Frequently Asked Questions
by applicants to the school psychology program
- Is a teaching certificate required for admission into the program?
- Do I need to have a graduate degree (M.A. or Ed.S) to apply to the Ph.D. program?
- Does MSU require the Psychology GRE subject test for consideration for admission?
- Does the program make exceptions to the policy of needing 15 undergraduate credits in Education and Psychology?
- Do you offer a terminal masters program in School Psychology, in addition to the Ed.S. and Ph.D. programs?
- Approximately how many people are accepted to the School Psychology Program each year?
- Can I successfully complete the Ed.S. program on a part-time basis?
- Are any courses in the School Psychology program offered at MSU's extension sites or are all courses completed in Lansing?
- When will I know if I've been offered an interview and/or if I've been accepted?
- What might I expect from a financial package?
- On average, how long does it take to complete the degree?
- What resources are available to support graduate students?
- More questions about Comps?
- More questions about Advanced Practicum?
- More questions about Predoctoral Internship?
Is a teaching certificate required for admission into the program?
A teaching certificate is not required, however we strongly recommend experiences working with children, youth, and families in educational, community, or clinical settings.
Do I need to have a graduate degree (M.A. or Ed.S) to apply to the Ph.D. program?
No. In fact, the majority of students who have enrolled in the past few years have entered with only a Bachelor's degree. If you enter with a Masters degree, you may be able to waive selected courses.Does MSU require the Psychology GRE subject test for consideration for admission?
No. We do not require the subject matter test in Psychology for admission to either our Ed.S. or Ph.D programs in School Psychology.
Does the program make exceptions to the policy of needing 15 undergraduate credits in Education and Psychology?
While applicants without such coursework may still be considered, these students would probably need to take some additional courses in psychology to meet the prerequistites for some of the courses in our program. Contact the program directors with specific questions about the adequacy of your preparation for graduate study in School Psychology at MSU.
Do you offer a terminal masters program in School Psychology, in addition to the Ed.S. and Ph.D. programs?
We do not offer a terminal Masters degree at MSU. The Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree is the entry-level degree for School Psychology in the State of Michigan. Students are able to obtain a non-terminal MA in School Psychology as part of their Ed.S. or Ph.D. program. The MA does not enable students to practice as a school psychologist. Students must complete the Ed.S. or Ph.D. to be eligible for certification.
Approximately how many people are accepted to the School Psychology Program each year?
Annually we receive approximately 30-40 applications for the Ed.S. program and 30-40 for the Ph.D. program. On average, we accept 10 students into the Ed.S. program, of which 5 eventually enroll. For the Ph.D. program, we accept approximately 16 students and enroll 7-8.
Can I successfully complete the Ed.S. program on a part-time basis?
Students who take 4 courses each semester complete the Ed.S. degree in three years, including a year long internship. Because of the high number of courses required to complete the program, we strongly encourage students to be full-time. (Keep in mind that the University requires that the Ed.S. program be completed in 5 years.) We do have a few students who have completed the program on a part-time basis, taking two courses each semester. Most have entered the program with a Masters degree and have been able to waive selected courses, therefore they have had to take fewer courses overall. Students must also complete practicum experiences for which they are in the schools for a minimum of 2-8 hours per week (depending on the number of practice-based courses that semester) in addition to the semester-long integrated practicum (400 hours total). Finally, the most challenging aspect in attempting to complete the program on a part-time basis is completing the internship, as you would have to be able to complete 1200 hours on a full-time basis. At this time, we do not have financial support for Ed.S. students, so this should figure into your decision.
Are any courses in the School Psychology program offered at MSU's extension sites or are all courses completed in Lansing?
Nearly all of the coursework for the Ed.S. and Ph.D. in School Psychology needs to be completed on campus. One course, CEP 883, is taken completely on-line in the first summer.
When will I know if I've been offered an interview and/or if I've been accepted?
See Application Timeline for target dates.
"What might I expect from a financial package?
In the past, PhD students have received half-time assistantships for 4 years. Additional supports via training grants have been provided to both PhD and EdS students.
On average, how long does it take to complete the degree?
Students in the EdS Program take about 3 years to complete their degrees, including internship. Students in the PhD Program typically take 5 or 6 years to complete their degrees, including internship.
What resources are available to support graduate students?
There are many resources available on the MSU campus to support graduate students’ physical, emotional, spiritual, intellectual, occupational and social wellness (grad.msu.edu/wellness/Default.aspx). There are also graduate workshops available (grad.msu.edu/workshops) and many graduate student events (grad.msu.edu/events/). The Olin Health Center and the Counseling Center are also available for students (grad.msu.edu/wellness/partnerships.aspx).
