School Psychology

• Fully Accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).
• Approved "With Distinction" by the Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE).
• Candidates earn a MA in counseling and CAGS in school psychology in three years.
• Small cohorts of 12-15 candidates per year ensure the best in personalized learning.
• 100% of recent graduates report being "Mostly" or "Extremely" Satisfied with the graduate training they received in our program. 
• Financial aid is available, including graduate assistantships and funding through grants. 
• Courses are scheduled in the evenings during Fall and Spring semesters
• We have excellent partnerships with local school districts and field supervisors.
• We coordinate internship experiences in Year 3 to ensure that all candidates have a paid internship (minimum $10,000 stipend).
• The employment rate for program graduates is 100%.

School Psychology Program FAQs

Quotes From Recent Graduates:

"The professors are extremely knowledgeable, helpful, and friendly - easily the best part of the program. I still will, on occasion, reach out to professors for help with a situation at work.”

“Practicum and internship placements were well thought out and ensured a well-rounded experience at all grade levels.”

"My intern supervisor was extremely helpful and made sure I have a wide array of experiences within the school setting."

• A Career That Makes A Difference: School psychologists make a lasting difference in children's lives. They support students' ability to learn and teachers' ability to teach. They are experts in learning, behavior, mental health, and school systems (National Association of School Psychologists, 2023). 
• What School Psychologists Do: School psychologists apply expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally. They provide assessment, support, and intervention services to students; partner with families, teachers, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments; work with school administrators to improve school-wide policies; and collaborate with community providers to coordinate services for students (National Association of School Psychologists, 2023). 
• Strong Job Outlook: Demand for school psychologists is exceptionally strong and on the rise. School psychology is consistently rated among the 100 Best Jobs in the U.S. News and World Report. The national average salary for school psychologists is $87,550. The average salary for school psychologists in Rhode Island is $84,230, and the average salary in Massachusetts is $92,730 (U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 2022). More workforce and salary information can be found on the NASP website. 
• Learn More: Visit the National Association of School Psychologists website.

To be considered for admission, you must provide the following by Feb. 1:

1. A completed application form accompanied by a $50 nonrefundable application fee.
2. Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate records.
3. A résumé or curriculum vitae.
4. A professional goals essay.
5. Three letters of recommendation accompanied by candidate rating forms
6. Performance based evaluation.

Additional admissions criteria (strongly recommended):

• A minimum of three undergraduate or graduate courses in psychology (the admissions committee will consider experiences or coursework in the areas of child mental health or educational settings, in lieu of these requirements, on an individual basis).
• A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of B (3.00 on a 4.00 scale) in undergraduate course work, and/or a minimum GPA of 3.25 in previous graduate work. Applicants with undergraduate GPAs less than 3.00 will be considered upon submission of other evidence of academic potential.

Deadlines

The deadline to submit a complete application packet is Feb. 1. Materials must be postmarked by Feb. 1 to be reviewed. If materials are late your application packet will be considered in the next cycle (the following year).

• Application Deadline: Feb. 1
• Select Applicants Invited for Interview: March
• Notification of Acceptance Decision: March/April
• Earliest Admission Point: Fall Semester

Interview

After Feb. 1, application materials are reviewed and select applicants are invited for an on-campus interview (scheduled in March). Applicants receive official notification of their acceptance from the Rhode Island College Graduate School in April. 

Additional Questions? 

Please review our Frequently Asked Questions about the RIC school psychology program application requirements.

For general questions about applying to the program or to be connected with a current student in the program, please contact the school psychology graduate assistant.

For specific questions about applying as a C.A.G.S-only student, please contact the program director, Shannon Dowd-Eagle.

For questions related to submitting your online application materials, please contact Rosina Misuraca at 401-456-8896 or by email.

RIC's school psychology program is a three-year, entry-level professional training program designed to prepare school psychologists to be proficient in delivering psychological and psycho-educational services to children and youth in school settings. 

