Completion of the 66-credit Master of Science program in School
Psychology allows the student to qualify for a provisional New York
State Certificate that authorizes practice as a school
psychologist. This certificate is valid for five years from the
date of issuance; with the accumulation of two years of experience
as a school psychologist, a permanent certificate is issued in the
field of pupil personnel services. The program is offered at the
Queens and Oakdale campuses.
Although the M.S. program has been designed to train the student
for professional practice, it is academically oriented as well and
provides sound preparation for further graduate work.
The program will prepare graduates to:
Demonstrate effective consultation and
collaboration skills, using consultative models for
problem-solving.
- Demonstrate satisfactory performance in working individually
with parents, teachers, or the schools to address a student’s
behavioral, social/emotional, psychological, or academic
difficulties.
- Justify the reason for a referral and indicate the different
perspectives of the school administration, teachers, parents, and
child.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the community resources and
assist with recommendations.
- Communicate assessment conclusions and recommendations to other
agencies.
Demonstrate efficient development of
cognitive/academic skills.
- Demonstrate competency in constructing Individual Education
Programs (IEPs),
- Conduct Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBAs) by working
directly with children to remediate areas of academic
deficiency.
Demonstrate understanding of
student/client socialization and life skills
development.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the diagnostic criteria for varied
psychological disorders and their long-term implications
- Demonstrate knowledge of the framework for conceptualizing
behavior and the strategies used to increase adaptive behaviors in
children/adults.
Demonstrate knowledge of cultural and
linguistic diversity and its impact on the many functions of the
school psychologists.
Demonstrate understanding of school and
systems organization, policy development, and climate.
- Demonstrate knowledge of responsibilities, impact of the
profession, ethical standards, and legal issues that need to be
considered in the practice of school psychology
- Identify strengths and barriers in the school system and the
community that may have an impact on the efficacy of an
intervention.
Demonstrate effective skills in
prevention, crisis intervention, and mental health.
- Demonstrate skills in early identification and prevention of
behavioral and academic problems.
- Demonstrate competency in administering intellectual, academic,
personality, behavioral, family and systemic assessment
instruments, and in conducting classroom observations.
- Score assessment instruments and integrate findings in a
psychological report.
- Demonstrate proficiency in using data to develop interventions
and recommendations through direct and indirect learning
experiences
- Demonstrate competency in making treatment and placement
recommendations based on the assessment data.
- Write reports that present, integrate, interpret assessment
data, and offer recommendations.
Demonstrate effective collaboration
between school, home, and community.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the impact of various ecologies on
student learning, using a multi-systemic approach.
- Demonstrate competency in providing feedback on the results of
evaluations and recommendations to parents, teachers and when
appropriate, the child.
- Demonstrate skills in consulting with parents and
teachers.
Demonstrate skills in research and program
evaluation.
- Demonstrate skills in critical evaluation of research in a
specific area.
- Demonstrate knowledge and skills in using information
technology in research and course work.
- Evaluate the psychometric properties of various academic,
intellectual, and behavioral assessment instruments and
psychotherapeutic interventions.
- Demonstrate effective selection of assessment strategies,
inventories, and interviewing techniques to complete a
comprehensive psychological evaluation.
Demonstrate an understanding of school
psychology practice and development.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the ethical and legal standards of the
profession and of ethical practice.
- Demonstrate strategies for resolution of ethical conflicts that
may occur in providing psychological services.
- Participate in professional seminars