School Psychology
Established in 1969, Texas State’s school psychology program offers comprehensive training and preparation of school psychologists. The program is approved by both the National Association of School Psychologists and the International School Psychology Association, and the on-campus clinic provides supervised training for assessment for autism, learning disabilities, and other conditions.
The Texas State school psychology program prepares students to become skilled clinicians and problem-solvers in a dynamic, hands-on learning environment.
Contact The Graduate College for general questions about getting started with your application, funding your degree, and more.
If you have program-specific questions after reviewing the program details, we encourage you to contact the following:
Graduate Advisor
Dr. Paul B. Jantz
pj16@txstate.edu
512.245.8682
Education Building (ED), Room 4033
Advisor Support
Kassi Redwine
kr1352@txstate.edu
512.245.2531
Academic Services Building South (ASBS), Room 306
“I found the program to be comprehensive, and the concepts are repeated across varying contexts in different classes. The professors are supportive, genuinely interested in student learning and want to ensure well-qualified graduates.”
— Kristy Bassili, S.S.P. ’16
Course Work
The 69-hour specialist in school psychology degree includes 600 hours of practicum and a 1,200-hour professional internship. Course work in the areas of school-based psychoeducational assessment, counseling, and consultation build competencies for professional practice as a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology (LSSP). The program offers related training in the areas of brain-behavior relationships, the educational needs of culturally and linguistically diverse learners, and the assessment of social, behavioral, and emotional functioning. Graduates are eligible to apply for licensure from the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists and certification as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist from the National School Psychology Certification Board.
| Degree | Hours | Thesis Option | Minor Option |
|---|---|---|---|
| S.S.P. | 69 | Non-Thesis | Composite Minor School Psychology required |
The program takes pride in its focus on individual student success by offering opportunities for individual advising, bilingual training for Spanish-speakers, student-faculty research collaboration and student presentations at conferences.
Program Mission
The Texas State school psychology program strives to prepare highly skilled and competent school psychologists through an educational experience aimed at engaging students and facilitating critical thinking. The program emphasizes holistic data-based decision-making to provide exemplary service in meeting the educational and psychological needs of children. Rigorous training in assessment, intervention, and family-school consultation prepares students to be effective interventionists and versatile practitioners of school psychology. Faculty members are committed to providing opportunities for the continual professional growth and development of graduate students.
Program Faculty
Texas State school psychology faculty members are active in applied and theoretical research. Faculty frequently publish and present research on diverse topics including:
- counseling and interventions for children with affective disorders
- impact of the family environment on child psychopathology
- early predictors of school success and difficulties
- school psychology training/professional development
- applied ethical decision-making
- school-family collaboration
- school-based assessment and intervention for children with traumatic brain injury
- pervasive developmental disorders
- bilingual school psychology
Career Options
School psychologists provide services in consultation, evaluation, academic and behavioral intervention, prevention, and program planning and evaluation. They also develop programs to train teachers and parents about effective teaching and learning strategies and management of behavior at home and in the classroom. School psychologists work with students with disabilities or special talents, address substance abuse, and collaborate in crisis prevention and management.
Application Process
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Application Deadline This program has a flexible deadline, which means applications received after the posted deadline may be reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis, with no guarantees for admission consideration. |
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Funding Information Learn more about the Partnering Assessment and Intervention Responsiveness in Interdisciplinary Teams (PAIR-IT) advanced degree training program, which offers fully-funded tuition, additional support (e.g., textbooks, laptop), conference travel opportunities, school-based practica and internships, faculty mentoring, and interdisciplinary experiences. |
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Decision Timeline This program reviews applications on a rolling basis. |
Application Requirements
The items required for admission consideration are listed below. Additional information for applicants with international credentials can be found on our international web pages.
Application Fee
- $55 nonrefundable application fee
OR - $90 nonrefundable application fee for applications with international credentials
Review important information about application fees.
Transcripts & GPA
- baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited university
- a copy of an official transcript from each institution where course credit was granted
- minimum 3.0 GPA in your last 60 hours of undergraduate course work (plus any completed graduate courses)
- background course work in:
- Abnormal Psychology (or equivalent course)
- Developmental Psychology (or equivalent course such as Lifespan Development)
- Statistics (or equivalent course)
Review important information about transcripts. Official transcripts, sent directly from your institution, will be required if admission is granted.
GRE Scores
- official GRE (general test only) required with competitive scores in the verbal reasoning and quantitative reasoning sections
The GRE may be waived if you hold a master's or doctoral degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. If you hold a master's or doctoral degree (or the equivalent thereof) from an accredited international institution, the GRE may be waived on an individual basis.
Review important information about official test scores.
Documents
- departmental application
- resume/CV including work and volunteer experience, organizations, interests and hobbies, and honors and awards
- statement of purpose (2–3 pages, double-spaced) addressing the following:
- your professional goals
- why you are pursuing training in School Psychology rather than in other mental health disciplines (e.g. school counseling, clinical psychology, marriage and family counseling)
- your major strengths and weaknesses with respect to the School Psychology program and considering your total application?
- any elements of your application that do not meet the preferred criteria (e.g., GRE score, grade point average, etc.) Read additional information below.
- three letters of recommendation
Review important information about documents.
TOEFL, PTE, or IELTS Scores
Applicants are required to submit TOEFL, PTE, or IELTS scores that meet the minimum program requirements below unless they have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher from a regionally accredited U.S. institution or the equivalent from a country on our exempt countries list.
- official TOEFL iBT scores required with a 78 overall
- official PTE scores required with a 52 overall
- official IELTS (academic) scores required with a 6.5 overall and
- minimum individual module scores of 6.0
This program does not offer admission if the scores above are not met.
Review important information about official test scores.