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Curriculum and Instruction, School Psychology Concentration, Ed.S.

Curriculum and Instruction

Become a licensed School Psychologist and prepare for a rewarding career supporting students' academic and emotional needs.

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Curriculum and Instruction, School Psychology Concentration, Ed.S.

School Psychologists work in collaboration with teachers, parents, and other school personnel to meet the academic, social, behavioral, and emotional needs of students from pre-school to high school. The School Psychology program at Â鶹ӰÒô offers an M.A. that couples with an Ed.S. program and leads to licensure as a School Psychologist through the Tennessee Department of Education. The curriculum entails 66 credit hours of on-campus courses, school-based practica, and a year-long capstone internship in the schools. The M.A. portion of the program comes first. The Ed.S. is an advanced degree. It is only available to students who have master’s degrees in School Psychology. Transfer students from other master’s programs in Psychology or Counseling may apply, but they will be required to complete deficiencies from the M.A. portion of the School Psychology program. Courses and field-work components prepare graduates of the program to provide evidence-based assessment, consultation, and intervention services in a school setting. The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) first approved the program in 1991 and 2023 marked the program's 50th anniversary.

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Starting Internships and New Jobs!!

2024-2025 Internship Locations:

  • Bedford County Schools (1) - Project RAISE
  • Dixon County Schools (2)
  • Maury County Schools (1) - Project RAISE
  • Sumner County Schools (2)
  • Williamson County Schools (1)

2024 Graduate Job Placements:

  • Carrollton Farmers Branch Independent School District, Carrollton Texas  (1)
  • Metro Nashville Public Schools (2)
  • Murfreesboro City Schools (1)
  • Rutherford County Schools (1)
  • Sumner County Schools (1)
  • Williamson County Schools (2)

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Careers
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Faculty
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News Briefs

We’ve Been Celebrating!

We’ve Been Celebrating!

Over 150 alumni, family members, and MTSU faculty and staff filled the atrium of ACB on September 9, 2023, to celebrate our 50th anniversary and honor the 48- year career of program founder, Dr. James O. Rust. Photo to the left shows current and past program faculty and alumni that graduated between 1978 and 2023 who were on hand for the photo shoot.

Collecting Data!

Collecting Data!

We are currently in a 2-year data collection cycle that is part of the NASP (National Association of School Psychologists) approval process. Self-study materials are due September 2025 and NASP reviewers will conduct a site visit in 2026.  We have been recognized as a fully approved program since 1991 and maintaining this status is core to our identity as a program and the training we provide.  Graduates of NASP approved programs are eligible for the NCSP (National Certification as a School Psychologist) approval process. One hundred percent of our students during the 2023-2024 school year passed the PRAXIS II exam at the national level, secured an internship, obtained licensure and a job working as a School Psychologist.

News Briefs

We’ve Been Celebrating!

Over 150 alumni, family members, and MTSU faculty and staff filled the atrium of ACB on September 9, 2023, to celebrate our 50th anniversary and honor the 48- year career of program founder, Dr. James O. Rust. Photo to the left shows current and past program faculty and alumni that graduated between 1978 and 2023 who were on hand for the photo shoot.

Collecting Data!

We are currently in a 2-year data collection cycle that is part of the NASP (National Association of School Psychologists) approval process. Self-study materials are due September 2025 and NASP reviewers will conduct a site visit in 2026.  We have been recognized as a fully approved program since 1991 and maintaining this status is core to our identity as a program and the training we provide.  Graduates of NASP approved programs are eligible for the NCSP (National Certification as a School Psychologist) approval process. One hundred percent of our students during the 2023-2024 school year passed the PRAXIS II exam at the national level, secured an internship, obtained licensure and a job working as a School Psychologist.

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CAREERS

Curriculum and Instruction, School Psychology Concentration, Ed.S.


MTSU graduates from our combined M.A./Ed.S. program are employed in education settings as school psychologists.

Employers of MTSU alumni include

  • Bedford County Schools
  • Cartersville (Ga.) Schools
  • Cave City (Ark.) School District
  • Coffee County Schools
  • Dickson County Schools
  • Knoxville City Schools
  • Lewis County Schools
  • McMinn County Schools
  • Metro-Nashville Public Schools
  • Murfreesboro City Schools
  • Rutherford County School
  • Sumner County Schools
  • Tennessee Department of Education
  • Vancouver (Wash.) Public Schools
  • Warren County Schools
  • Williamson County Schools
  • Wilson County Schools

 

Recent Internship Placements

2023-2024

  • Carrollton Farmers Branch Independent School District, Carrollton Texas (1)
  • Lee’s Summit R-7 Schools- Kansas City, Missouri (1)
  • Murfreesboro City Schools (2)
  • Metro-Nashville Public Schools (3)
  • Rutherford County Public Schools (1)
  • Williamson County Schools (1)

Recent Employers

2023-2024

  • Widefield District 3, Colorado Springs, Colorado (1)
  • Dickson County Schools, Tennessee (1)
  • Garfield Heights City Schools, Cleveland, Ohio (1)
  • Metro Nashville Public Schools, Tennessee (2)
  • Murfreesboro City Schools, Tennessee (1)
  • Rutherford County Schools, Tennessee (1)
  • Toole County School District, Utah (1)
  • Williamson County Schools, Tennessee (2)

 

MTSU Career Development Center

MTSU’s Career Development Center

MTSU offers a comprehensive Career Development Center that serves students throughout the full student experience and beyond. They collaborate with faculty and staff to equip students with the tools to be marketable to the world of work and continuing education.  

