Education Specialist in School Psychology

Departmental Admission Standards

The School Psychology Program is committed to broadening diversity within the program. Students from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Students with permanent residence in North Dakota will receive priority consideration.

Prospective students must have/consider the following:

  1. Completion of a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
  2. Completion of Graduate Record Exam (GRE).
  3. Three letters of recommendation must be submitted as part of the application packet. 
  4. Students who apply to the School Psychology program should have a strong background either in education or psychology and preferably in both. Students with backgrounds from related fields will also be considered. 
  5. Completion of all admission requirements of the Graduate School at Minot State University. Students who have applied for admission by March 1st, for the next academic year, will be given priority consideration. Applications will be taken until the cohort is full. 

Academic Honesty

Academic honesty is at the core of any graduate program. Any behavior deemed as academically dishonest by the department will result in dismissal from the program. Academic dishonesty would include, but is not limited to, the following types of behaviors:

  1. Misrepresenting another individual’s work as one’s own, e.g., plagiarism.
  2. Copying from another student during an exam.
  3. Altering one’s exam after grading for the purpose of enhancing one’s grade.
  4. Submitting the same paper to more than one class.
  5. Use of any material not approved by the instructor during an exam.
  6. Turning in reports intended to be based on field collection data but, in fact, is not.
  7. Failure to respect the confidentiality of persons served or studied and to maintain the professional standards for ethical conduct as set forth in The Handbook of School Psychology published by the National Association of School Psychologists.

Academic Honesty Appeal Policy

Dismissal for academic dishonesty can be appealed. A student who wishes to appeal his/her dismissal should follow the appeal process established by the Graduate School and listed in this catalog under Graduate School Policies and Regulations.

Grading Policy

Students are advised that a grade of “C” in a required course for the Education Specialist in School Psychology degree is considered a failing grade.

Grade Appeal Policy

The process and conditions for a grade appeal follow the definitions and schedules of the Graduate School. All requests for review of a grade must be submitted according to the timelines established by the Graduate School for this process.

Written Qualifying Comprehensive Exams

Students will demonstrate their knowledge of school psychology through written qualifying and comprehensive exams. These exams will be taken in the fall of the student’s first year of graduate work and in the spring of the students second year.

Required Courses (70 SH Minimum)

ED 540Reading: Advance Diag and Remed2
ED 541Clinical Practice Remedial Read2
SPED 517Methods for Mild Disabilities3
SPED 510Law and Policy in Special Education3
PSY 503Statistics I3
PSY 511Human Growth and Development3
PSY 512Research Design and Measurement4
PSY 514Individual Cognitive Assessment4
PSY 515Academic Assessment4
PSY 518Psychopathology of Children3
PSY 525Role and Function of School Psychologist3
PSY 533Social and Behavioral Interventions in School3
PSY 583Diversity in the Schools3
PSY 584School Psychology Practicum I3
PSY 585School Psychology Practicum II3
PSY 586Clinical Experience3
PSY 590Counseling Skills3
PSY 593School Safety, Crisis Preparation, and Crisis Response3
PSY 594Consultation and Collaboration3
PSY 597Thesis (optional)3
PSY 598Internship6
PSY 599Internship6
Total Hours70

Faculty

Graduate Faculty

Penny Craven, Ph.D., NCSP
Director of the School Psychology Program

Tamara Waters-Wheeler, Ed.S., NCSP
Internship Coordinator

Shanna Morlock, Ph.D., NCSP

Ethan Valentine, Ph.D.

Elyzia Powers, Ph.D.