School Psychology Programs in Los Angeles, Irvine, San Diego and San Francisco

There are currently 5.5 million school-age children attending 8,000 schools in California. The need for school psychologists was formally mandated in the 1970s with the passage of Public Law 94-142, requiring that all children with special needs be evaluated, provided with the appropriate support and placed in the least restrictive learning environments possible.

The Doctor of Psychology in Educational Psychology program is designed to meet these needs, providing both assistance to children with special needs and a rewarding career to those who choose the profession of educational psychology. Alliant International University’s Irvine, Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco Campuses offer a five-year program leading to a PsyD in Educational Psychology: School Psychology Emphasis, with a master’s degree and PPS credential awarded after the second and third year in School Psychology.

The PsyD in Educational Psychology program is offered in an “executive format” for working professionals, with classes meeting on evenings and weekends. It involves coursework, passage of two doctoral-level comprehensive examination (coursework & professional practice*) (*starting with the entering class in the fall of 2010), completion of a PsyD project, and additional research/applied work.

The program is accredited by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC).

Eligibility for the PsyD in Educational Psychology

This PsyD program is open to applicants who already hold (or are in the process of completing) a master’s degree in school psychology and who either hold a PPS School Psychology Credential or are in the process of completing it. School psychology interns are also eligible. Credentialed school psychologists who currently practice with a master’s-level degree and wish to obtain a doctoral degree will find this three-year program and study format ideally suited to their goals. The program typically takes three years to complete.

Qualifying students who already have a PPS Credential in School Psychology can enter the five-year program starting with the third year. To be admitted, students must meet admissions requirements for Alliant International University, HSOE General Graduate Admissions Requirements  and requirements for the Master of School Psychology and MA plus PPS program  .

A separate, two-year program in School Psychology is also offered, which leads to a master’s degree (43 semester units). An additional 17 units (7 units of coursework and practicum, and 10 units of a 1200 hour internship), 60 total semester units, will lead to a PPS School Psychology Credential. To be admitted, students must meet admissions requirements for Alliant International University, HSOE General Graduate Admissions Requirements  and Doctorate in Educational Psychology (PsyD) Admissions .

 

Content and Pacing of the Program

During the first two years of the Advanced Standing PsyD program, students take advanced theory and assessment skills courses as well as advanced school-based research design, program development and evaluation, psychopharmacology, and developmental psychopathology courses. In addition, during each of the six semesters, students will take a course in a special interest area where they will obtain professional writing experience and exposure to APA format. These special focus areas will help expose PsyD students to a diverse array of topics within the domain of applied educational psychology.

At the end of the second year, students will begin to formulate concepts for their PsyD projects within the context of a Doctoral Project Seminar. Students are expected to complete their doctoral project by the end of the third year. The third years comprised of work on doctoral projects, two professional roles courses, and two special focus area courses, plus an optional doctoral-level internship.

School Psychology Areas of Study and Competencies

Professional Skills

Professional skills courses develop applied competencies of psychologists working in a school or community setting. These courses include neuro-psychological and psycho-educational assessment of children and adolescents, psychological and behavioral interventions, crisis management in the classroom and consultation in educational systems.
 

Professional Roles

A two-semester internship combined with two courses in professional roles for school psychologists forms the third-year curriculum of the three-year program. The supervised internships promote integration of research and theory through application of knowledge in local school psychology settings. Many of the courses have a special focus on culturally diverse students.
 

Applied Research

As qualitative research skills are developed in the school psychology doctoral program, students learn the basic principles of school-based research design, program development and evaluation, as well as formulation and implementation of the PsyD project.
 

Professional Concepts

Professional concepts courses focus on the theory and context of work in school psychology, including developmental psychopathology, socio-cultural/ human diversity issues within school and child psychology, as well as psychopharmacology and interdisciplinary group facilitation. Students also complete coursework in six focus areas.
 

Special Focus Areas

School psychologists work with children who have a wide range of special needs and who must function in a constantly changing, complex society. Appropriate/relevant special topics are continually researched and developed. Students will complete six special focus area courses, selected from list of many topics, which differ from campus to campus.

Some current topics include:

1. Adolescent Interventions
2. Multicultural Counseling
3. Pediatric psychology
4. Infant and preschool mental health, including assessment and intervention
5. Child neuropsychology
6. Provision of services for children and adolescents in alternate placements
7. Identification of Autism Spectrum Disorders