the School Psychology
Program
at Texas A & M - Commerce
Program Overview
The Department of Psychology and Special Education at Texas A&M University-Commerce first offered degree programs in School Psychology in the fall of 1978. Subsequent to the advent of state licensure and the adoption of national credentialing standards, the School Psychology curriculum and program requirements have been re-evaluated and extensively modified. The current master's degree program is consistent with the requirements published by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists for the Licensed Specialist in School Psychology (LSSP) and the National Association of School Psychologists for the Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP). Upon completion of the revised 63 hour degree program, graduates are eligible for licensure in the state of Texas as a LSSP and at the national level as a NCSP. The 63 hour degree program includes 6 hours of practicum and 6 hours of internship. The remaining 51 academic course hours are in the content areas of psychological foundations, research and statistics, educational foundations, assessment, intervention, and professional and legal issues.
What is a school psychologist? (NASP, 2003)
School psychologists help children and youth succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. They collaborate with educators, parents, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments for all students that strengthen connections between home and school.
School psychologists work with students individually and in groups. They also develop programs to train teachers and parents regarding effective teaching and learning strategies, effective techniques to manage behavior at home and in the classroom, working with students with disabilities or with special talents, abuse of drugs and other substances, and preventing and managing crises. In addition, most school psychologists provide the following services.
Consultation
- Collaborate with teachers, parents, and administrators to find effective solutions to learning and behavior problems.
- Help others understand child development and how it affects learning and behavior.
- Strengthen working relationships between teachers, parents, and service providers in the community.
Evaluation
- Evaluate eligibility for special services.
- Assess academic skills and aptitude for learning.
- Determine social-emotional development and mental health status.
- Evaluate learning environments.
Intervention
- Provide psychological counseling to help resolve interpersonal or family problems that interfere with school performance.
- Work directly with children and their families to help resolve problems in adjustment and learning.
- Provide training in social skills and anger management.
- Help families and schools manage crises, such as
death, illness, or community trauma.
Prevention
- Design programs for children at risk of failing at school.
- Promote tolerance, understanding, and appreciation of diversity within the school community.
- Develop programs to make schools safer and more effective learning environments.
- Collaborate with school staff and community agencies to provide services directed at improving psychological and physical health.
- Develop partnerships with parents and teachers to promote healthy school environments.
Research and Planning
- Evaluate the effectiveness of academic and behavior management programs.
- Identify and implement programs and strategies to improve schools.
- Use evidence-based research to develop and/or recommend effective interventions.
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