School Psychology (MEd/CAGS; CAGS) — Degree Requirements

Combined Master’s and Certificate in Advanced Graduate Study (MEd/CAGS)

Candidates for the combined MEd/CAGS in School Psychology are required to complete all coursework and other academic requirements for Massachusetts State Department of Education certification and national certification as school psychologists. Certification standards in both categories are mandatory, with no exceptions permitted.

The MEd/CAGS program requires 66 credits of coursework and field experiences, as well as three capstone experiences. Upon completion of forty-eight credits of approved coursework in the program and the passing of the written comprehensive examination, the matriculated student will be awarded the MEd degree. Before beginning the internship, the candidate must pass the literacy portion of the Massachusetts Test of Educator Licensure and complete an additional six credits of coursework. Completion of the CAGS further requires completion of the year-long internship, presentation of passing scores for the praxis exam in School Psychology, and submission of an acceptable professional portfolio. Students who fail the praxis exam twice may petition the Program Director to be allowed to substitute an alternate comprehensive exam for this requirement. Upon completion of the MEd/CAGS degrees and 1,200 hours of internship, the candidate will qualify for initial licensure as a school psychologist in Massachusetts and other states.

Course Requirements (51 cr.):

Graduate courses in research in psychology, ethical standards and professional issues in school psychology, cognitive and educational assessment and intervention (6 cr.), social and emotional assessment and intervention, remedial and preventive interventions, behavior and classroom management, abnormal psychology, neuropsychology, counseling theories and practice, individual counseling, group counseling, lifespan human development, consultation, multicultural counseling, school curriculum, and the teaching of reading. In individual cases, substitutions may be approved by the Program Coordinator.

SPY G 601 (Issues and Ethics in School Psychology) (3 cr., 25 hr. fieldwork)

SPY G 602 (Cognitive and Educational Assessment and Intervention I)

SPY G 603 (Cognitive and Educational Assessment and Intervention II)

SPY G 604 (Social, Emotional and Behavioral Assessment and Intervention)

SPY G 607 (Remedial and Preventive Individual and Systems Intervention)

SPY G 610 (Neuropsychological Theory and Practice in Education)

COUNSL 601 (Research and Evaluation in Psychology)

COUNSL 608 (Abnormal Psychology)

COUNSL 614 (Counseling Theory and Practice I)

COUNSL 617 (Child and Adolescent Counseling)

COUNSL 620 (Clinical Application of Human Development)

COUNSL 650 (Group Counseling for Children and Adolescents)

COUNSL 653 (Perspectives in Cross-Cultural Counseling)

SPE G 607 (Behavioral and Classroom Management)

SPE G 629 (Consultation and Interpersonal Skills I)

EDU G 642 (Organization of School Curriculum)

EDU G 646 (Understanding Reading: Principles and Practices)

For descriptions of Counseling, Special Education, and Education courses, please see those sections in this Bulletin.

Required field experiences (1,300 hr., 15 cr.):

SPY 685: Practicum (100 hr., 3 cr.) and

Two semesters of SPY 688: Internship, taken concurrently with SPY 691: Seminar (600 fieldwork hr. per semester, 6 credits per semester, a total of 1,200 hours and 12 credits).

Required capstones:

Master’s degree: Written comprehensive exam

CAGS: Portfolio, praxis exam in school psychology

Online offerings: Currently several courses are available online, including SPY 601, COUNSL 601, COUNSL 608, COUNSL 620, COUNSL 653, and SPE 629.

The Certificate of Advanced Graduate Study (CAGS) Program

The program of study leading to the CAGS in School Psychology may be undertaken separately from the master’s degree, as post-master’s professional graduate study in school psychology. The program is designed to enable individuals with advanced degrees to enhance their professional competence and/or satisfy state and national certification requirements. The program is suited to those with a master’s or doctorate in a related field, such as counseling, special education, teacher education, or clinical psychology, as well as to those who have completed a master’s-level program in school psychology.

A minimum of thirty credits of coursework, a passing score on of the literacy portion of the Massachusetts Test of Educator Licensure, completion of a 1,200-clock-hour internship, presentation of an acceptable professional portfolio, presentation of passing scores for the praxis exam in school psychology, and satisfaction of state and national certification standards are required for completion of the CAGS in School Psychology. Students who fail the praxis exam twice may petition the Program Director to be allowed to substitute an alternate comprehensive exam for this requirement.