School Psychology

Master of Arts in Education/Educational Specialist

Looking to help students succeed in the classroom socially, behaviorally and emotionally? Turn to the School Psychology Program.

We strive to train practitioners who will become leaders in the practice of school psychology and advocates for all children and families by effectively linking multi-method assessment to evidence-based interventions. This program prepares you to serve as a professional, ethical practitioner who:

Understands social, political and policy contexts
Applies best practices derived from research and theory
Commits to continuous professional growth and critical examination of both practice and literature

Application deadline: December 15, 2022

Graduate College

Program Handbook

Grow Your Own

Students showing their decorated mortarboards at graduation

100%

First-Year Employment

For more than 15+ years, meeting a continual statewide need

515+

Hours of Practicum Experience

Hands-on experience every semester

NASP Approved

Accreditation reflecting quality of Iowa's leading school psychology program

Interested? Request information.

Tell us more and we'll send information on how you can succeed with an MAE/EdS in school psychology from the University of Northern Iowa College of Education.

Contact us directly at:

School Psychology Program
525 SEC
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0607

Phone: (319) 273-7649
Email: nicole.skaar@uni.edu

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My UNI professors genuinely cared about me and gave me feedback. They were passionate about the field of school psychology. The practicum experiences prepared me for my future assignments working preschool through 12th grade in a variety of different districts.

Kelsey Baker, Ed.S.

School Psychologist, Central Rivers AEA

Grow Your Own school psychology grant program

Building mental health access

Grow Your Own

A new, primarily online "Grow Your Own" school psychology degree option offered in partnership with the Central Rivers, Northwest and Great Prairie AEAs gives you the opportunity to help address needs in rural Iowa school districts.

Accepted students receive grant-funded reduced tuition and coverage for books, state and national association fees, national certification and initial Iowa licensing. The program is open to master's level practicing education professionals who, upon completion, can commit to three years serving one of the participating AEAs. Applications for the first cohort due April 15.

Grow Your Own Brochure

Why School Psychology at UNI?

Approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and the Iowa Department of Education.
100 percent placement rate and students are actively recruited by Iowa’s area education agencies.
Learn from faculty who are licensed school psychologists with experience as practitioners and remain active in the schools.
Gain valuable experience in practicums every semester of the program in schools, except summer term.
Opportunity to present at NASP’s annual conference with support from the university.
Students who intern in Iowa are paid as first year school psychologists.
Program meets requirements for licensure in most states.

Courses and Careers

Courses

The School Psychology program is a full-time, three-year program that consists of two degrees which follow a scientist-practitioner model:

Master of Arts in Education (MAE)
Educational Specialist (EdS)

You earn the MAE in educational psychology: context and techniques after your first full year of coursework (minimum 32 credits) and the successful completion of an MAE paper. The EdS in school psychology requires an additional 36 semester hours, including a full-time internship and written and oral comprehensive exams.

In total, you'll complete a series of coursework, four practica and an internship with research options across the three-year program.

Full Plan of Study

Careers

School psychologists are in great demand and often work in K-12 public schools. Other settings include:

Private and charter schools
Preschools and other early childhood settings
Area education agencies
School district administration offices
Colleges and universities
School-based health and mental health centers
Community-based day treatment or residential clinics and hospitals
Juvenile justice programs

The breadth of school psychology

Application Process

The School Psychology Program is a NASP-approved full-time program which consists of two degrees: a Master of Arts in Education (MAE) and an Educational Specialist (EdS), both of which follow a scientist-practitioner model.

The MAE in educational psychology: context and techniques of assessment is earned after the first full year of coursework, including one summer course between the first and second year, and the successful completion of a literature review for the MAE paper.

The EdS degree in school psychology is earned after completion of an additional 36 semester hours, including a full-time internship, typically two years after the MAE.

There is both a thesis and non-thesis option for the EdS program.

Individuals who have earned a master’s degree in a related field may be admitted to the EdS program. These individuals must complete all of the requirements of the School Psychology program to be granted the EdS.

