Ed.S. in School Psychology

Our Education Specialist in School Psychology candidates acquire the knowledge and skills to become competent school psychologists and social justice advocates in PreK-12 schools. 

Our program of study is aligned with the National Association of School Psychologists’ (NASP) Model for Comprehensive and Integrated Psychological Services which focuses on data-based decision making and accountability, consultation and collaboration, and direct and indirect academic and mental health services for children, families, and schools. Our candidates learn about the history, theories, and research behind the field of counseling and specifically school psychology, and gain a variety of tools to support the success of all students with respect for human diversity and social justice; these tools include consultation, collaboration, counseling, and assessment at individual, group, classroom, and school-wide levels to support the academic, social, and emotional success of all students. In keeping with CCTC requirements, our program gives primary emphasis in helping public school pupils achieve academic success by emphasizing the importance of student support services.

Successful completion of a program of study of the Education Specialist in School Psychology program at Saint Mary’s College of California, leading to a specialist degree* and Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Psychology, involves a combination of coursework, fieldwork, and a culminating project, as well as meeting the PPS standards and registering for the credential.

School Psychologists are eligible to become Licensed Education Psychologists (LEPs) through the California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) after completing 2 years of full-time work as a credentialed School Psychologist. LEPs’ scope of practice includes providing diagnoses of psychological disorders related to academic learning processes; providing psychological counseling for individuals, groups and families; developing treatment programs and strategies to address problems of adjustment; coordinating intervention strategies for management of individual crises; and consulting with other educators and parents on issues of social development and behavioral and academic difficulties (California Board of Behavioral Sciences, 2011). 

• 66 units, usually takes 3 to 4 years; designed to build skills that are applicable beyond the workplace and to help you grow and succeed
• Fall and Spring semester courses meet in person Monday - Thursday in the late afternoon / evenings & alternate Saturdays

Program Director

Stephanie D’Costa, Ph.D., sd43@stmarys-ca.edu

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Theories: Students begin to demonstrate knowledge of and skills in applying a wide range of developmental and counseling theories relevant to counseling in general and specific to their specialization(s) and are aware of the limitations of these theories when working with diverse or multicultural populations. (ILTG Theme 2: Develop Depth and Breadth of Knowledge)
2. Counseling Skills: Students will articulate the core conditions of a high quality therapeutic relationship, both in-person and via telehealth, and demonstrate proficiency in the key concepts of a wide range of microcounseling skills.
3. Personal Growth and Wellness: Students will identify goals and steps and implement action plans that promote their own personal growth and wellness. (ILTG Theme 3: Looking Inward: Identity Development)
4. Professional Development: Students will identify goals and steps and implement action plans that encourage their professional development relevant to their counseling specialization(s). (ILTG Theme 1: Cultivate Habits of Mind; Theme 3: Looking Inward: Identity Development)
5. Culturally Sustaining and Anti-Racist Counseling: Students will demonstrate self-awareness around their own biases, prejudices, limitations, and assets in working with diverse populations. Students will exhibit knowledge of and skills in counseling clients from a wide range of diversity in all its forms (e.g., gender, culture, ethnicity, race, age, sexual orientation, religion/spirituality, physical/mental abilities, class, and social and economic background), and gain competence in the principles of culturally sustaining, emancipatory, and anti-racist counseling practices. (ILTG Theme 3: Looking Inward: Identity Development)
6. Social Justice and Client Advocacy: Students will actively promote sensitivity to and awareness of social and ethical concerns, specifically related to the consequences of economic and social injustice. Through coursework and field experiences, students will begin to engage in promoting social justice for their clients/students, and work towards addressing systemic oppression. (ILTG Theme 4: Looking Outward: Community and Global Justice)
7. Law and Ethics: Students will demonstrate knowledge of and skills in applying the laws and ethical principles relevant to their counseling specialization(s) and discuss the limitations of ethical codes when working with diverse populations. (ILTG Theme 4: Looking Outward: Community and Global Justice)
8. Research: Students will demonstrate their ability to access, evaluate, and apply culturally relevant research practices that emphasize a collaborative approach specific to their counseling specialization(s), as well as professional and effective written and oral communication skills, including APA formatting. (ILTG Theme 2: Develop Depth and Breadth of Knowledge)
9. Case Management: Students will demonstrate the skills of goal-setting, assessment, and effective intervention with their clients as relevant to their specialization(s), counseling setting, and scope of practice, and learn to adapt their interventions to meet the needs of their diverse clients.
10. Technology Literacy: Students will demonstrate technological and digital literacy skills, use technology in culturally sensitive ways that reflect an understanding of social justice and equity and access implications, engage in ethical practice related to the use of artificial intelligence (AI), and gain skills in virtual and telehealth counseling modalities.