Best School Psychology Masters Programs in Tennessee

The School Psychology program trains students by providing a solid foundation of core knowledge and skills across psychology, education, and research. Students receive applied training in assessment, consultation, intervention, and research. We train students under a Scientist-Practitioner Model. Students are even encouraged to view practice and science as similar endeavours and apply the same general problem-solving steps. The program requires approximately 5 years of graduate training, including an internship (1 full year, 2000 hours, completed in the last year of training) and a dissertation. The program is designed for full-time students, includes summer courses, and is designed to be completed in 5 years. Full-time enrollment is a minimum of 9 credit hours. The program is not designed for part-time students; however, in exceptional circumstances, part-time students may successfully complete the PhD program.

The total number of credits required to complete a PhD in School Psychology at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville is 121 credits. This includes:

• Required coursework (90 credits)
• Research and dissertation (31 credits)

The Doctoral (PhD) degree prepares graduates to work to improve the quality of services for children and youth in a variety of settings. This program is offered on campus. Online options are not available. The UT School Psychology program prepares professionals who work collaboratively with educators, administrators, parents, and children to promote learning and development in general education students and for students with special needs. The School Psychology program leads to a PhD and is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA)* and approved by the National Association of School Psychologists. Students who graduate from UT’s School Psychology Ph.D. program can be licensed as psychologists and nationally certified as school psychologists. Our graduates can be found across the county in public and private schools, university training programs, mental health centers, and hospitals.

School psychologists help diagnose problems and plan interventions for at-risk children. This program prepares our students to assess and intervene in a wide range of school-based situations.

Master of Arts (M.A.) Program of Study.

Tennessee Education Licensure Standards for School Psychology.

Tennessee Education: School Psychology Praxis Exam.

Alignment of School Psychology Program with NASP Standards (M.A. Ed.S.).

The Master of Arts degree is offered with concentrations in either of two areas, clinical or general psychology. Both programs require a thesis and two years of academic and related work. Both also require the same 18 semester hours of common coursework. The programs differ, however, in the specific professional objectives they are designed to serve. The also differ in the minimum number of required semester hours, and in the specific courses required beyond the 18 hours common to both.

Abnormal and experimental psychology are highly recommended.

Our academic disciplines allow you to specialize your focus to one area of interest. They are a part of your transition into higher education which involves being aware that each discipline is a distinct discourse community with specific vocabularies, styles, and modes of communication.

Requirements for the graduate degree in Clinical Psychology, in addition to the University degree requirements outlined within this Bulletin.

Requirements for the graduate degree in General Psychology, in addition to the University degree requirements outlined within this Bulletin.

The course descriptions give a detailed explanation of all graduate level Psychology courses offered at Fisk University.

The Middle Tennessee State University offers M.A. and Ed.S. in School Psychology. School Psychologists work in collaboration with teachers, parents, and other school personnel to meet the academic, social, behavioral, and emotional needs of students in grades pre-school-high school. The School Psychology program at Middle Tennessee State University offers a combined M.A. and Ed.S. program that leads to licensure as a School Psychologist through the Tennessee Department of Education. The curriculum entails 65 credit hours of on-campus courses, school-based practica, and a year-long capstone internship in the schools. Courses and fieldwork components prepare graduates of the program to provide evidence-based assessment, consultation, and intervention services in a school setting. The program is designed to provide graduate students with knowledge and skills in the following 10 domains:

• Data-based decision-making and accountability
• Consultation and collaboration
• Interventions and instructional support to develop academic skills
• Interventions and mental health services to develop social and life skills
• School-wide practices to promote earning
• Preventive and responsive services
• Family-school collaboration services
• Diversity in development and learning
• Research and program evaluation
• Legal, ethical, and professional practice of school psychology

The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) first approved the program in 1991. Curriculum and Instruction with concentration in School Psychology at Middle Tennessee State University (MSTU) is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and approved for licensure by the Tennessee Department of Education. Students should be aware that licensure requirements vary from state to state and are subject to change.

The University of Memphis offers a combined Master of Arts (MA) and Educational Specialist (EdS) degree in the School Psychology program. It is designed for people seeking nondoctoral preparation for practice as a school psychologist, primarily in public school settings. Students complete the MA degree of 37 semester hours and then enter the EdS degree program and complete an additional 30 semester hours, including an internship, which leads to a total of 67 credits. The MA/EdS program usually takes three years to complete. Benefits of the program include:

• Diverse student body: The program attracts students from a variety of backgrounds and experiences, which creates a rich and supportive learning environment.
• Small class sizes: Small class sizes allow for personalized attention from faculty and the opportunity to build strong relationships with classmates.
• Affordable tuition: The program is relatively affordable, especially when compared to other accredited school psychology programs in the region.
• Convenient location: The University of Memphis is located in a major metropolitan area, which provides students with access to a variety of resources and opportunities.

Graduates obtain a credential to practice as a school psychologist from the Tennessee State Department of Education or a similar agency in other states. More than 120 program graduates now serve as school psychologists in the Mid-South Region and across the United States. The MA/EdS program has been accredited by NASP/NCATE.