Educational Psychology: Doctor of Psychology (PsyD)

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 PsyD in Educational Psychology program is offered in an “executive format” for working professionals, with classes meeting on evenings and/or weekends. It involves coursework, passage of two doctoral-level comprehensive examinations (Praxis 2 and a professional practice examination), completion of a professional portfolio, PsyD project, and additional research/applied work.

Program Outcomes

Develop supervision tools/matrixes to assess and evaluate trainees/supervisees’ professional skills and student’s supervisory style.
Develop supervision intervention plans, which are designed, developed, and implemented from derived assessment data.
Train supervisees/trainees how to apply educational psychology professional practice theory and concepts guided by an awareness, appreciation, and acknowledgement of the holistic child and their family within an educational context.
Demonstrate leadership in the establishment of effective communication processes as part of an interdisciplinary team in school and community settings.
Demonstrate expertise in oral and written communication and presentation skills with an emphasis on critical thinking skills.
Demonstrate expertise in applied research methods in addressing the current issues and needs of schools, school districts and communities.

Specialized Admissions Requirements

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.

Curriculum and Degree Requirements

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 series. Students are expected to complete their doctoral project by the end of the third year. By the end of the second year students will have completed their two comprehensive examinations (i.e. Oral Professional Practice and Praxis 2) and portfolio requirements. The third year is comprised of work on doctoral projects, two professional roles courses, two special focus area courses and an optional doctoral level internship for those interested in sitting for the Board of Psychology license exam.

A total of 50 units are required for the PsyD degree. A 10-unit pre-doctoral internship is optional.

Curriculum Plan

Courses are three units unless otherwise indicated.