School psychologists perform a crucial function – they help kids learn and help teachers teach. They are uniquely qualified to do so due to their background in psychology, mental health, behavior, and learning.
You can gain the necessary background in this field by enrolling in a master’s or doctoral program in school psychology. There are many excellent school psychology programs at universities around the nation. This includes many options in Michigan.
The question is, which school psychology program in Michigan best fits your needs? This guide includes popular options for you to consider!
School Psychology Graduate Programs in Michigan
Below is a list of Michigan-based schools offering school psychology graduate programs that can help prepare you for a future career in Michigan:
- Michigan State University
- Grand Canyon University
- Central Michigan University
- Capella University
- Grand Valley State University
- University of Detroit Mercy
Michigan State University (MSU)
Michigan State University is one of the most well-known and largest universities in the United States. There are almost 50,000 students taking undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral courses at MSU’s East Lansing campus, which covers a massive 5,300 acres. MSU is also recognized as one of the top colleges in the world, with a ranking in the top 100 global universities.
If you enroll at Michigan State, you can choose from more than 200 degrees and programs. The wide selection isn’t the only perk – 39 of these programs are currently ranked in the top 25 in the U.S. You can study abroad, too.
MSU has hundreds of study abroad programs for many different degrees. No matter what you study, MSU offers top-tier research facilities to help you learn more about your chosen vocation.
School Psychology Program Information
The School Psychology program at Michigan State is a terminal degree that results in a Ph.D. You also earn a Master of Arts in School Psychology as part of the Ph.D. program.
This program has three primary goals. First, the program trains you to provide data-based school psychology services to children of all ages in all types of school systems.
Second, the program prepares you for entry-level practice as an expert in health service psychology. And third, the program prepares you to help address the shortage of school psychologists nationwide.
To achieve these goals, you must complete approximately 115 credits of coursework over a five to six year period. Courses include:
- Research Methods in Counseling and School Psychology
- Ethics in Counseling and School Psychology
- Behavior Disorders in Children
- Biological Bases of Behavior
- Roles and Functions of School Psychology
Additionally, you must complete a dissertation and defend it prior to being approved for graduation. This program also requires 1,100 hours of practicum experience and a year-long 2,000 internship. You will participate in these activities with the benefit of 1:1 peer mentorship throughout the program.
To apply for admission, you must submit the following:
- An admissions application and a $65 application fee
- Three letters of recommendation
- An academic statement and a personal statement
- A writing sample
- A resume or curriculum vitae
- A written statement verifying that you can participate in a 2,000 internship
- Official transcripts
GRE scores are optional. Additional requirements apply to international students.
Central Michigan University (CMU)
Back in 1892, when Central Michigan University was founded, it catered specifically to preparing new teachers to meet the growing demand for standardized education. In the years since, CMU has dramatically expanded its program offerings and is a full-scale, comprehensive university that offers hundreds of degrees and programs.
Central Michigan’s main campus is in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. However, much like the university’s program offerings have grown, so has the university’s footprint. Today, CMU has more than two dozen distance learning centers across the United States. Central Michigan also maintains a large online campus where students from around the world can get an education.
School Psychology Program Information
The School Psychology Ph.D. program at Central Michigan is a 106-credit, five-year residential program, meaning you must be on campus in Mount Pleasant to complete this degree.
This program adheres to the scientist-practitioner model. As such, the curriculum focuses on building the skills needed to work with individuals and groups of students in a clinical setting. It also equips you to contribute to the scientific body of knowledge upon which school psychology is based.
As you progress through this APA-accredited program, you will explore topics related to:
- Delivering mental health services
- Working with children and their families
- Providing educational services
- Participating in supervision
If you already have a master’s degree in a related field, you can enroll in this Ph.D. program and complete around 70 credits versus the entire 106-credit curriculum. Doing so takes about 3-4 years to complete.
You can apply to this program provided you meet the following requirements:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree in psychology or have a bachelor’s degree with 15 credits or more of psychology with a 3.0 GPA
- Submit letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and evidence of relevant professional experiences
- Submit an overview of your work history and professional goals
- Demonstrate a capacity for relating to others, working well with others, emotional maturity, stability, and motivation
GRE scores are not required for admission, though it is recommended you submit them.
