Best School Psychology Masters Programs in Virginia

The PhD in Education with a specialization in educational psychology is individualized, interdisciplinary, and experiential. Educational psychology courses can be applied to primary or secondary specialization areas.

The demand for educational psychology experts continues to grow. There are many opportunities with government and private research organizations, as well as corporations who want to maximize the effectiveness of their employee training.

To accomplish self-defined goals, students engage in a variety of intensive courses, independent studies, seminars, and internships of a highly practical nature. Success in the program requires a high degree of personal initiative, self-directed learning, and commitment to inquiry as a style of personal and professional growth.

Research methodologies to address a variety of educational psychology topics.

Specialized knowledge in educational psychology related to your area of interest.

Graduates of this specialization hold professional positions such as:.

EDEP 823: Research Project in Educational Psychology: Sequence I (3 credits).

EDEP 824: Research Project in Educational Psychology: Sequence II (3 credits).

EDUC 897: Independent Study for the Doctor of Philosophy in Education (1-6 credits).

See additional coursework required as part of the PhD in Education degree.

Anastasia KitsantasPhD, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York.

The School Psychology Program at James Madison University is housed within the Department of Graduate Psychology and the College of Health and Behavioral Studies. The program emphasizes the role of the culturally competent school psychologist as that of a facilitator of an individual's overall well-being and potential. Within an integrated theoretical framework, students are prepared to be culturally competent, interpersonally skilled, and data-oriented problem solvers. Students are trained in assessment for intervention, prevention, counseling, educational and mental health consultation, behavior management, and applied research. 

Central to the program’s focus is the understanding of children within the context of a system, including the family, the school, and the socio-cultural environment. The program emphasizes the role of the culturally competent and humble school psychologist as that of a facilitator of an individual's overall well-being and potential. They are prepared to be applied child and adolescent school psychologists in diverse educational and mental health settings. This 60-credit program expects students to commit to academic excellence, personal growth, professional responsibility, sensitivity to and understanding of human diversity, and effective interpersonal relationships. Specifically, graduates of this 3-year School Psychology program are required to be competent in the following areas: 

• Students will achieve a breadth of understanding of the foundations in the knowledge base of psychology and related disciplines.
• Students will achieve basic knowledge of educational issues, including instructional design, effective educational environments, and the organization and operation of schools. 
• Students will possess the knowledge and expertise to collaborate with families and with community and school professionals in designing, implementing, and evaluating interventions that effectively respond to the educational and mental health needs of children and youth. 
• Students will achieve basic knowledge and skills in research/evaluation methods, statistics, and measurement to evaluate professional practices and programs. 
• Students shall have a knowledge base specific to school psychology and will apply this knowledge to promote a best-practice approach to professional service. 

The concentration in School Psychology is approved by the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Education and is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Educator Programs (CAEP). The NASP/CAEP approval and accreditation assures the graduates of the JMU program are eligible for certification/licensure in most states. The JMU School Psychology program is fully approved and accredited..