Program Overview

School Psychology Graduate Program Overview

The School Psychology Program at Syracuse University prepares students to engage in research and practice in order to meet the needs of children in schools and other child-related settings. The program is committed to providing high-quality doctoral training that prepares students to meet the needs of children both directly and indirectly by working with parents, teachers, and other direct care providers.

Program Description

The program adheres to the scientist-practitioner training model, encouraging students to be data-based problem solvers, to seek converging information when making professional decisions, and to evaluate the outcomes of their services, while engaging in actions that indicate respect for and understanding of cultural and individual differences and diversity.

Admission Requirements

• Applications are considered for the fall term only, and the deadline for receipt of the completed application is December 1.
• The program receives approximately 40 to 50 applications per year for three to four openings.
• Most students entering the school psychology program have had an undergraduate major in either psychology or neuroscience.
• Only full-time students are considered for admission.
• Prior involvement in independent research (e.g., paper presentations) as well as mental health or education-related services (e.g., supervisor evaluations) is recommended.

Application Process

• Applications are due no later than December 1.
• Application requirements include but are not limited to:
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Personal Statement of Purpose (indicate at least one faculty member you are interested in working with)
  • Resume or Curriculum Vitae
• All application materials must be submitted via the online application for graduate study.

Accreditation

The school psychology program is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA).

Program Outcomes

• Completion of the program satisfies the current requirements for certification and licensure in New York State.
• The residency requirements for the program include at least one year in full-time residence at Syracuse University and at least two years of full-time study at Syracuse University.
• A minimum of three years total of full-time study is required for the doctoral degree.

Financial Support

• The Department of Psychology makes a determined effort to provide financial support for all graduate students in good standing.
• Financial support consists of tuition scholarship, assistantships that provide a competitive stipend, research funding, and the opportunity for summer assistantships.
• Students receive 24 hours of remitted tuition per year, up to 90 credits in total across the span of the graduate career, which funds the full PhD program of study.
• The tuition scholarship does not cover the costs of student fees or student insurance.

Doctoral Training

• The education and training offered in the School Psychology Program is sequential, cumulative, graded in complexity, and designed to prepare students for further education and professional practice in health service psychology.
• The Ph.D. requires a minimum of 90 credits, including up to 18 thesis/dissertation credits, as well as 6 credits of internship.
• All students are required to complete a masters thesis upon completion of approximately 30 hours of graduate work unless they enter the program with a completed thesis or a masters degree.
• Students who completed a masters thesis elsewhere will be required to complete a pre-doctoral project.
• Formal advancement to doctoral candidacy follows the successful completion of a comprehensive exam, which includes two levels: (1) professional examination assessing broad and general preparation for entry level practice; and (2) integrative program examination assessing research preparation and broad and general preparation for the recognized specialty practice.
• All students are required to complete a doctoral dissertation, and their doctoral dissertation proposal must be defended prior to beginning the pre-doctoral internship, which is a year-long, organized training program that is designed to provide students with a planned, programmed, sequence of training experiences associated with the practice of psychology and is satisfactory in quality, breadth, scope, and nature.

Diversity in School Psychology

• Our doctoral program seeks to prepare students to be sensitive to issues of inclusion and diversity in all aspects of their culturally competent work.
• The Syracuse University School Psychology doctoral program is committed strongly to promoting diversity with respect to race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status and age.
• We support strongly Syracuse University's institutional commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Research Support

• The department offers a research fund to support the research and professional development of each student.
• These funds can be used for the collection or analysis of data, to attend a scientific conference or workshop, or other purposes that will enhance student training.

Cost of Living Comparison

• Syracuse is a very affordable city.
• We encourage you to use a cost of living comparison (like the one at this site) to compare Syracuse to other cities.