To be considered for admission, all application materials must be submitted by December 15th for admission the following fall semester. The program only admits students for study beginning in the fall semester.

Application Checklist
Apply Now

If you have questions about the program or the application process, please contact Dr. Nicole Skaar at 319-273-7649 or nicole.skaar@uni.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I study School Psychology at UNI?

The program is NASP approved.
Faculty are licensed school psychologists who have experience as practitioners and remain active in the schools.
School psychology students are in the schools for practicum every semester of the program except summer term.
Fall of MAE year- students experience field placements with at least three school psychologists in different settings.
Spring of MAE year- students work in a local elementary classroom one day per week. All students and the instructor are on-site at the same time.
Fall EdS year- students work under the supervision of a school psychologist one day per week.
Spring EdS year- students work under the supervision of a school psychologist two days per week.
School psychologist interns in Iowa are paid as a first-year school psychologist with full benefits.
Majority of alums remain in the field as school psychologists
Meet requirements for school psychologist licensure in most states

I have questions about the program...

What does a school psychologist do?

According to the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), school psychologists are “uniquely qualified members” of school teams who help to support students, their families, and the educators who support them. The NASP website (www.nasponline.org) is a good source of information on school psychology, as are journals such as School Psychology Review, Journal of School Psychology, Journal of Applied School Psychology, and School Psychology Quarterly.

What is the EdS degree?

The Education Specialist (EdS) degree is the minimum degree required for the practice of school psychology within the state of Iowa, as well as most other states. It typically involves education-intensive coursework and 30+ credits beyond a master’s degree. You can obtain more information on the EdS degree on the NASP website.

When does the program start? Can I start at any time?

New cohorts start the UNI school psychology program every fall semester. Because the coursework is in a prescribed sequence with many of the courses only offered at certain times, students are not able to start the program at any other time during the academic year.

How long does the program take to complete?

The school psychology program at UNI is a three-year, 68-credit program, with the first two years of coursework taken on campus, and the third year consisting of a full-time internship. It is possible to slow down the program on a case-by-case basis. We have a 3- and 4-year coursework sequence available.

How many credits are taken per semester?

Typically, students take 12-15 credits per semester for the first two years, with each semester of internship consisting of 3 credits. Slow down programs typically have students taking 9 credits per semester.

When are courses offered?

Courses are offered fall and spring semesters, with most school psychology specific courses only offered certain semesters (e.g., assessment courses, practicum sequence, etc.). Some courses are offered online and some courses are offered at night. Most courses are during the typical work day.

What can I expect for the summer program?

Courses are offered fall and spring semesters, with most school psychology-specific courses only offered certain semesters (e.g., assessment courses, practicum sequence, etc.). Students do take two 8-week courses in the summer between their first and second years in the program, with one course counting towards the MAE degree and the second course going towards the EdS degree.

Can I enroll part-time?

The UNI school psychology program is a full-time program; however, there may be opportunities to “slow down” the program based upon specific, individual circumstances. This change in program completion would need to be discussed with the student’s advisor and approved by the school psychology faculty.

Are classes offered online?

Most courses in the UNI school psychology program are completed face-to-face and on campus (practicum sequence courses are an exception). However, there may be one to two courses early in the program that are taken online, depending upon offerings within the department.

Can I apply without an undergrad in psychology?

While most students who apply and are admitted into the program do have an undergraduate degree or minor in psychology, this is not required for admission. We typically have had several students per cohort whose major is “outside” of school psychology, with examples being education, speech-language pathology, and even business. There are no prerequisite courses required for admission into the program.

Is the program accredited?

The UNI school psychology program is currently NASP-accredited, again receiving full NASP approval in 2017. Our next review date is in 2023.

What research opportunities are available?

All first-year students complete a MAE paper, which consists of a comprehensive literature review. Beyond this required experience, interested students have additional opportunities to engage in research. For example, most second-year students present either individual research/work or with faculty at the NASP annual convention held in February. Further, some students may engage in research activities as part of a graduate assistantship (GA). Also, students may have opportunities to work with faculty outside of a GA if there are available projects of interest. Finally, there is a thesis-option for EdS students who wish to engage in additional research.

