Our programs aim to prepare professional school psychologists to advance equitable educational outcomes for PK-12 students. To prepare graduates to promote learning and mental and behavioral health for diverse students, our curriculum reflects a philosophical commitment to evidence-based practice, collaborative problem-solving, data-based decision-making and applied behavior analysis.
- Evidence-Based Practice. A commitment to evidence-based practice is foundational to school psychology practice. School psychologists engage in empirically supported practices by (a) conducting reliable and valid assessments that account for diversity factors and (b) recommending and applying interventions that have been subject to scientific analysis and shown to yield socially meaningful outcomes.
- Collaborative Problem-Solving. School psychologists utilize a collaborative problem-solving approach as the basis for all professional activities. They partner with students, educators, families, and others to provide a continuum of services that include assessment, intervention, consultation, and outcomes evaluation.
- Data-Based Decision Making. School psychologists utilize reliable and valid assessment data to (a) determine students’ eligibility for services, (b) design student and systems-level interventions, and (c) monitor students’ progress and evaluate program outcomes. School psychologists gather meaningful data to support the academic, social-emotional, and behavioral success of all students.
- Applied Behavior Analysis. School psychologists conduct functional assessments to inform the design of individually tailored, behavior-analytic interventions that promote meaningful improvements in students’ academic, social, emotional, and behavioral functioning. School psychologists collaborate with families and school-based teams to design, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions.
In alignment with these aims and philosophical commitments, our coursework addresses broad content areas such as:
- Academic, cognitive, and behavioral assessment
- Academic, social-emotional, and behavioral intervention
- Consultation and collaboration
- Progress monitoring and applied research
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion
- Ethical and legal standards in education and psychology