Plan Description
Educational Psychology Ed.S. program is based upon standards set forth by Nevada state and national accreditation organizations and is a nationally approved program by the National Association of School Psychologist (NASP). Students pursuing school psychology studies meet credential standards by completing at least 66 semester hours beyond the bachelor’s degree of required and elective graduate-level course work including a 1,200 hours of supervised internship. Completion of this program of graduate study enables the student to receive state licensure as a school psychologist in Nevada and the opportunity to gain national certification as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP).
The program adopts a Cultural Ecological framework of school psychology and the scientist/practitioner model of training. Courses and practica seek to integrate theory and applied skills for working in schools and other educational settings. The primary goal of the school psychology program is to prepare professional school psychologists who can apply psychological principles to (a) promote healthy development in school and (b) ameliorate various cognitive, academic and psychosocial challenges for all children, families, schools, and communities in an increasingly diverse and global society.
For more information about your program, including your graduate program handbook and learning outcomes, please visit the Degree Directory.
Plan Admission Requirements
Application deadlines
Applications available on the UNLV Graduate College website.
Students are admitted each spring to begin the following fall. Applicants must have a 2.75 undergraduate GPA with the last two years GPA of 3.0. The GRE must also be taken, with preference given to applicants who score at or above the 50% percentile on both the verbal and quantitative scores on the GRE. The admission process begins with applications submitted to the Graduate College and to the program
Admission is based on the following criteria:
- Graduate College online application
- Department application
- Preference is given to students whose scores relate to the 50th percentile or better on the verbal and quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE)
- Three letters of recommendation from former instructors, employers, or other professionals who can evaluate the potential to complete graduate study
- One-page career goals statement which also serves as a sample of the applicant’s writing skills
- Transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
All domestic and international applicants must review and follow the Graduate College Admission and Registration Requirements.
Students are accepted into a degree program as described in the Graduate Catalog. The faculty and corresponding sub-disciplines and sub-plans within the described programs are subject to change at any time.
Plan Requirements
Total Credits Required: 66
Course Requirements
Psychology/Educational Foundations Courses – Credits: 12
EPY 711 - Human Growth and Development
EPY 712 - Foundations of Learning and Cognition
ESP 701 - Introduction to Special Education and Legal Issues
EPP 760 - Psychoeducational Issues of Diverse Learners
Psychology/Educational Foundations Elective Course – Credits: 3
An elective may be taken in research (EPY) and is highly recommended for those students who want to earn their M.S. in Educational Psychology and/or for those students seeking doctoral studies in the future. Elective may also be taken in EPP, CED, ESP, or other course approved by the academic advisor.
Assessment & Intervention Courses – Credits: 26
EPP 735 - Evidence Based Interventions to Promote Mental Health
EPP 710 - Assessment of Intelligence by School Psychologists
EPY 786 - Applied Assessment in Educational and School Psychology
EPP 715 - Projective, Personality, and Behavioral Assessment by School Psychologists
CED 727 - Counseling Process and Procedures
EPP 730 Consultation Theory and Skills
EPP 763 - Psychoeducational Academic and Diagnostic Assessment
ESP 733 - Management and Modification of Students with Special Needs
EPP 770 Systems Change, Leadership, & Advocacy in Schools
Research Course – Credits: 3
EPY 702 - Research Methods
Professional School Psychology Courses – Credits: 10
EPP 761 - Role and Function of the School Psychologist
EPP 764 - School Psychology Seminar
EPP 745 Legal Clinic on Law, Ethics, & Advocacy
School Psychology Course – Credits: 6
EPP 762 - School Psychology Intermediate Practicum
Internship Course – Credits: 6
EPP 769 - Internship in School Psychology
Degree Requirements
- Student must complete a minimum of 66 credit hours with a minimum GPA of 3.00.
- Course substitutions may be allowed with advisor and/or program faculty approval.
* An elective may be taken in research (EPY) and is highly recommended for those students who want to earn their M.S. in Educational Psychology (see below) and/or for those students seeking doctoral studies in the future. Elective may also be taken in EPP, CED, ESP, or other course approved by the academic advisor.
- Following the first year of the required prescribed Ed.S. program courses (minimum of 34 credits) and successful completion of EPY 721 Descriptive and Inferential Statistics and the comprehensive examination, students are eligible to receive an M.S. degree in Educational Psychology.
- The culminating experience for the School Psychology Ed.S. is the completion of a two-semester (minimum of 1200 clock hour) internship in a school setting. This is typically a full-time assignment, completed at the end of the program. During this time students will also enroll in EPP 769 and complete a portfolio with results of a national exam and examples of work product. The portfolio will serve as the final examination for the Ed.S. degree.
- Students will typically have completed all other coursework prior to being approved for internship. Students must have successfully completed the primary assessment courses (EPP 710, EPP 715, EPP 763) and the practica to be eligible for internship placement.