Students can schedule an appointment or check online resources and job boards at mtsu.edu/career

Students can find current internship opportunities by talking to faculty and visiting the University job and internship board called . 

Wondering what you can do with your major? Check out our guides. 

REQUIREMENTS

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FAQ

What is a school psychologist?

A school psychologist is interested in the translation and implementation of Psychological knowledge within the school system. This implies that psychology is the core of the student’s training and the foundation upon which professional development will occur. Such a conception demands that the psychologist draw upon a number of specialty areas such as professional education, educational psychology, clinical and child psychology, curriculum design, developmental psychology, social psychology, and the experimental analysis of behavior.

What is the school psychologist’s function in the educational environment?

The school psychologist does not apply skills in a vacuum, but in the context of an educational system containing other professionals. Therefore, the psychologist must have a realistic understanding of the functions, methods, and problems of the school, and be especially appreciative of the role of the classroom teacher as well as other special staff members carrying on related functions (e.g., the counselor, speech therapist, special education teacher, etc.). The school psychologist is involved in consultation, assessment, intervention, prevention, educational development, research, and planning.

What educational factors are common issues for school psychologist?

Many unique situations are contained within the general learning environment. The major psychosocial factors to be considered in any situation include, the child, the teacher, other children, the family and the specific cultural environment. These will directly affect the other factors and exert major influences on the learning and behavior of any given child. To deal with the relation of these factors, the school psychologist will need to be familiar with two areas: (1) psychological theories including intervention theories, cognition and personality paradigms, assessment and evaluation procedures, methods of communication, and so on; and (2) the structure and organization of public schools, particularly the practical aspects of day-to-day instruction and the problems teachers encounter.

What is the goal of education?

The school psychologist recognizes that the ultimate goal of education is to provide all pupils with opportunities for maximal intellectual, educational and interpersonal growth so that they may live full and satisfying lives as contributing members of a diverse society. Clearly, the pupil is the cornerstone of attention for everyone. With special training in inter- and intra-personal behavior, and an appreciation for the contributions of diverse groups, the school psychologist is in a unique position to recognize and deal with many variables within the school system that contribute to the child’s development (i.e., the teacher, the administration, peers, class and program placement, specific situations, and so on.)

What is the School Psychology program like at MTSU?

The School Psychology program at Â鶹ӰÒô is field-based. The purpose of the program is to educate Ed.S. level school psychologists for licensure by the Tennessee Board of Education. Graduates also are eligible to apply for designation as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist. Students typically earn the M.A. degree after the first year and a half of study and the Ed.S. at the end of their third year.

What type of theory does the MTSU school psychology program use?

The School Psychology program uses a psychosocial model and promotes a multicultural perspective that celebrates human diversity. The program sees the child as a unique individual always confronting a unique situation. As such, the child can only be understood in the context of both the general factors that contribute to the environment and the specific factors that make up the child’s unique situation. The child’s learning environment is influenced by three major social systems: society in general (including the cultural context), the family situation, and the school system. Differing sets of values, goals, and expectations are possessed by each of these social systems, and their interaction will exert major influences on the child and the classroom. The school psychologist must be prepared to understand and deal with each of these factors.

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Professional Licensure Disclosure

The combined Master of Arts (M.A.) in Psychology and Specialist in Education (Ed.S.) in Curriculum and Instruction with concentration in School Psychology at Â鶹ӰÒô (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. MTSU has not made a determination whether this program will meet all of the requirements of another US state or territory. MTSU recommends that students who plan to seek licensure outside the state of Tennessee contact the appropriate licensing agency and discuss their plans with their advisor. To obtain current information about each state’s and territory’s licensure requirements and any additional regulations, students should consult the US Department of Education’s website for state contacts at https://www2.ed.gov/about/contacts/state/index.html, the NASP listing of state school psychology requirements at https://www.nasponline.org/standards-and-certification/state-school-psychology-credentialing-requirements, and discuss their plans with their advisor.

Graduates of MTSU’s combined MA-EdS program are eligible for the Nationally Certified School Psychologist credential from the National School Psychology Certification Board of the National Association of School Psychologists. Students seeking national certification should consult the NASP website at https://www.nasponline.org/standards-and-certification/national-certification and their advisor.

Students are first admitted into the M.A. portion of the school psychology program, and paperwork is required later in the program for admission into the Ed.S. program.

Students with a Master's degree already in Psychology or Counseling may apply for the Ed.S. but will be required to complete deficiencies.

For complete curriculum details, click on REQUIREMENTS above.

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