First Year: Foundational Knowledge Courses

Fall Semester:

• CEP 532: Theories and Methods of Counseling (3 hrs.)
• CEP 534: Quantitative Measurement and Test Interpretation (3 hrs.)
• CEP 601: Cognitive Assessment (3 hrs.)
• CEP 603: Professional School Psychology (3 hrs.)

Spring Semester:

• CEP 533: Psychology of students with Exceptionalities (3 hrs.)
• CEP 551: Behavioral Assessment and Intervention (3 hrs.)
• CEP 604: Psychoeducational Assessment and RTI (3 hrs.)
• TESL 539: Language Acquisition and Learning (3 hrs.)

Summer Semester:

• CEP 536: Biological Perspectives in Mental Health (3 hrs.)
• CEP 538: Clinical Practicum I (3 hrs.)
• CEP 531: Human Development Across Cultures (3 hrs.)
• CEP 537: Introduction to Group Counseling (3 hrs.)

Second Year: Practicum and Courses

Fall Semester:

• CEP 651: Academic Instruction, Intervention, and Supports (3 hrs.)
• CEP 675: Consultation and Collaboration in School and Community (3 hrs.)
• CEP 605: School Psychology Practicum (3 hrs.) *Two days per week in a school, supervised by a school psychologist, and the CEP 605 class is held on Thursday evenings.
• M.A. in Counseling – Comprehensive Examination

Spring Semester:

• CEP 554: Research Methods in Applied Settings (3 hrs.)
• CEP 602: Social Emotional Assessment and Intervention (3 hrs.)
• CEP 605: School Psychology Practicum (3 hrs.) *Two days per week in a school, supervised by a school psychologist, and the CEP 605 class on Thursday evenings.​
• ​SPED 534: Involvement of Parents and Families Who Have Children with Disabilities (3 hrs.)
• Submission of Training Portfolio

Third Year: Internship 

Fall Semester:

• CEP 629: Internship in School Psychology (6 hrs.) *Five days per week in a school, supervised by a school psychologist. The CEP 629 class is held on Friday afternoons.
• National School Psychology Examination: PRAXIS Exam

Spring Semester:

• CEP 629 –Internship in School Psychology (6 hrs.) *Five days per week in a school, supervised by a school psychologist. The CEP 629 class is held on Friday afternoons.
• Submission of Performance Portfolio

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Additional Information About Courses

• During Fall and Spring semesters, classes are scheduled once per week in the evenings from 4:00pm - 6:50 p.m. or 7:00pm - 9:50 p.m.
• Summer Sessions I and II classes are scheduled twice per week from 3:00pm - 6:35 p.m. or 7:00pm - 10:35 p.m.
• Most class formats are 100% in-person, but some are offered in a Hybrid format (half in-person, half online). 
• Sample plans of study for part-time or C.A.G.S.-only students can be found in the School Psychology Handbook.
• The program must be completed within six years. Candidates are allowed to attend part time in year one, but full-time attendance is required for years two and three.

Course Requirements

Course Descriptions

Field experiences provide opportunities for school psychology candidates to practice and master skills consistent with the reflective practitioner model of the FSEHD Conceptual Framework and NASP's Practice Model. Certified field supervisors and college-based faculty members oversee practicum and internship experiences. 

Practicum

During year two, candidates complete a full-year practicum experience in a supervised K-12 school setting. A minimum of 400 practicum hours (approximately two full days per week) must be completed by candidates. In addition to training in a school setting, year two candidates attend weekly seminars where field-based experiences are integrated with best practices in school psychology. 

Internship

During year three, candidates complete a full-year internship experience in a supervised K-12 school setting. A minimum of 1,200 internship hours (five full days per week), must be completed by candidates. In addition to training in a school setting, interns attend weekly seminars where field-based experiences are integrated with best practices in school psychology. 

Partnerships

The program has strong connections with regional school districts. Recent cooperating school districts include: Attleboro, Burrillville, Blackstone Valley Prep, Cranston, Coventry, Cumberland, Fall River, Providence, Woonsocket, Exeter-West Greenwich, Seekonk, Fairhaven, Somerset, Strategic Psychological Associates, and East Providence.

Additional Information

For more details about goals and objectives related to field experiences, refer to the School Psychology Handbook.