School Psychology Track

The School Psychology Track of the Specialist degree program requires a minimum of 33 hours beyond the master’s degree or 67 hours beyond the baccalaureate degree. The program of study is specifically designed to educate future school psychologists so that graduates have expert skills in databased decision making, assessment, intervention (including prevention), consultation, research, and program planning, and evaluation to work with students, teachers, administrators, Form Revised: 08/06/2019 12 parents, and other professionals. Preparation is focused on comprehensive service delivery to meet the complex needs of the diverse clientele that is served. The structure of the program is based on the professional standards established by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). Program requirements are also consistent with licensure standards set by the Arkansas DESE. The program of study has been accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and Arkansas DESE. The curriculum is based on the Practitioner/Professional Practice model and the Pragmatic model which emphasize professional or clinical practice of the discipline and alignment with state department of education and NASP Standards for Graduate Preparation of School Psychologists. Social cognitive theory, evidence-based practices, and professional accountability are stressed. Consistent with NASP data-based decision making, assessment, intervention (including prevention and crisis intervention), consultation, research, program planning and evaluation, and professional development are emphasized in addition to applicable laws, ethical principles, and codes of conduct. Graduates are well equipped to draw upon strong foundations in psychology and education when providing direct and indirect services to meet the academic, social, and emotional needs of all students.

Students who complete the School Psychology Track of the program are required to complete and earn a passing score on the Praxis School Psychologist examination in order to be awarded the Ed.S. Degree in Psychology and Counseling. A passing score on this exam is required for licensure as a School Psychology Specialist (SPS) by the Arkansas DESE and national certification as Nationally Certified School Psychologists (NCSP) through the NASP.

Additional information about the School Psychology Track can be obtained from the School Psychology Handbook, program faculty, and from the following Department of Psychology and Counseling website, http://www.astate.edu/college/education/departments/psychology-and-counseling/.