UO School Psychology Program

What is a School Psychologist?

School psychologists are educational and mental health professionals who have specialized graduate level training in psychology and education. They use their knowledge and skills to team with educators, parents, and other mental health professionals to ensure that every child learns in a safe, healthy and supportive environment. School psychologists understand school systems, effective teaching, and successful learning. They use their expertise to prevent and solve learning and behavioral problems with individuals, in groups, in schools, and across school and community systems.

What are the Professional Associations for School Psychologists?

There are two national professional associations for school psychologists: the National Association for School Psychologists (NASP), and Division 16 of the American Psychological Association (APA).

What is the Job Outlook for School Psychologists? What Positions Do UO Graduates Find?

At the present time there are excellent opportunities for graduates of school psychology programs. Nationally, there is a shortage of school psychology practitioners in public school settings. These shortages are particularly pronounced in Western U.S. states, in rural areas, and in large inner-city school districts. Increasingly, there are also concerns regarding future shortages of new faculty members in school psychology training programs, and the outlook has never looked better for graduates of high quality doctoral programs to obtain academic positions. Our graduates often receive multiple job offers, and can be found working in public school districts, universities, state departments of education, research centers, medical centers, and private clinics across the United States and in other parts of the world.

What is the Major Focus of the UO School Psychology Program?

We aim to develop leaders and innovators in the field of school psychology—students who have the desire to make a major positive impact in the field. Our primary focus is our doctoral program. Our program philosophy emphasizes prevention, early intervention, and impacting individuals, groups, and systems within a behaviorally-oriented perspective. We strive to train school psychologists as data-oriented problem-solvers who have the skills to significantly impact learning and behavioral outcomes in schools.

Who Are the UO School Psychology Faculty? What Are Their Areas of Expertise?

Our core school psychology faculty for 2009-2010 include Cindy Anderson (Associate Professor & SPECS Department Head), Roland Good (Associate Professor), Laura Lee McIntyre (Associate Professor & Program Director), Ken Merrell (Professor & Program Co-Director), and Angela Whalen (Instructor & Practicum Coordinator). Our faculty are nationally and internationally recognized. Among their specific interests include the following areas: early identification and treatment of development and behavior problems, early assessment of literacy skills, screening and prevention of social-emotional problems, reading instruction, school-based consultation, and statistics and measurement. In addition to the core program faculty, we have several adjunct and affiliated faculty who teach program courses and supervise our students. In addition, we have a strong relationship with the nationally recognized UO special education program, whose doctoral faculty have special status as affiliates of our program, and who are available to co-chair and co-advise our students. For more specific information on our faculty, refer to the faculty page of our program-managed website at http://spsy.uoregon.edu.

How Many Students are in the UO School Psychology Program? What are Their Characteristics?

Approximately 40 students are currently enrolled in the program, about 95% of which are in the doctoral program, our main emphasis. Our students typically enter with backgrounds in psychology, education, and/or special education. They represent diverse areas of the United States, several other nations, and vary in age, ethnic and cultural background, and prior experiences. About one-third of our students entered the program with a master’s or specialist degree, and about two-thirds of our students entered the program with only a bachelor’s degree.

Is the UO School Psychology Program Accredited?

Our doctoral program is accredited by the American Psychological Association, the National Association of School Psychologists, and the Oregon Teachers Standards and Practices Commission. Our master’s and licensure-only programs are accredited by the Oregon Teachers Standards and Practices Commission.

How Long Does it take to Complete the UO School Psychology Program?

Our program operates on a quarter rather than semester schedule, with 3 quarters per academic year, plus a summer session. Our 167-credit Ph.D. degree program typically takes five years to complete: four years of on-campus study, plus one-year predoctoral internship. Doctoral students who are admitted to the program after having previously earned a masters or specialist degree in school psychology may be able to complete the program in three years, including the internship. Our 93 credit hour M.S. degree requires two years of full-time on campus study plus a one year internship. The licensure-only program typically requires two years to complete, including field work placements.

How Do I Apply For Admission?

Complete information on our application process, and on-line application forms are available in the “prospective students” section of program-managed website at http://spsy.uoregon.edu. You may also request a paper application packet for the school psychology program by sending a written request to: Academic Secretary, School Psychology Program, 5208 University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403-5208.

Does the Program Have a Rolling Deadline for Admission?

Our deadline for admission the following Fall quarter is January 5. Late materials will not be accepted. Applications must be RECEIVED and COMPLETE (including letters of recommendation and transcripts) by the January 5 deadline date.

How Many Applications Does the UO School Psychology Typically Receive? How Many Students are Admitted Each Year?

For the past five years we have received approximately 60 to 100 applications per year. We typically make approximately 10-12 offers of admission each year and end up with approximately 8-10 new matriculated students each year.

What Qualities Does the Program Look for in an Applicant? What Makes a Successful Applicant?

The faculty carefully review and evaluate each application file, and develop a finalist pool of applicants who are interviewed for admission to the program. We use multiple criteria in our file reviews, including undergraduate and graduate GPA, GRE scores, letters of recommendation, the applicant’s statement of interest, fit with our program philosophy and mission statement, previous professional and research experiences, and exceptional accomplishments. Successful applicants typically have outstanding academic records, strong GRE scores, prior practical and/or research experiences, excellent interpersonal skills, focused goals, a desire to make a major impact in our field, and a strong interest in our training model.

Are Doctoral, Master’s and Licensure-only Applications Considered Separately?

We rate all applicants using the same criteria, and select from the top applicants to make admission offers. The students to whom we make offers of admission may pursue either the doctoral or master’s program, but we encourage admission at the doctoral level, and almost all of our current students are doctoral students. We admit to the licensure-only program only under special circumstances.

What Percentage of Students in the UO School Psychology Program Receive Graduate Assistantships or Fellowships?

For at the past 15 years, virtually all of our students have received financial support through research and teaching assistantships and training grant stipends. In addition, many of our students have received supplemental funding through scholarships.

How Can I Learn More About the UO School Psychology Program?

The best source for additional information is our program-managed website at http://spsy.uoregon.edu. The “prospective students” page of this site contains information that is especially relevant for potential applicants, such as general information, admissions, financial aid, housing, and so forth. The “current students” page of our website includes a link to our program requirements and student handbook.

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