The Doctorate of Philosophy with a major in School Psychology is accredited by the American Psychological Association.
*Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to the Commission on Accreditation:

Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 1st Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20002
Phone: 202-336-5979
E-mail: apaaccred@apa.org
Web: www.apa.org/ed/accreditation

U.S. News and World Report ranks school psychologist as #1 in best social services jobs. Learn more »

Program of Study

Prerequisites

Students in the B.A.-to-Ph.D. program must complete the M.Ed. in School Psychology and most of the Ed.S. School Psychology program as prerequisites for the Ph.D. portion of the program of study. Specifically, students must complete the M.Ed. and:

• EPRS 8530 Quantitative Methods and Analysis in Education I (3)
• EPY 8220 Advanced Developmental Psychology: Personality and Socialization (3)
• Any 7000-level or above EXC course with permission of advisor (3)
• CPS 6150 Ethical and Legal Standards in Counseling and Psychological Services (2)
• CPS 6450 Group Counseling (3) OR CPS 8400 Introduction to Play Therapy (3) OR CPS 8431 Counseling Skills and Strategies for School Aged Children (3)
• CPS 7340 Social/Cultural Issues in Counseling and Psychological Services (2)
• CPS 8540 Child/Adolescent Psychopathology (3)
• CPS 8570 Psychological Consultation in the Schools II (3)
• CPS 8662 Applied Practice II: Consultation and Intervention Practice in School Psychology (3)
• CPS 8665 Intervention Strategies for Students with Learning Problems (3)
• CPS 8680 Internship in School Psychology (note: this is the doctoral advanced practicum and must be taken for at least 6 credits)
• CPS 8760 Topical Seminar in School Psychology (3)

Program Degree Requirements

Doctor of Philosophy in School Psychology

A. Core Area (18; 12 for B.A.-to-Ph.D. students)

The Core Area consists of 15 semester hours of research coursework and 3 semester hours of Social Foundation of Education and Psychology of Learning coursework.

Research Core (15 hours)

Choose one course (3):

• EPRS 8500 Qualitative/Interpretive Research in Education (3)
• EPRS 8530 Quantitative Methods and Analysis in Education (3)

Required (12):

• A two-course sequence (6 hours) in research methodology (see below for specific tracks/courses)
• Two courses (6 hours) in advanced research methods as identified by the Doctoral Advisory Committee

Quantitative Methodology

• EPRS 8540 Quantitative Methods and Analysis in Education II
• EPRS 8550 Quantitative Methods and Analysis in Education III (3)
• EPRS 8820 Program Evaluation and Institutional Research (3)
• EPRS 8830 Survey Research, Sampling Principles and Questionnaire Design (3)
• EPRS 8840 Meta-Analysis (3)
• EPRS 8660 Bayesian Statistics (3)
• EPRS 9550 Multivariate Analysis (3)
• EPRS 9560 Structural Equation Modeling (3)
• EPRS 9570 Hierarchical Linear Modeling I (3)
• EPRS 9571 Hierarchical Linear Modeling II(3)
• EPRS 9900 Research Design (3)

Qualitative Methodology

• ANTH 8010 Qualitative Methods in Anthropology (3)
• EPRS 8510 Qualitative Research in Education II (3)
• EPRS 8520 Qualitative Research in Education III (3)
• EPRS 8640 Case Study Methods (3)
• EPRS 8700 Visual Research Methods (3)
• EPRS 9120 Poststructural Inquiry (3)
• EPRS 9400 Writing Qualitative Research Manuscripts (3)

Single-Case Methodology

• EPY 8850 Introduction to Single-Case Methodology (3)
• EPY 8860 Applications of Single-Case Methodology (3)

Historical/Philosophical Methodology

• EPSF 9850 Historical Research in American Education (3)
• EPSF 9930 Philosophical Analysis and Method (3)

Measurement Methodology

• EPRS 7920 Classroom Testing, Grading, and Assessment (3)
• EPRS 8920 Educational Measurement (3)
• EPRS 9350 Introduction to Item Response Theory (3)
• EPRS 9360 Advanced Item Response Theory (3)

Social Foundations of Education and Psychology of Learning course (3):
EPY 8220 Advanced Developmental Psychology: Personality and Socialization (3) or another course from the Social Foundations of Education and Psychology of Learning as identified by the Doctoral Advisory Committee:

• EPSF 8270 Philosophy of Education (3)
• EPSF 8280 Anthropology of Education (3)
• EPSF 8310 Sociology of Education (3)
• EPSF 8320 Politics and Policy in Education (3)
• EPSF 8340 History of American Education (3)
• EPSF 9260 Epistemology and Learning (3)
• EPY 8050 The Psychology of Instruction (3)
• EPY 8070 Understanding and Facilitating Adult Learning (3)
• EPY 8080 Memory and Cognition (3)
• EPY 8180 Learning and the School-Age Child (5 to 18 Years) (3)
• EPY 8200 Advanced Developmental Psychology: Cognition and Intellect (3)

