Master's Degree in School Psychology with PPS Credential
Irvine, Los Angeles, San Diego & San Francisco Campuses

Career Outlook and Need for Educational Psychologists

The career prospects for school and educational psychologists are very good - in fact, a 2009 US News and World Report ranked it among the best career choices. In part, the article noted:

The job outlook for school psychologists should be strong...[and] so are the working conditions. You are likely to follow the school schedule and work just nine months of the year. Status and job security are high, and the stress manageable. And school psychologists often get to do such rewarding tasks as conducting parenting workshops, counseling teachers and parents, and screening kids for gifted-student programs. Most school psychologists spend more time assessing students for special education, writing individualized education plans, and persuading parents and teachers to sign off on them.

The need for school psychologists is driven by both demographic changes and state laws that mandate equal opportunity for students who are coping with a broad array of emotional and social challenges. These include language and cultural barriers, exposure to violence, victimization and/or substance abuse, attention deficit disorder, and other neurological and behavioral disorders.

School Psychology V. Educational Psychology: What's the Difference?

Although the term "school psychologist" is casually used in connection with anyone who provides psychological services in an educational setting, within the profession, it usually refers to someone holding a masters' degree. Many jobs are open to those with masters' degrees, but a doctoral degree opens the doors to higher education and also to some highly paid positions in testing, screening and research.

The doctoral degree held by psychologists is known as a "PsyD degree" and it is a doctorate in educational, rather than school, psychology. The difference in nomenclature is important, because you must have the appropriate titled degree to be eligible to test for licensure. (For more on the difference between the two doctoral degrees held by psychologists, the PsyD and PhD degrees, see the discussion provided by our sister school, the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant.)

A Two-Year Master's Program for Working Professionals

During the two-year Master's Degree program, students will take late afternoon, evening, and weekend classes, and they will also in fieldwork. Occasionally, course meetings will be offered at partner district school sites. Upon completion of 43 semester units (including 450 practicum hours), candidates will qualify for the Master’s Degree in School Psychology.

Most students who are seeking the PPS Credential in School Psychology will complete an additional 17 units (7 units of course work and practicum, plus 10 units of a 1200-hour internship).

An Expedited Path to a Doctoral Degree:
Save a Year and Increase your Earning Potential

While working as interns in the third year, qualified masters degree students will be able to enroll concurrently in the PsyD program in educational  psychology at Alliant. The doctoral enables you to teach at the college or university level and opens opportunities not just in education, but also in broader areas such as government, private businesses, non-profit organizations at the local, state or national level.

Classes for this doctoral program meet in the evenings and on weekends to accommodate working professionals. Thus, students who enroll in the PsyD program while completing internships will be completing the last year of the credential program simultaneously with the first year of the PsyD program. This reduces the time-to-degree from six to five years.

The Master's Degree and credential programs in School Psychology will be of interest to recent college graduates with bachelor's degrees, current teachers, school personnel and professionals in other related fields. The program can be completed by those who work other jobs during the week as long as students allow for approximately 6 to 8

"school-time hours" (K-12) per week to complete course/practicum assignments. To complete the credential in the third year, students will need to complete a 1200-hour internship at a public school district.

The opportunity to gain paid internship depend on the budgets and policies of individual school districts.

Admissions Process

Applicants for admission to the Master's Degree Program in School Psychology will need:

• a grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale in their undergraduate work
• to pass the CBEST exam prior to starting internship.

Students who finish the Master's Degree (43 semester units) Program, and the additional 17 semester units for the PPS School Psychology Credential and want to pursue the doctorate (PsyD) will then enter the Advanced Standing PsyD degree program. That program is currently enrolling students and is described as a Three-Year Advanced Standing Program.

For More Information

Southern California Recruiter
Kara Janowsky
(858) 635-4442
kjanowsky@alliant.edu

Northern California Recruiter
Julie Aquino
(415) 955-2087
jaquino@alliant.edu