Can I discuss the program with faculty or students?

Absolutely! Contact Dr. Nicole Skaar at (319) 273-7649 or nicole.skaar@uni.edu to set up an appointment.

I have questions about admissions and my application...

What materials are required for admission?

To apply for admission into the program, there are several documents that you must submit. They are all included in the application checklist (link). As an overview, you will need to complete the Graduate Application for Admission for either the MAE or EdS, official transcripts from all institutions attended, your most current resume or curriculum vita, a writing sample, a personal statement of two to three pages and three letters of recommendation. GRE scores are not required. You may also apply for either a tuition scholarship or a graduate assistantship (or both); but, these are optional pieces of the application.

From whom should I obtain a Letter of Recommendation?

You may choose whom you would like to write a letter of recommendation for you, but most students ask professors and/or professionals known through work or volunteer experiences to write these letters. It is important that whomever you choose to write the letters know you well enough to speak to your abilities and experiences in the field/area/capacity for which they know/have worked with you.

What is the personal statement?

The personal statement is the program faculty’s first opportunity to learn about you, your interest in the program and in the career of school psychology, and your experiences related to the field. Within the application checklist, you will note that pieces to be included in the personal statement include experience working with children and youth, a self-evaluation of your strengths and weaknesses related to being a school psychologist, and your current goals and objectives for becoming a professional school psychologist.

What are the steps in the admissions process?

All application materials are due on December 15 for possible admission into the program for the following fall semester. All applicants are invited to our Visit Day, which is typically held in late January or early February. While your attendance is optional, we spend approximately a half day giving you detailed information about the program, its requirements and opportunities, talking about Cedar Falls, and giving you a student-led tour of campus. You will also have the chance to talk individually or in small groups with program faculty and students, and end the morning with a student-only lunch so you can ask questions specifically of students to gain their perspective of and experiences within the program. There are no individual interviews or required tasks as part of our visit day. If you cannot or choose not to attend, this does NOT impact your admission chances to the program.

How many students are admitted each year?

We currently admit 10 students into the program each year. While most of the incoming students are entering at the MAE degree level, we do occasionally have students enter at the EdS degree level as well if they already possess a master's degree.

What are the important deadlines?

All application materials must be submitted by December 15 for full consideration for admittance into the program for the following fall semester. If you are accepted for program admission, you have until April 15 to notify us whether or not you will be accepting your admission.

Is there a waitlist? What does this process 'look like?'

There is typically a waitlist for program admission. After notifying the 10 students of their acceptance into the program, the program coordinator will then notify those placed on the waitlist AND of their position on the waitlist. When/if students accepted into the program turn down their offer of admission, the program coordinator will offer admission to the next person on the waitlist AND call the others on the waitlist to notify them of their new position on the list. This process will continue through the acceptance deadline of April 15th.

Can I transfer my undergrad/graduate credits?

While undergraduate degree credits cannot be transferred into the program, there may be opportunities to transfer relevant graduate credits into the program.

Do you accept graduate credits applied elsewhere?

The maximum number of graduate credits that can be transferred in is 10; however, the number/type of credits accepted will be determined on a case-by-case basis. It should be noted that ALL incoming students must complete all requirements of the degree program for which they are applying.

What happens if I already have a graduate degree?

Some students apply and are admitted to the UNI school psychology program after already receiving master’s degree, often in such related fields as education, counseling, or psychology. In these cases, each student’s program will depend upon the coursework taken and experiences as part of the graduate degree, which could affect the amount of time within the UNI school psychology program. However, as already noted, ALL students must complete ALL requirements for the degree program for which they are applying.

I have questions about tuition and financial aid...

What is the cost of tuition, both in-state and out-of-state?

