Program Mission: The Master of Science in School Psychology is required as the first step toward completion of the Specialist’s in School Psychology which is the requirement for the preparation of competent professional school psychologists who serve children, teachers, and parents in an age of societal, educational, and professional change.   Candidates who successfully complete the MS in School Psychology at Eastern Illinois University have the option to continue on and complete the Specialist Program or may consider the alternative of pursuing a doctoral degree.

Accreditation:  The school psychology program is fully approved by the Illinois State Board of Education and fully recognized by the National Council Accreditation of Teacher Education. 

Students are guaranteed state certification upon successful completion of the specialist’s degree and the state licensure examination. In addition, the program has been approved by the National Association of School Psychologists, which guarantees candidates a national certification upon passing the examination for the Nationally Certified School Psychologists (NCSP).

Admission Requirements: To be eligible for degree candidacy, applicants must meet all of the requirements for admission to the Graduate School (see “Admission to Graduate Degree and Certificate Programs”).  Prior to consideration for acceptance, the applicant must provide evidence of admission to the Graduate School and submit test scores for the GRE (general) test. In addition, the departmental application and three letters of recommendation attesting to the applicant’s abilities and promise in the area of school psychology should be provided to the School Psychology Committee. A personal statement of reasons for wanting to enter the profession, related strengths and experiences, as well as long-term goals, is also required. If the following entrance requirements are met, the applicant may be eligible for acceptance into the MS in School Psychology Degree Program in route to the Specialist in School Psychology Program.

• A 3.0 (4.0 scale) grade point average in all undergraduate courses and a 3.25 in undergraduate psychology;  OR
• A composite (verbal, quantitative, analytical writing) score at the 50th percentile or higher on the Graduate Record Exam - General Aptitude Test;” OR
• A score at the 50th percentile or higher on the psychology portion of the Graduate Record Exam.

Program Prerequisites: Applicants must present a transcript from an accredited institution showing completion of the following courses:  introductory psychology; statistical Methods; child psychology/Human Development; Abnormal Psychology, Learning or Behavior analysis/ Modification. 

Candidates with a Master’s Degrees other than in psychology will be considered for admission as long as they meet the admission requirement and program prerequisites described above.