Grand Valley State University (GVSU)
Grand Valley State University was founded in Allendale, Michigan, in 1960 as Grand Valley State College. In the years since the school has grown by leaps and bounds and today boasts a student enrollment of more than 21,000 students. The university offers nearly 150 degree programs and over 400 student organizations to give you the ultimate educational experience.
As a student at GVSU, you can get an education knowing that you’ll have small class sizes and expert professors to guide you. This is especially true at the graduate and doctoral levels, where most professors have terminal degrees in their field. Furthermore, you can study at GVSU knowing that you get a good return on your investment – the school ranks as one of the best colleges for the money, according to Money Magazine.
School Psychology Program Information
Grand Valley State’s School Psychology program requires three years of study on campus in Allendale or Grand Rapids. It’s a dual program, so you will complete coursework for a Master of Science in School Psychology and a Psychology Specialist.
This program combines broad coursework in school psychology topics. This includes courses like:
- Tests and Measurement
- School-based Intervention & Consultation
- Research in Applied Settings
- Special Education Law
- Behavioral Assessment & Intervention
You will also participate in several practicum experiences totaling 600 hours over the program’s first two years. The practicum component is followed by a 1,200-hour internship during the third year, which takes place in a school setting. These requirements help satisfy professional standards set by the National Association of School Psychologists.
As a result of your studies, you will be eligible to pursue licensure as a school psychologist in Michigan. What’s more, this program includes an Applied Behavior Analysis Certificate, which allows you to pursue board certification as an ABA therapist.
To apply, you must complete the following steps:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field and have at least a 3.0 GPA
- Submit official transcripts from the school that granted the undergraduate degree
- Complete any required prerequisite courses
- Submit a personal statement, three letters of recommendation, and a resume or curriculum vitae
GRE scores are recommended but are not required.
University of Detroit Mercy
The University of Detroit Mercy is Michigan’s largest Catholic institution of higher learning. The school is the result of a merger in 1990 between the University of Detroit, founded in 1877, and the Mercy College of Detroit, founded in 1941. The merger ensured that the university continues providing a faith-based education that adheres to justice, compassion, and faith principles.
Detroit Mercy is a small school with just over 5,000 students. Degrees and programs are offered at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels. In fact, the university has more than 100 degrees and programs in its seven schools and colleges. This includes the Specialist in School Psychology program discussed in detail below.
School Psychology Program Information
The University of Detroit Mercy’s Specialist in School Psychology Program is a three-year, 66-credit curriculum. Your studies result in a Master of Arts in School Psychology and a Specialist in School Psychology credential. The Master’s degree is earned after the program’s first year, while the specialist credential is conferred at the end of the third year.
As part of your studies, you must take traditional coursework as well as participate in a 600-hour practicum. The practicum, which takes place during the second year of your studies, is followed by a full-time 1,200-hour internship that spans the final three semesters of the program.
Upon completion of these degree requirements, you will be able to:
- Recognize the dignity and worth of every person
- Deliver a broad spectrum of school psychology services
- Advocate for children
- Communicate effectively with others while also demonstrating respectful, professional conduct
- Practice in a legal and ethical manner
You can apply to this program at the master’s level (for students without a master’s degree) or the specialist level (for students who already have a master’s). In either case, you must meet the following criteria for consideration:
- Complete the graduate school application
- Have a 2.7 GPA or higher for the last two years of undergraduate work and a 3.0 GPA or higher for any graduate work, as evidenced by an official transcript
- Submit three letters of recommendation, a statement of purpose, and a resume
You can include GRE scores as part of your application, but they are not required.
School Psychology Work Opportunities in Michigan
By and large, school psychologists work in K-12 settings. As a school psychologist in a large school district in Michigan, you might expect to work in a single school or with a specific population. For example, after becoming a licensed school psychologist, you might be assigned to a junior high school where you work with kids in grades 7-9. Or, you might work in an elementary school setting with developmentally-delayed students.
In small school districts, school psychologists often rotate from one school to the next. So, you might work at an elementary school two days a week, a junior high school two days a week, and a high school one day a week. Of course, every school district is different, so your experience will vary from one district to the next.
In some cases, school psychologists in Michigan don’t work in schools but work for educational institutions instead. For example, you might find work with the Michigan Department of Education where you help direct curriculum development, design interventions for schools, and advocate for special needs children.
No matter your specific duties and place of employment, your education as a school psychologist enables you to have a significant, positive impact on Michigan’s future generations.
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