The cost of tuition and fees, for both in-state and out-of-state graduate students, may vary depending upon the year in which you begin the program. Use the following link to take you to UNI’s page on costs for tuition and fees:
https://tuition.uni.edu

If I am out-of-state, is it possible to get in-state tuition?

In-state tuition for out-of-state students is possible if you are awarded and accept a graduate assistantship. The GA entails receiving in-state tuition, as well as a monthly stipend, paid over a 10-month period. See below for more information on GAs.

How can I apply for scholarships?

There are several opportunities for scholarships. You can apply for a graduate tuition scholarship and submit with your application materials. There are other opportunities for scholarships as noted through the UNI website at
https://finaid.uni.edu/financing-graduate-school.
Also, there are times when additional scholarship opportunities become available. If such opportunities arise, the program coordinator will email the students about the scholarship and how to learn more information/apply.

What other funding and assistantships are available?

Besides scholarships and financial aid through UNI, graduate assistantships are available for many incoming and current graduate students. There are several GA options. First, if you are interested in a GA, please complete the related form and submit with your application materials. The graduate college, College of Education and Department of Educational Psychology, Foundations and Leadership Studies provide funding for a number of GAs. There are also sometimes opportunities for GAs in other departments, colleges, and/or locations on campus (e.g., graduate college). When those opportunities become available and notifications are sent to campus programs, the program coordinator will send an email to students. Finally, second-year program students have an opportunity to work with special education staff within Central Rivers AEA. This GA would include field experiences above and beyond practicum experiences during the second year.

I have field experience and internship questions...

What is the practicum sequence?

One of the unique aspects of the UNI school psychology program is our practicum sequence. We get you into the schools right away during your first semester. For all practicum experiences, a supervision requirement is attached, which typically involves 1-3 hours per week meeting as a group with a program faculty member. For the first semester, you will be paired with another student and shadow a school psychologist. There are four to five possible sites for this practicum, and you will shadow within three of those sites. You will also observe virtual IEP meetings during this practicum, which allows you to view a wide variety of practices across Iowa and outside of Iowa.
For the second semester of the first year, all students will spend one day a week in a local elementary school, with each being assigned to a classroom, either general or special education. While in that room, you will work with students and complete other tasks as assigned by the teacher. A program faculty member will be on-site. The purpose of this practicum is to give students insight into a “teacher’s world.” As school psychologists work closely with teachers, having experience with the structure, process and procedures of a classroom will be valuable for your future collaboration with teachers.
For the third semester (fall of EdS year), each student will spend one day a week–a minimum of 140 hours for the semester–working with a school psychologist. As you will have been through one year of coursework and field experiences, you will now do more than shadowing. You will complete assigned tasks, either independently or with the school psychologist. Further, you will complete a full consultation case with either a general or special education teacher, chosen by your practicum supervisor, as part of the University-based requirements for this practicum.
For the final semester (spring of EdS year), each student will spend two days a week, a minimum of 240 hours for the semester, working with a school psychologist. As this is your final semester before internship, your level of independence should have increased and you will spend more time completing a variety of tasks independent from, but with supervision from, your field-based supervisor. You will complete a full evaluation and/or re-evaluation case as part of the University-based requirements for this practicum.

Do I get to choose my practicum sites?

The first semester shadow practicum experiences are assigned, and the second semester is all completed within one local elementary school. For the third semester (one day per week) practicum, specific requests for location/AEA and/or age can be made, but cannot be guaranteed. Location of this practicum is typically located within the three closest AEAs. For the fourth and final semester practicum (two days per week), there is more opportunity for requests, as far as location and/or age. These requests would be negotiated with the program faculty managing this practicum experience.

Does the program arrange for internship placements?

No. While faculty can assist students in finding placements (especially if out-of-state), and with the application process, each student is responsible for obtaining his/her internship placement.

Are out-of-state internships allowed?

Students can find internship placements outside of Iowa; but, as timelines, application process, and other requirements may be different than within Iowa, students are encouraged to start researching opportunities within their state(s) of interest during the spring of the first year of the program for more information. We recently had students accept internship positions in California, Colorado, Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Carolina.

Are all internships paid?

No. While in Iowa all interns are considered first-year employees and so are given full assignments, pay, and benefits, other states have different requirements and expectations for internships. Therefore, researching internship placements and benefits in other states of interest is important.

What are the internship year coursework requirements?

During internship, all interns will meet with the faculty member responsible for the course at least one time per month, although the frequency could increase if desired/needed. Interns will also submit several full cases (evaluations and reevaluations), log their activities and hours, and have at least two hours of weekly face-to-face supervision with their field-based supervisors. Further, the internship cohort meets (on campus or virtual) at least one time during the fall semester for a half day of supervision with program faculty, and also return (on campus or virtual) in the spring for oral comprehensive exams. The Comp consists of an oral and written presentation of a chosen case. More information on Comps is included in the program handbook.

What can I expect from my UNI Graduate Student experience?

Will I have time for a life outside of school?

Yes! While everyone’s responsibilities are a little different, depending upon their time management, and possibilities of work and/or GA, students often find time to enjoy leisure activities in (and out of) the Cedar Valley, often with others in their cohort. More information on leisure possibilities is included below.

Is it reasonable to work while in the program?

Some students do choose to gain employment off campus during their time in the program, but, we do ask you to consider time requirements when making this decision. Because of the intensity of the school psychology program, outside work commitments, especially with little flexibility in scheduling, can be difficult. If you are interested in working off campus, please do feel free to talk with program faculty and/or students if you have questions when making this decision.

What is the availability and cost of housing?

There are opportunities for housing on-campus, as well as off-campus. You can explore on-campus housing options here: https://dor.uni.edu/residence-halls. If you are interested in off-campus housing, you can either explore possibilities online or talk with current students about recommendations and suggestions.

Are there opportunities to find a roommate?

If you are interested in finding a roommate, some students within the cohort do live together, while others have found roommates outside of the program. The program coordinator introduces the cohort to each other once final admission decisions are made so they can make connections and potential housing partnerships.

Can I obtain insurance coverage as a grad student?

Student health and dental insurance is available to UNI students through Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa and Delta Dental of Iowa through the University Benefits office. If you are interested in insurance through UNI, the following link will take you to the corresponding page on the UNI website: https://health.uni.edu/insurance

Where is Cedar Falls? How far is it from other cities?

Cedar Falls is “connected” to Waterloo, Iowa, in northeast Iowa. It is approximately two hours northeast of Des Moines, 45 minutes northwest of Cedar Rapids, one hour northwest of Iowa City, and one hour west of Dubuque. It is also approximately 2.5 hours southeast of Minneapolis and four hours west of Chicago. It is easily accessible through major interstates and Highway 20.

What's life like in Cedar Falls?

Cedar Falls and Waterloo have a variety of leisure opportunities available and easily accessible. If you enjoy the outside, George Wyth State Park is five to 10 minutes away, located on the Cedar River and adjacent lakes. There are also numerous bike trails around the two cities that traverse outside of the area as well. Other activities include the Cedar Basin Jazz Festival, College Hill Arts Festival, BBQ’Loo & Blues too, Hartman Reserve Nature Center, The Grout Museum, Hearst Center for the Arts, and more! Plus, students often enjoy experiencing the Cedar Falls downtown area, and attending shows and concerts at the Gallagher Bluedorn Performing Arts Center located on the UNI campus.

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School Psychology

Master of Arts in Education/Educational Specialist

First-Year Employment

For more than 15+ years, meeting a continual statewide need

Hours of Practicum Experience

Hands-on experience every semester

NASP Approved

Accreditation reflecting quality of Iowa's leading school psychology program

Interested? Request information.

My UNI professors genuinely cared about me and gave me feedback. They were passionate about the field of school psychology. The practicum experiences prepared me for my future assignments working preschool through 12th grade in a variety of different districts.

Grow Your Own

Why School Psychology at UNI?

Courses and Careers

Courses

Careers

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Frequently Asked Questions

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