Resources for Applicants

Information for School Psychology MAE/EdS applicants

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.

School Psychology Handbook

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.

Application Process

For your application, you need:

official transcripts from all institutions attended
your most current resume or curriculum vitae
a writing sample
a personal statement of two to three pages
three letters of recommendation

Applications due on December 15 for full consideration for the following fall semester. You have until April 15 to accept or decline if admission is granted. A small waitlist of students may be granted admission in case of students declining their offers, with a total of 10 students admitted into the program each year. All applicants are invited to our Visit Day in late January or early February, where you’ll receive detailed information about the program, requirements and opportunities, information about Cedar Falls, and a student-led tour of campus. If you cannot or choose not to attend, this does NOT impact your admission chances to the program.

FAQs: Basics

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.

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.

What research opportunities are available?

All first-year students complete a MAE paper, which consists of a comprehensive literature review. Most second-year students present either individual research/work or with faculty at the NASP annual convention held in February. Some students may also 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.

FAQs: Admissions and Application

What is the application process?

For you application, you need:

official transcripts from all institutions attended
your most current resume or curriculum vita
a writing sample
a personal statement of two to three pages
three letters of recommendation

What do I do if I already have a degree or credits?

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. ALL students must complete ALL requirements for the degree program for which they are applying. 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. While undergraduate degree credits cannot be transferred into the program, there may be opportunities to transfer relevant graduate credits into the program.

FAQs: Field Experience and Internships

What is the practicum sequence?

For the first semester, you will be paired with another student and shadow a school psychologist. Second semester students will be assigned to a classroom, either general or special education. For the third and fourth semester each student will work with a school psychologist.

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, 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, there is more opportunity for requests. 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?

Yes, 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. Students have accepted internship positions in California, Colorado, Wisconsin, Minnesota and South Carolina.

What are the internship year coursework requirements?

All interns will meet with the faculty member responsible for the course at least once per month, with additional time if desired/needed. Interns will 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. The internship cohort meets at least once during the fall semester for a half day of supervision with program faculty, and returns 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.