School Psychology - Ph.D.

Program Overview

Kent State University's Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program in School Psychology emphasizes a scientist-practitioner model, preparing students for careers improving academic, social-emotional, and mental well-being of children and adolescents. Combining coursework, research, and practical experience, the program equips students to provide data-driven services and lead in educational and mental health settings.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The School Psychology Ph.D. program at Kent State University prepares students for a professional career in school psychology with a focus on improving children's academic performance, social-emotional development, mental health, and overall well-being. The program combines comprehensive coursework, research experience, and supervised on-site training experiences to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to make a difference in the lives of children and adolescents in various applied settings. The program emphasizes a scientist-practitioner model of training, which views school psychologists as data-oriented problem solvers and transmitters of psychological knowledge and skill. Students are expected to draw upon the scientific literature as a primary basis for professional practice and focus their research agendas to have meaningful implications for practice. The program emphasizes the provision of services through research-based practice and data-based decision making. Doctoral students gain competencies in providing school psychological services to individual children and youth, as well as in promoting and implementing systemic, preventative educational and mental health systems. The program prepares students to work as leaders in applied practice in educational and mental health settings.

Outline:

The program requires a minimum of 91 credit hours, including:

• Major Requirements:
• PSYC 70413 COGNITIVE NEUROPSYCHOLOGY (3 credits) or PSYC 70453 INTRODUCTION TO COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY (3 credits) or PSYC 70604 COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT (3 credits)
• PSYC 70950 HISTORY AND CONTEMPORARY SYSTEMS (3 credits)
• PSYC 71054 LEARNING AND CONDITIONING (3 credits) or PSYC 71350 PHYSIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY (3 credits)
• PSYC 71580 SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY (3 credits)
• RMS 85516 QUALITATIVE RESEARCH DESIGN (3 credits)
• SPSY 77892 ADVANCED PRACTICUM IN SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY (6 credits)
• SPSY 77998 INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH IN SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY (4 credits)
• SPSY 87992 DOCTORAL INTERNSHIP IN SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY (12 credits)
• Psychology (PSYC) Elective (3 credits)
• Culminating Requirement: SPSY 80199 DISSERTATION I (130 credits)
• Graduation Requirements:
• The total number of required credit hours in each student's Plan of Study/Residency Plan will vary based on previous graduate coursework, point of entry into the program, program area advisor input, and the school psychology program requirements.
• The minimum requirement for a doctoral degree is 60 credit hours beyond the master's degree.
• State/Federal background checks are required for all field-based experiences.

Careers:

• Psychologists, all other: 2.3% slower than the average, 19,800 number of jobs, $105,780 potential earnings
• Students are required to pass the ETS Praxis II School Psychologist test or the domain-specific School Psychology Ohio Assessment for Educators test to be eligible for licensure.
• The program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio.