DIRECTOR, SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM
Patrick S. O’Donnell, Psy.D.
(845) 575-3000, ext. 6016
Patrick.ODonnell@marist.edu

Mission and Objectives

The mission of Marist’s School Psychology Graduate Program is to prepare school psychologists as scientist-practitioners who provide effective and ethical services to a diverse range of students, families, and school professionals. The program follows the scientist-practitioner philosophy and trains candidates to understand, evaluate, utilize, and disseminate research that can be utilized as part of effective evidence‑based services provided in the schools. Today’s school psychologists must function as effective educational consultants, intervention strategists, and counselors in addition to their historical role as psychometricians. As a result, course content is continuously reviewed and adjusted to meet the changing dynamics in the field, New York State requirements, and NASP professional standards.

Marist College offers the MA degree in School Psychology. The MA in School Psychology is a 62-credit program that includes coursework, a practicum, and an internship. Following the New York State Education Department’s (NYSED) regulations, the academic qualifications for provisional certification as a school psychologist require a minimum of 60 semester hours of graduate study inclusive of a college-supervised internship in the field of school psychology. Within the total program of preparation as a school psychologist, the candidate must complete a master’s degree. Marist College’s 62-credit MA in School Psychology is NYSEDapproved and NASP-approved.

In addition to coursework, candidates must meet three New York State Education Department requirements during the first year of the program that are necessary for certification as a school psychologist. They must complete the Child Abuse Identification, Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE), and DASA seminars. Candidates must complete the NYS seminars and the required fingerprinting process before registering for practicum. Coursework continues through the second year while candidates complete a 300-hour practicum in the schools.

In the third year of the program, candidates register for the School Psychology Internship/Seminar; seminars meet on a weekly basis during both fall and spring semesters. While completion of all coursework is recommended before beginning the internship, a minimum of 53 credit hours must be completed prior to beginning the internship. Candidates must also pass the Praxis II Exam in School Psychology before registering for internship. Internships require 1,200 hours (5 days per week) within the school setting over the course of the school district’s academic year. The internship must be completed in a state-approved public school district. In addition to other conditions, the practicum and internship may not be completed in a school district where the candidate is employed. All field placements are assigned by the program and meet the conditions and requirements established by the program. Candidates in the School Psychology Program complete the internship in June and receive their degrees in August after successfully completing all program requirements.

Admissions Requirements

Admissions requirements for the MA in School Psychology are:

• an earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited college/university with a major in psychology or a closely related field;
• a minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.0 is preferred (based on a system where a 4.0 equals and A grade);
• undergraduate coursework in general psychology, statistics, and research methods in psychology. Coursework in undergraduate psychological testing is also preferred. A minimum grade of 3.0 in each of these courses is preferred;
• submission of a written statement of at least 500 words in response to a provided prompt.
• submission of three letters of recommendation from former faculty members or employment supervisors;
• an interview with School Psychology Faculty.

Degree Requirements

To qualify for the master’s degree in school psychology, a candidate must:

• complete all requirements not later than seven years after matriculation;
• complete a total of 62 credits as prescribed in the curriculum requirements, including an approved school psychology internship;
• earn a minimum passing grade of B in all courses (P in Practicum and Internships courses);
• maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average in graduate courses;
• pass each phase of the school psychology portfolio;
• complete NYS Child Abuse Identification, Project SAVE, and DASA seminars;
• complete NYS Fingerprinting process;
• pass the School Psychology Praxis II Examination using the NASP passing score for national certification as the passing criterion.

Portfolio

The Candidate Portfolio is compiled by the candidate throughout the three years of the School Psychology Graduate Program. One phase of the Candidate Portfolio is due by the end of the Spring semester each year and will be evaluated by the Portfolio Coordinator using the Candidate Portfolio Assessment System. The Candidate Portfolio serves as a representation of the candidate’s professional skills and tool for self-reflection on training and future goals. Candidates must pass each phase of the portfolio to progress to the next year in the program. If a candidate does not pass a phase of the portfolio by the beginning of the fall semester, the candidate will be deregistered from program courses.

Transfer Credits

Applicants to the MA in school psychology program who have earned graduate credits in psychology short of a master’s degree at other institutions will have their transcripts evaluated. Acceptance of credits will be determined using the transfer course advisement sheet. In addition to content and other requirements detailed on the sheet, a course grade of B or better is required for acceptance of any transfer credits. A maximum of 6 graduate credits can be transferred into the program from another accredited institution. Only courses completed within the past five years will be considered for transfer credit. No credit for field placements (practicum and/or internship) can be transferred into the program.

Advisement

The program director serves as the advisor for all master’s candidates. Candidates are encouraged to have regular meetings with their faculty advisor for purposes of discussing academic progress and planning.

Review of Student Performance: Retention, Remediation, and Dismissal

A minimum grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 in graduate courses attempted is a requirement for graduation. If at any time the candidate’s GPA falls below 3.0, the candidate will be sent a notification letter of academic review. Academic review will result in assignment of probationary status or dismissal.

If placed on probation, the candidate is expected to take immediate steps to raise the GPA. This can be done by (1) earning enough grades of B+ or A, or (2) retaking the course(s) in which a grade of B- or below was earned and achieving a B or better in this course. NOTE: while a grade of B in any subsequent course may raise a GPA that is below 3.0, it may not by itself be sufficient to raise the GPA to 3.0 or above.

A candidate is allowed up to 9 credit hours of work to raise the GPA above 3.0 after being placed on academic probation. If, while in the process of completing a portion of the subsequent 9 credit hours, grade calculations indicate that it is not possible to attain a GPA of 3.0 or higher, even if all 9 credit hours were to be completed, the student will be dismissed at that point in time. If, after attempting 9 credit hours, the GPA has not been raised to 3.0, the candidate will be dismissed from the program.

Candidates can earn one course grade of B- in a school psychology course without needing to repeat the course. If a candidate earns a grade of B- in any additional school psychology courses, they will need to repeat the courses before proceeding in the program. Any course grade less than a B- earned in any school psychology course will require repeating the course before proceeding in the program. A maximum of two courses can be repeated in the program. Due to the schedule of school psychology courses, repeating a course will result in the candidate’s progress through the program being delayed by one year. During that year, the candidate will be dismissed from the program and will need to apply for re-admission to the program. Re-admission to the program is not guaranteed and candidates who are re-admitted will be required to complete the program requirements in effect at the time of re-admission.

Probation or dismissal can also occur for non-academic reasons. The MA in School Psychology program educates and trains practitioners, and in this regard has a responsibility to safeguard the welfare of the public. In order to ensure community well-being, the department reserves the right to put on probation, or dismiss from the program, any candidate it judges to be ethically or psychologically unfit to function as a professional school psychologist. Such judgments can be made at any time during the program, but candidates will be advised as soon as faculty are aware of potential problems.

Graduate Assistantships

Graduate Assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis to full-time candidates. Assistants work with faculty in the School of Social & Behavioral Sciences and perform duties such as library and empirical research, tutoring students, assisting in organizing student activities, and related work. For further details, contact the Director of the School Psychology Program.