MA in Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology with Emphasis in School Psychology
The Masters of Arts (M.A.) program in School Psychology is completed concurrently with the Doctoral (Ph.D.) program in School Psychology. The M.A. program itself is not a terminal degree program. Students admitted to the Doctoral program in School Psychology (Ph.D.) who have already completed an advanced degree in School Psychology or a related field, including completion of a data-based graduate level research project, may not be required to complete a Masters of Education (M.A.) program in School Psychology. Students admitted to the Ph.D. degree program typically complete degree requirements (coursework and comprehensive examination) for the Masters of Arts by the end of their second year in the program. Students admitted to the M.A./Ph.D. programs in School Psychology are prepared to support the learning, behavior, and mental health of youth and their families as well as support the enhancement of the educational and mental health systems that serve those children and families. Through coursework as well as research, clinical, and teaching experiences, graduates are prepared to serve as leaders in clinical settings as well as researcher/scholars in higher education settings. Completion of the M.A. program alone does not lead to licensure as a Psychologist nor state certification as a School Psychologist; however, graduates of both the M.A. and Ph.D. programs are eligible for licensure as a Psychologist and state certification as a School Psychologist, pending completion of additional examinations specified in their intended jurisdiction.
Degree Requirements
| General Core | 26 | |
| Foundations of Educational and Psychological Measurement | ||
| Research in Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology | ||
or ESC_PS 8090 | Master's Thesis in Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology | |
| Professional Iss. in Sch. Psych. I:Hist., Trends & Ethical Pract. | ||
| Psychological Assessment of Children and Adolescents: Cognitive Assessment | ||
| Psychological Assessment in Children and Adolescents: Behavior and Social Emotional Assessment | ||
| Psychological Interventions with Children and Adolescents: Behavioral Intervention | ||
| Psychological Interventions with Children and Adolescents: Educational Instruction | ||
| School Psychology Practicum: Introduction | ||
| Psychological Foundations (select from the following): | 6 | |
| Lifespan Development | ||
| Ethical and Legal Issues in Psychological Practice | ||
| Cognition and Emotion | ||
| Developmental Psychopathology and Exceptionality | ||
| Multicultural Issues in Counseling | ||
| Social Bases of Behavior | ||
| Advanced History and Systems of Psychology | ||
| Biological Basis of Behavior | ||
Sample Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ESC_PS 8082 | 3 | ESC_PS 8100 | 3 |
| ESC_PS 8125 | 3 | ESC_PS 8145 | 3 |
| ESC_PS 8140 | 3 | ESC_PS 8160 | 3 |
| ESC_PS 8250 | 1 | ESC_PS 8250 | 1 |
| ESC_PS 9000 | 4 | ||
| 10 | 14 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits |
| ESC_PS 8095 | 3 | ESC_PS 8095 | 3 |
| ESC_PS 8530 | 3 | ||
| 6 | 3 | ||
| Total Credits: 33 | |||
Thesis/Non-Thesis Requirements
Students are required to complete a data-based research project in order to earn their M.A. in School Psychology. Students have two options, the master’s thesis or the master’s manuscript, both requiring similar scholarly and scientific rigor to their project. The thesis option requires that students comply with the graduate school expectations for committee membership and formatting, while the manuscript option does not. Students taking the latter option often format their manuscript for publication in professional journals.
Admissions
Applicants are required to meet two sets of minimum qualifications for admission: the requirements of the MA in Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology program and the minimum requirements of the Graduate School. Because requirements vary, you must refer to a degree program's graduate admission page to learn about specific admission criteria, application deadlines, eligibility, and application process. Your application materials will be reviewed by both the Graduate School and the degree program to which you’ve applied before official admission to the University of Missouri.