School Psychology PhD

Doctor of Philosophy in School Psychology

For Fall 2023 admissions, the TC School Psychology programs have retained use of the GRE scores. Faculty use the scores, along with undergraduate GPA, letters of recommendation, the personal statement, and other materials to perform a holistic review of each applicant. There is no minimum GRE cutoff score for either the EdM or PhD program in School Psychology.

For Fall 2023 admissions, the following faculty members will be reviewing PhD applications from external students (i.e., students not already in our EdM program):
Dr. Prerna Arora - pa2542@tc.columbia.edu
Dr. Melissa Collier-Meek - mc5256@tc.columbia.edu 

Please indicate in your personal statement which of these faculty you are applying to work with.

The Ph.D. program is fully accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). For general information about APA accreditation or specific information about the accreditation status of our program contact:

Jacqueline Remondet Wall, Ph.D.
Director, Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association 
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
(202) 336-5979; http://www.apa.org

If you have questions regarding the accreditation of the program by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) contact:

Natalie Politikos, Ph.D.
National Association of School Psychologists
4340 East West Highway
Suite 402
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-657-4155
http://www.nasponline.org

Our Ph.D. program requires a minimum of 90 points. Attainment of the doctoral degree prepares students for certification as a school psychologist and licensure as a psychologist. On average, doctoral students should plan on five years of full-time attendance, including summers. This includes three years of coursework, a two-semester externship in the third year, a full-year internship during the fifth year, and a dissertation. The program can be completed in 5.2 years (enter in September of Year 1, graduate in October of Year 5 as internships end on either June 30 or August 31 and the next graduation date is early October) if students begin a program of research early in the program and complete the doctoral certification requirements (research methods examination, theoretical and empirical paper) by the 4th year of the program. Typically, most of the coursework (including practica, fieldwork, and externship) is completed by the end of the third year if the student completes only the one required externship. However, for many years, all students have completed two externships to make themselves more competitive in the APPIC match (one in a clinical setting, one in a public school), extending externship into the 4th year. Some students have chosen to do a third externship if they are specializing in intellectual disabilities/autism or child neuropsychology. The third externship increases competitiveness in the internship match and postdoctoral competition. The 4th and 5th (or 6th) years are devoted to dissertation and internship.

Ph.D. Student Handbook

 

A graduate student smiles while she makes a point in a discussion with her peers at TC.

Admissions Information

Doctor of Philosophy

  • Points/Credits: 90
  • Entry Terms: Fall Only

Certification

View Public Disclosure Notification

  • NY State Provisional: School Psychology

Application Deadlines

  • Spring: N/A
  • Summer/Fall (Priority): December 1
  • Summer/Fall (Final): December 1

Supplemental Application Requirements/Comments

Request Info Apply Now

Requirements from the TC Catalog

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Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D., 90 points)

Our American Psychological Association (APA)- and National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)- accredited doctoral program (Ph.D.) requires a minimum of 90 points. Students may have to complete courses in addition to those included in the curriculum if their advisor deems it necessary (e.g., an extra statistics course). Attainment of the doctoral degree prepares students for certification as a school psychologist and licensure as a psychologist. On average, doctoral students should plan on five years of full-time attendance, including summers. This includes three years of coursework, a two-semester externship in the third year, a full-year internship during the fifth year, and a dissertation.

Suggested Sequence of Courses by Year and Semester

(Semesters in parentheses represent other times courses are offered)

 

First Year

Fall (12 credits)

  • HBSK5320(3) Individual Psychological Testing I*

  • HBSK4025(3) Professional and Ethical Functions of School Psychologists

  • HBSK4073(3) Childhood Disorders*

  • HUDM4122(3) Probability and Statistical Inference (most semesters)

  • HBSK657_(0) Research Practicum

Spring (15 credits)

  • HBSK5321(3) Individual Psychological Testing II*

  • HBSK5378(3) Practicum in Psychoeducational Assessment of School Subject Difficulties*

  • HBSK5050(3) Cognitive and Behavioral Interventions for Youth

  • HBSK6380(3) Practicum in Psychoeducational Assessment with Culturally Diverse Students

  • HBSE 4015(3)  Applied Behavior Analysis I

  • HBSK657_(0) Research Practicum

Summer (6 credits)

  • HUDM5122(3) Applied Regression Analysis (most semesters)

  • ORL5362(3)    Group Dynamics: A Systems Perspective (most semesters)

Second Year

Fall (13 credits)

  • ORLJ5040(3)   Research Methods in Social Psychology

  • HBSK5280(4)   Fieldwork in School Psychological Services

  • HBSK6584(3)   Seminar: School Psychology Consultation

  • HBSK6382(3)   Advanced Practicum in Psychoeducational Interventions in Schools

  • HBSK657_(0)   Research Practicum

Spring (18 credits)

  • HBSK5031(3) Family as the Context for Child Development

  • HBSK657_(0) Research Practicum

  • HBSK5280(4) Fieldwork in School Psychological Services

  • HBSK 6362(3) Group Work with Children & Adolescents

  • HBSK 4030 (3)   Multicultural Issues in School Psychology

  • BBS 5069 (2)  Brain and behavior I

Summer (8 credits)

  • HUDM5059(3) Psychological Measurement

  • HUDM5123(3) Linear Models and Experimental Design

  • BBS 5069 (1)   Brain and behavior II

Third Year

Fall (5 credits)

  • HBSK5271(2)  Supervised Externship in Psychoeducational Practice (Section 1)

  • HBSK657_(0)  Research Practicum

  • HUDK6520(3) Seminar in Lifespan Developmental Psychology (offered every other year)

  • HBSK4074(3)   Development of Reading Comprehension

Spring (6 credits)

  • HBSK5096(3)  Psychology of Memory: Cognitive and Affective Bases

  • HBSK5271(2)  Supervised Externship in Psychoeducational Practice (Section 1)

  • HBSK5273(1)  Supervised Experience in Supervision

  • HBSK 6383 (3)    Neuropsychological Assessment of Children and Adults

  • HBSK657_(0)  Research Practicum: 

Summer (3 credits)

  • CCPX6020(3) History and Systems of Psychology

Fourth Year

Fall (4 credits)

  • ORLJ5540 (3) Pro-seminar in Social Psychology

  • HBSK7503(1) Dissertation Seminar**

  • HBSK5271(0) Supervised Externship in Psychoeducational Practice (Section 2)

Spring (0 credits)

  • HBSK5271(0) Supervised Externship in Psychoeducational Practice (Section 2)

  • HBSK8902(0) Dissertation Advisement

Fifth Year

  • HBSK6480(0)  School Psychology Internship

 

PLEASE NOTE

The following courses, which are included in a fall or spring semester in the suggested sequence can be taken in the summer. However, before deciding to take any of the following in the summer, please consult with your advisor

1. HUDM4122, Probability and Statistical Inference (most semesters)

2. HBSK4074, Development of Reading Comprehension

Contact Us

Box: 120

Phone: (212) 678-3942

Email: schoolpsychology@tc.columbia.edu

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