PhD in School Psychology at East Carolina University

Study School Psychology at East Carolina University, a PhD degree offered at its main campus in Greenville , United States of America. This Full Time program is delivered on campus in English and takes approximately 4 years to complete. Students benefit from a structured learning experience designed to build both theoretical knowledge and practical experience. The next intake is scheduled for August 21, 2027.

About PhD in School Psychology

Are you interested in promoting wellness and resilience among school-age students and helping children cope with family and life stressors? Can you envision yourself providing assessment, consultation, counseling, and mentoring for those struggling with social, academic, and behavioral problems?

The goal of the school psychology master's and certificate of advanced study program is to prepare highly qualified, entry-level school psychologists to work with children, families, and other professionals in public school settings. The school psychologist draws on multifaceted skills from both psychology and education for the purpose of promoting healthy academic, cognitive, social and emotional development. The program is developed following the scientist-practitioner model. Students are trained to be good consumers and producers of research.

Empirical knowledge serves as the basis for developing interventions and solving problems in practice. The curriculum exposes the student to theory, research and practice in school psychology, which are integrated through a planned sequence of course work, practica and internship. It is a three-year program requiring full-time attendance. Students are admitted with the understanding that they will pursue both degrees (MA and SSP) simultaneously. The program holds approval by the National Association of School Psychologists and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Department Website
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Program Coordinator: Christy Walcott (214 Rawl Building; 252-328-1378; [email protected])

The MA/SSP graduate program in school psychology is a three-year program to train psychologists for practice in school and related settings and requires 70 s.h. total. The program requires full-time attendance and students must complete both the Psychology, MA school psychology concentration (34 s.h.) and the Specialist in School Psychology, SSP degree (36 s.h.). The first two years of the program provide classroom training and field experiences in assessment, consultation, and interventions for children, adolescents, families, and school systems. The third year consists of a full-time paid internship in a public school setting.

Program completion of both MA and SSP meets the current requirements for licensure by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction as a school psychologist, for certification by the National School Psychology Certification Board, and satisfies the educational requirements for licensure by the North Carolina Psychology Board as a licensed psychological associate. The MA/SSP program is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. The SSP requires 36 s.h. as follows:

I. Assessment - 3 s.h.

PSYC 6353 - Behavioral Assessment and Intervention

II. Consultation and intervention - 9 s.h.

PSYC 6402 - School Consultation
PSYC 7442 - School Interventions I
PSYC 7443 - School Intervention II

III. Educational foundations - 6 s.h.

Choose 6 s.h. of program coordinator approved electives.

IV. Practicum - 6 s.h.

PSYC 7950 - School Practicum I
PSYC 7951 - School Practicum II

V. Internship - 12 s.h.

PSYC 7992 - School Internship I
PSYC 7993 - School Internship II

For more information about this degree visit the university's academic catalogs.

Requirements and Admission Criteria for PhD in School Psychology at East Carolina University

Entry Requirements

In order to be considered for admission, international graduate applicants follow the same steps as a U.S. applicant with a few exceptions as identified in Red font. Step by step instructions are identified below:

Complete the ECU Online Graduate School Application: One application fee and one set of supporting documents should be submitted for each program of study applying to.
Pay the Application Fee: Payment will be made through the self-service portal prior to submission of the application. The payment portal accepts debit or credit card only.
Provide Foreign Transcript Evaluation:

An official course by course credential evaluation of all foreign transcripts indicating that, at minimum, the US equivalent of a bachelor’s degree has been awarded by an accredited college or university is required.

Provide Official Transcript(s) & Diploma Copy: A copy of your transcript(s) and diplomas showing a full education history issued in your native language as well as a notarized or certified copy in English must be uploaded to your application.
Provide Evidence of English Proficiency: If English is not your native language and you have not completed at least one year of education (minimum of 18 credit hours) at a United States school, you are required to take a standardized English language exam or complete the ECU Language Academy (ECULA).
- Language Exam Options: The Graduate School accepts either the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), the Duolingo English Test or Pearson Test of English (PTE) and scores must be forwarded to the Graduate School by the testing service. The paper- or computer-based TOEFL exam is accepted by request only.
ECU Language Academy: You may choose to attend the ECU Language Academy instead of taking the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE. Also, if you do not obtain the required score on the TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE, at least one session of the ECU Language Academy may be required prior to the start of your program. Successful completion of all levels of the ECU Language Academy is required for admission without TOEFL, IELTS, or PTE scores. More information on the ECU Language Academy, including the ECULA application, is available on the Intensive English Program website. Individual programs may have higher minimum requirements.
Provide Official Standardized Admissions Test Results: If required by the program you’re applying to, please arrange for an official score report to be sent directly to the Graduate School by the testing service (GRE or GMAT). ECU’s institutional code is 5180. ECU does not have departmental codes.
Upload Statement of Purpose: If required by the program you’re applying to, please upload a copy of your personal statement (why you believe you would be a good candidate for the program) to your application. You may want to use resources to help you write a personal statement in English such as this webinar.
Provide Letters of recommendation: If required by the program you’re applying to, please arrange to have LOR’s submitted electronically with the online application. Review your program’s application requirements to determine the number of letters, if any, that they require.
Upload Resume: If required by the program you’re applying to, please upload a copy of your most recent resume to your online application.
Provide Financial information: If/when you are admitted to a graduate program at ECU you will be required to provide certified evidence of financial resources adequate to cover educational costs and living expenses. Documents only need submitted if/when an offer of admission is extended.

English Requirements

PTEMin 65
IELTSMin 6.5
TOEFLMin 78

Career Opportunities after Completing PhD in School Psychology

Graduates with this degree are successful in many fields and careers, including the following:

Managers
Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists
Psychology Teachers, Postsecondary

Career Opportunities

ECU has developed resources to help you learn more about career opportunities and job market outlook. In addition, the websites below provide specific information on careers in the various majors from which students may choose:

NC Tower

This website provides graphs and tables of in-depth information on employment rates, wages and ongoing higher education enrollment of graduates from the North Carolina Community College System and from the University of North Carolina system schools. NC Tower includes data on former UNC students who are working in roughly 90% of all jobs in North Carolina. This database excludes information for graduates who are:

Self-employed;
Work for the federal government, including the military: or
Work outside of North Carolina.

US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook

This website also provides in-depth information regarding pay, projected new jobs, required education, growth rate and on-the-job training information on various occupations.

Degree-specific internships

For information on internship information for specific majors, go to the home page of the department in which the major is located and, as available, find the link to the information on internships in that major.

Tuition and Fee Information for PhD in School Psychology at East Carolina University

Application Fee 75

How to Apply for PhD in School Psychology at East Carolina University

Thank you for your interest in a graduate program at East Carolina University!

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PhD in School Psychology at East Carolina University

East Carolina University

United States of America, Greenville