B. Major Area (Required: 38; 35 for B.A.-to-Ph.D. students)

The major area of requirements complete the basic body of knowledge for applied professional practice as a school psychologist, building upon the foundation acquired at earlier graduate levels school psychology. A minimum of credits must be earned in the doctoral major, and these must include the courses listed below. Content for some of the required courses listed below may have been obtained in the master’s or Ed.S. program prior to admission to the doctoral program. In such cases, appropriate substitutions and/or credit for prior coursework, may be made with approval of the student’s doctoral advisory committee. Students who have prior coursework that is judged by the advisory committee to meet some of these course requirements must earn a minimum of 38 semester hours at Georgia State University to complete the major area of the doctoral program.

• CPS 8350 Biopsychology and Medication (3)
• CPS 8640 Administration and Supervision in Pupil Personnel Services (3)
• CPS 8760 Advanced Topical Seminar in School Psychology  (All Ph.D. students must take 9 credits total; Topical Seminar taken as part of the Ed.S. program may be counted towards the 9 credit requirement.) [Topics rotate]
• CPS 9680 Doctoral Internship (9)
• CPS 9760 School Psychology Research Seminar (3-9) [Must be taken at three times (minimum total = 9 credits). Student must maintain continuous enrollment until doctoral candidacy is reached.]
• CPS 9920 Research and Publication (2)
• PSYC 8500 History of Psychology (3)

Note: CPS 8680 Internship in School Psychology is an Ed.S.-level internship that serves as the doctoral practicum requirement. The student’s doctoral advisory committee will determine whether the student has completed a comparable course in a prior graduate work and has sufficient skills and field experience to meet the criteria for this doctoral practicum. Based on input from the doctoral advisory committee, some students may be required to enroll in an additional practicum experience.

C. Dissertation (15)

Required (15):
CPS 9990 Dissertation (15)

Program total: minimum of 71 semester hours (62 semester hours for B.A.-to-Ph.D. students)

Admissions Requirements

When applying to the School Psychology, Ph.D. program, you will need to submit several documents for review.

• Online Application
• Application Fee of $50
• Goals Statement (upload with the application)
• Resume (upload with the application)
• Writing Sample (cannot be goals statement; upload with the application)
• Three Letters of Recommendation (identify your recommender on the application)
• Must have bachelor’s in psychology, education, or related field ormaster’s in area related to school psychology
• Official Transcript: minimum 3.30 graduate GPA required for admission (minimum 2.50 undergraduate GPA if no master’s)
  • submit transcripts from all colleges/universities attended
• GRE scores: An official score on the Graduate Record Examination General Test is required for admission to Ph.D. programs in the College of Education and Human Development. While it is important to note that GRE scores are used along with other criteria established by departments and programs when determining admission, a score of 155 or higher on the verbal section and 151 or higher on the quantitative section will make the application more competitive
  • institution code 5251
  • scores may not be more than five years old at time of application submission

If you do not already meet certification requirements in Georgia, you will also need to complete the following prior to program admission:

• GACE Program Admission Assessment
  • You may exempt this test if you have received appropriate minimum scores on the ACT/GRE/or SAT.
  • View exemption score details

  Please Note:

  • Interviews will be conducted by department faculty — you will be notified if you are selected for an interview.

Funding Your Graduate Education

Cost of attendance and funding opportunities are integral to your decision to attend graduate school. Georgia State University is proud to offer a variety of funding opportunities, from assistantships to fellowships.

Awards and Assistantships

Various awards, assistantships and fellowships are available to new and current graduate students. We encourage you to contact your department, college, school or institute of interest to get more information about the assistantships and fellowships that they offer their students.

The Scholarship Resource Center offers guidance and support to students seeking financial assistance through scholarship opportunities, including this scholarship library.

Fellowships

The Office of Graduate Programs’ Fellowship Advisor works with students interested in applying for nationally prestigious and competitive fellowships. The Office of Graduate Programs also coordinates the application process for students applying to the Second Century Initiative, the Provost’s Dissertation Fellowship and the Dissertation Library Travel Awards.

Cost Calculator

Our calculator can help you get an idea of the costs associated with attending the university.

Student Resources

• School Psychology Ph.D. Handbook 2017-2018
• School psychology must have bachelor’s within major in psychology, education or related field OR master’s in area related to school psychology
• NOTE: Application deadlines have changed. New deadline for Ph.D. is December 1.
• NPR’s “A Silent Epidemic”
• Student Admissions, Outcomes and Other Data for Georgia State University Ph.D. School Psychology Program

Bachelor’s to Ph.D. Program