The UHV Specialist in School Psychology program is dedicated to providing students with a comprehensive, integrated program of study delivered by qualified faculty, as well as substantial supervised field experiences necessary for the provision of school psychological services which positively impact children, youth, families, and the schools that serve them. The training standards within the program are consistent with the standards of the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychology (TSBEP) Licensed Specialist in School Psychology (LSSP) credentialing, which complies with the nationally recognized standards for the practice of school psychology per the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) standards.

The mission of the UHV school psychology program is to train entry-level school psychology practitioners, namely, Licensed Specialists in School Psychology (LSSP), in accordance to the standards set by the Texas State Board of Examiners (TSBEP). The program is designed around NASP standards to prepare students for the NCSP. With emphasis on best practice application of school psychology, faculty and students are expected to be both consumers and evaluators of empirically-based practice, while providing empirically-based school psychological services to a diverse population of individuals including children, families, school personnel, and other related professionals. Students are trained to adequately assess difficulties students may be having that impact their education, consult with teachers and parents regarding student difficulties and intervene with students through evidence-based academic, behavioral, and counseling interventions. The School Psychology program has a core philosophy that emphasizes student development of competencies in the delivery of practical, empirically sound services to a wide range of children in diverse learning environments.

The School Psychology Program is a 63-hour non-terminal degree, leading to a Specialist in School Psychology degree (SSP), which meets the academic requirements for the Texas Licensed Specialist in School Psychology (LSSP) credential. With this licensing, you can practice as a Licensed Specialist in School Psychology (LSSP) in K-12 public schools.

General Admission Requirements. Admission to the School Psychology program is based on an evaluation by the program’s admission committee of the following information.

In addition to meeting university admissions requirements for a graduate degree, prospective psychology students must submit their official GRE scores. GMAT scores will not be accepted. Admission to the counseling psychology, forensic psychology, or school psychology program is based on an evaluation by the program’s admission committee of the following information.

• A 1-2 page essay which states the applicant’s reasons for applying to the program and the applicant’s career goals.
• One letter of recommendation from a non-UHV, non-family source.
• Evidence of having completed undergraduate or graduate courses in statistics, research methods, and abnormal psychology. A particular course will be waived as a requirement if the student passes a comprehensive final exam or its equivalent for the designated course with a grade of “C” or better. The exam may be taken no more than once for a particular course.
• Submit official GRE scores and have an Admissions index of 980 or higher, obtained by the following:
• GPA on at least the last 60 semester credit hours times 200 Plus 15 times (Verbal + Quantitative - 260).
• A phone interview with UHV graduate faculty in psychology.

Review of Student Progress

Student progress will be reviewed on a regular basis with the intention of identifying students who may need remediation to continue in the program. Continuation in the counseling psychology, forensic psychology, or school psychology program requires satisfactory academic performance, appropriate personal attributes, and ethical behavior. In addition, students must demonstrate the acquisition of appropriate clinical and professional skills. All students are evaluated annually and as needed for academic progress and professional behavior and development. A student who fails to meet minimal criteria will be asked to sign a probation agreement that specifies the remediation terms for continuation in the program. Dismissal from the program will result if the student fails to follow the terms of the agreement. More detailed information about the minimal criteria for continuation in the program may be obtained from the student’s academic advisor or the program coordinator.