The mission of the School Psychology Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) program at Michigan State University is to equip school psychologists with the knowledge, skills and dispositions necessary to provide quality psychological services to students in school settings. The program includes a planned sequence of course work in school psychology and supporting disciplines, complemented by practica and internship experiences. The program brings a developmental and systems approach to learning that focuses on the complex needs of learners in the context of families and schools.
NATIONAL STANDARDS PROGRAM UPDATE
The Ed.S. program is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), and the scope and sequence of the program is aligned with NASP standards. Students receive the training necessary to become both a Certified School Psychologist in Michigan, as well as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP).
Our vision for training and practice in school psychology is informed by the Blueprint for School Psychology, published by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).
PROGRAM UPDATE 2022-2023
EdS Interview Day will be on February 24, 2023 ONLINE. Please check our Apply page for more details.
Funding and Training Opportunity 2023-2024
Read about the new fellowship opportunity in the Michigan State University College of Education. The fellowship—Hybrid Interdisciplinary Training to Address High Intensity Needs for Students with Learning Disabilities, or Project Hi2LD—provides over 2 years of in-state tuition (plus funds for travel and technology) for individuals to earn their M.A. and Ed.S. degrees in school psychology.
We prepare School Psychologists for…
FOUNDATIONAL KNOWLEDGE
Get deep knowledge of child development, school and family systems and individual differences in behavior.
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
Obtain the skills necessary for competent delivery of mental health services in school settings.
RESEARCH AND INQUIRY
Learn to consume and disseminate research effectively that is applicable in school settings.
PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
Collaborate with others in the delivery of services within school settings according to ethical and legal guidelines.
Defining Features of MSU’s School Psychology Program
- We view the science and practice of school psychology as grounded in the knowledge of psychological development as well as an understanding of the social contexts in which development occurs.
- We view research and practice as inextricably related.
- We strive to develop future leaders committed to equitable and just schools that promote the development and well-being of all children and their families.
Three pillars of the program
COMMUNITIES OF PRACTICE
Each semester, students participate in authentic communities of practice through practicum placements. The majority of courses involve field-based assignments so students have hands-on experience in authentic settings.
CURRICULUM WITH DEVELOPMENTAL & CONTEXTUAL PERSPECTIVE
The curriculum is carefully structured to support an ecological approach to school psychology, in which students learn theory, research and practices of population-based (school- and classroom-wide) and prevention-oriented services prior to learning individually-oriented ones.
SCHOLARSHIP & INQUIRY
Learn within a community of scholars in one of the best colleges of education in the country. We train students to actively and effectively consume, summarize and disseminate research through both their own course work and their practice in the schools.
