Psychology, Pre-Specialist in Education: School Psychology Concentration, M.A.

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Master of Arts in Psychology with Pre-Specialist in Education: School Psychology concentration requires

1. an earned bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college. Most applicants have completed 9 semester hours of psychology classes prior to admission to their graduate programs. Those applicants without 9 semester hours of undergraduate psychology may be admitted to the programs but must complete those credits in addition to their graduate programs.
2. an acceptable undergraduate grade point average (at least 3.00) in all college work taken.
3. completion of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) with acceptable scores.

NOTE: Students who do not meet admission requirements may be admitted as non-degree seeking to a specific concentration. Students admitted as non-degree seeking must maintain a 3.25 GPA in their first semester (9 hours minimum) of required graduate courses in their concentration areas.

Application Procedures

All application materials are to be submitted to the College of Graduate Studies.

Application Deadlines: Applications for Summer/Fall admission must be completed by March 1, and applications for Spring admission must be completed by October 1. Late applicants who meet the admission criteria may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Applicant must

1. submit application with the appropriate application fee (online at www.mtsu.edu/graduate/apply.php). Once this initial application has been accepted, the applicant will receive directions on how to enter the graduate portal to be able to submit other materials.
2. submit official scores on the GRE-a minimum of 291 on the combined Verbal and Quantitative sections is expected.
3. submit official transcripts of all previous college work.
4. submit the supplemental School Psychology program application.
5. submit three (3) references (found within the admissions application). It is recommended that at least two references should be completed by faculty who can attest to the applicant’s academic abilities.
6. submit a current curriculum vita that includes education and employment history, research involvement, volunteer activities, references, and awards/scholarships.
7. submit a statement of purpose, including reasons for interest in the field of School Psychology and the program at MTSU, and a description of professional goals. (Typically two to three [2-3] pages in length).

NOTE 1: Admission to graduate study in School Psychology is competitive and not automatic for students meeting minimal admission requirements. Students are selected from a pool of qualified applicants. Each year the number of students admitted to the program depends on the availability of adequate faculty supervision.

NOTE 2: To be considered for a graduate assistantship, students must submit additional materials. Information about the application procedure is available at psychology.mtsu.edu/grad-assistantship/.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Arts in Psychology with a concentration in Pre-Specialist in Education: School Psychology requires completion of 35 semester hours.

Candidate must

1. be able to meet the demands required for professional work in psychology. Therefore, students may be subject to dismissal from the Psychology Department if they (a) commit a serious breach of ethics or gross pro­fessional negligence or (b) present evidence of impaired psychological functioning that would present a danger to themselves or others in a professional role. Students who are dismissed may reapply and will be considered for readmission on a competitive basis. Students who reapply may be asked to provide evidence of improved ability to meet performance requirements. See program director and program handbook for readmission policy.
2. demonstrate knowledge of the core areas of psychology by completing the following courses prior to entering the School Psychology program or during enrollment in the program (relevant courses offered at MTSU are listed in parentheses):
   1. 3 credit hours of statistics (PSY 3020);
   2. 3 credit hours of learning or behavior analysis (PSY 4480/5480, PSY 4400);
   3. 3 credit hours of developmental psychology, psychological disorders, cognitive psychology, biological basis of behavior/neuropsychology, personality theories, or social psychology (PSY 2190, PSY 2210, PSY 2300, PSY 3230, PSY 3590, PSY 4040, PSY 4120, PSY 4190, or PSY 4240).
3. complete a total of 35 semester hours (see Curriculum section below for specifics). Students without at least 9 hours of core areas of psychology undergraduate coursework (see #2) will be required to complete up to 9 hours of additional psychology coursework that will not count toward the M.A. degree. Requirements meet the 2020 NASP 10 Domains of Competency:

   a. data-based decision making;
   b. consultation and collaboration;
   c. academic interventions and instructional supports;
   d. mental and behavioral health services and  interventions;
   e. school-wide practices to promote learning;
   f. services to promote safe and supportive schools;
   g. family, school, and community collaboration;
   h. equitable practices for diverse student populations;
   i. research and evidenced-based practices;
   j. legal, ethical, and professional practice.

4. pass a written comprehensive examination prepared by the faculty in the student’s concentration (may be taken no more than twice).
5. maintain professional liability insurance (coverage amount at the student’s discretion) throughout enrollment in the program, with a current insurance binder filed with the department at all times.

Curriculum: Psychology, Pre-Specialist in Education: School Psychology

The following illustrates the minimum coursework requirements.

Program Notes

If changes to the program are needed (such as course substitutions), students should file a Revision Form available on the Graduate Studies website at www.mtsu.edu/graduate/forms.php.