School Psychology

Return to: School of Education & Human Development

Program Leader: Bryn Harris, PhD
Office: Lawrence Street Center, 1114
Phone: 303-315-6315
Email: bryn.harris@ucdenver.edu
Website: https://education.ucdenver.edu/academics/doctoral/detail/School-Psychology-PsyD

Faculty

Information about faculty in the school psychology program is available online at: https://education.ucdenver.edu/about-us/faculty-directory/-in-category/categories/sehd/program-areas/school-psychology

Degree

The doctor of psychology (PsyD) degree in school psychology is a 100 graduate semester-hour program that leads to eligibility for licensure as a school psychologist by the Colorado Department of Education and licensure as a psychologist by the Colorado State Board of Psychologist Examiners.

The PsyD program at CU Denver is currently Accredited, on Contingency by the American Psychological Association (see the APA Accreditation website for further details). The program is also approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). The PsyD training program aligns with accreditation standards and the following domains of psychology: affective, biological, cognitive, and developmental aspects of behavior; data-based decision-making and accountability; consultation and collaboration; interventions and mental health services to develop social and life skills; school-wide practices to promote learning; preventative and responses services; family-school collaboration services; diversity in development and learning; research and program evaluation; and legal, ethical and professional practice.

Consistent with a practitioner-scholar model, the PsyD Program in School Psychology prepares professional school psychologists through rigorous academic study integrated with intensive supervised clinical practice. The program includes an emphasis on the delivery of culturally-responsive mental health services in schools, as well as the development of advanced level practice skills. The Program stresses the application of scholarly findings to practice, as well as a respect for all aspects of diversity. Graduates of this program are license eligible for independent practice in schools, hospitals, child agencies and clinics, and other settings.

Bilingual School Psychologist Concentration Option

This optional specialization provides School Psychology students with the knowledge and skills to effectively serve bilingual learners in the school setting. In addition to the three required courses and practicum component, the Bilingual School Psychologist concentration consists of language proficiency assessments to ensure that school psychologists are adequately proficient in another language to provide psychoeducational services. CU Denver provides one of the few bilingual school psychology concentration areas in the country making our graduates even more desirable in their future endeavors.

Admission Requirements

Successful applicants to the school psychology (SPSY) program will have obtained a minimum 3.2 undergraduate GPA and a combined score of at least 300 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and a minimum score of a 3.5 on the written portion of the GRE. Applicants will also submit a current resume or vita, a personal statement that outlines their reasons for pursuing a degree in school psychology at CU Denver, and three letters of recommendation. The highest ranked applicants will be invited to a full-day group interview that includes a program orientation, a writing assignment, and a campus tour.

Application materials are available at: http://www.ucdenver.edu/admissions/Pages/index.aspx. All materials must be submitted online by December 1 for fall semester admissions. Application materials include the following:
$50 application fee for domestic students, $75 application fee for international students (may be paid via credit card, e-check or by mailing in a check)
letter of intent/personal statement
resume or vita
three letters of recommendation
one official transcript from each higher education institution attended (in the original, sealed envelope)
official GRE scores sent directly to the University of Colorado Denver. The GRE is a general scholastic aptitude test that yields separate verbal and quantitative scores. A minimum score of 300 (verbal score + quantitative score) with an approximate score of 3.5 on the written portion is required for consideration as an applicant. When taking the GRE use the code number for CU Denver, 4875, to ensure scores will be sent electronically to CU Denver. GRE scores are required for the School Psychology program unless you already hold a Doctoral Degree.

Program Requirements

School Psychology PsyD