Dec 07, 2024  
2011-2012 CU Denver Catalog 
    
2011-2012 CU Denver Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

School Psychology EdS/Licensure


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Program Leader: Franci Crepeau-Hobson
Office: Lawrence Street Center, 1113
Phone: 303-315-6315
Fax: 303-315-6349
E-mail: education@ucdenver.edu
Website: www.ucdenver.edu/education/schoolpsychology

 

Faculty

Information about faculty in the school psychology program is available online at www.ucdenver.edu/education.

Degree

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The educational specialist degree in school psychology is a 75 graduate semester-hour program that leads to licensure in school psychology by the Colorado Department of Education, national certification in school psychology by the National Association of School Psychologists Certification Board and the educational specialist degree (EdS) in school psychology.

This NASP-approved program allows students to create individual plans for meeting program requirements on a full- or part-time basis, during summer and academic year terms and during evening and weekend hours.

The school psychology faculty have adopted a culturally responsive preventative model of school mental health services. Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

  • screen for and recognize the early warning signs of social, emotional or academic risk, distinguishing between these and the typical development of infants, children and adolescents (birth–age 21)
  • communicate effectively and consult collaboratively with students, parents, school professionals and community leaders to enhance the academic and mental health skills of students
  • incorporate data-based decision making through formal and informal assessment procedures and planning interventions that enhance students’ cognitive, social-emotional and behavioral competencies
  • plan, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of preventative and remedial therapeutic interventions that strengthen students’ mental health and academic skills
  • advocate for children and families through the application of legal, ethical and professional standards for practice

 

Bilingual School Psychologist Concentration Option

This specialization provides School Psychology students with the knowledge and skills to effectively serve English language learners in the school setting. In addition to the two 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

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Successful applicants to the school psychology (SPSY) program will have obtained a minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA and will score at least 1000 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, a personal statement that outlines their reasons for pursuing a degree in school psychology at CU Denver, and three letters of recommendations. Applicants meeting these minimum standards will be invited to a half-day group interview that includes a program orientation, and a writing assignment.

Application materials are available by calling the Student Services Center at 303-315-6300 or coming to Lawrence Street Center, Suite 701. All materials must be submitted to the Student Services Center in one complete packet by the appropriate deadline—January 15 for fall semester. Application materials include the following:

  • part I of the application for admissions
  • tuition classification form
  • $50 application fee (make checks payable to the University of Colorado Denver)
  • letter of intent
  • three letters of recommendations (in sealed and signed envelopes)
  • two official transcripts from each higher education institution attended (in the original, sealed envelope)
  • official GRE scores sent directly to the University of Colorado Denver
  • oath and consent
  • fingerprint affidavit

 

Requirements for the Educational Specialist Degree in School Psychology and Licensure


Students will complete course work in child development, learning and cognition, academic interventions, legal and professional issues, assessment, crisis intervention, counseling and other direct, interventions and consultation. Specific course requirements include one prerequisite course, 20 graduate courses, including one elective and 15 graduate semester hours (1700 clock hours) of supervised experiences. Prerequisites include an undergraduate or graduate course in tests and measurement (i.e., RSEM 5100  or RSEM 7110 ).

Students will complete the following core course work:

Total: 75 Hours


The education specialist in school psychology degree also requires satisfactory completion of two professional portfolios (pre-internship and EdS) demonstrating mastery of the program objectives and passing scores (≥ 165) on the PRAXIS specialty exam in school psychology.

Professional Expectations


All students in the SPSY program are expected to show a strong commitment to the program and to maintain a high academic, professional, ethical standards and a sensitivity to diversity. Inappropriate or unprofessional conduct is cause for discipline or dismissal from the program.

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