College of Education and Human ServicesSchool of Lifespan Development and Educational Sciences
www.kent.edu/ehs/ldes
About This Program
The School Psychology Ph.D. program prepares you for a professional career in school psychology with a focus on improving children's academic performance, social-emotional development, mental health and overall well-being. With a combination of comprehensive coursework, research experience and supervised on-site training experiences, you'll gain the knowledge and skills needed to make a difference in the lives of children and adolescents in a variety of applied settings. Read more...
Contact Information
Program Description
Applications to the Ph.D. in School Psychology are not being accepted at this time.
Examples of Possible Careers and Salaries*
Psychologists, all other
- 4.3% about as fast as the average
- 55,300 number of jobs
- $117,580 potential earnings
Clinical and counseling psychologists
- 11.2% much faster than the average
- 76,300 number of jobs
- $95,830 potential earnings
School psychologists
- 0.7% little or no change
- 67,200 number of jobs
- $86,930 potential earnings
Accreditation
The Ph.D. degree in School Psychology is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) and recognized by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.
Admission Requirements
Applications to the Ph.D. in School Psychology are not being accepted at this time.
- Master's degree from an accredited college or university
- Minimum 3.000 graduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale (minimum 3.500 GPA is recommended)
- Official transcript(s)
- Résumé or curriculum vitae
- Goal statement
- Sample of written work
- School Psychology Supplemental Data Form (online document)
- Questions in Anticipation of Licensure form
- Two letters of recommendation
- Interview
- English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:1
- Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
- Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
- Minimum 58 PTE score
- Minimum 110 DET score
Application Deadlines
- Fall Semester
- Priority deadlines: January 15 and May 1
All application materials (including applicable fee, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) submitted by January 15 will be considered for interviews taking place during the spring semester. If admitted, students may begin coursework during either the summer or fall semester.
All application materials (including applicable fee, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) submitted by May 1 will be considered for interviews taking place during the summer. If admitted, students may begin coursework during the fall semester.
- Spring Semester
- Priority deadline: October 1
All application materials (including applicable fee, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.)submitted by October 1 will be considered for interviews taking place during the fall semester. If admitted, students may begin coursework during the spring semester.
- Summer Term
- Priority deadline: January 15
All application materials (including applicable fee, transcripts, recommendation letters, etc.) submitted by January 15 will be considered for interviews taking place during the spring semester. If admitted, students may begin coursework during either the summer or fall semester.
Program Requirements
Major Requirements
Graduation Requirements
Graduation Requirements Summary | Minimum Major GPA | Minimum Overall GPA |
| - | 3.000 |
- The total number of required credit hours in each student's Plan of Study/Residency Plan will vary based on previous graduate coursework, point of entry into the program, program area advisor input and the school psychology program requirements. The minimum requirement for a doctoral degree is 60 credit hours beyond the master's degree. Given the requirements of the accreditation bodies governing Kent State's school psychology degree program, the typical number of required credit hours for the doctoral degree will exceed that of the minimum college requirements.
- Students who enter the program without recent and comprehensive training in school psychology (from a NASP-approved program) and without a school psychology license must complete relevant coursework. The total number of required hours will vary based on point of entry into the program, previous coursework and program advisor input.
- State/Federal background checks are required for all field-based experiences.
Candidacy
Once the student has successfully completed and orally defended their comprehensive exams, they are recommended for doctoral candidacy in line with all other program and college requirements.
Licensure Information
Candidates seeking School Psychologist licensure are required to pass the ETS Praxis II School Psychologist test or the domain specific School Psychology Ohio Assessment for Educators test.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of this program will be able to:
- Demonstrate adequate knowledge and skills associated with both the National Association of School Psychologists' Domains of School Psychology Training and Practice and those domains related to advanced psychological foundations knowledge and research skills as identified by the American Psychological Association (APA).
- Demonstrate an appropriate level of professional deportment.
Full Description
The Ph.D. degree in School Psychology is committed to a scientist-practitioner model of training, which conceptualizes school psychologists as data-oriented problems solvers and transmitters of psychological knowledge and skill. As such, students draw upon the scientific literature as a primary basis for professional practice and focus their research agendas so as to have meaningful implications for practice. In addition, functioning as a scientist-practitioner meas that professional practice is conducted in ways that are consistent with the scientific method.
Emphasis in training is placed on the provision of services through research-based practice and data-based decision making. Doctoral students gain competencies, not only in the provision of school psychological services to individual children and youth, but also in the promotion and implementation of systemic, preventative educational and mental health systems. Since the program's emphasis is on the application of psychology in applied educational and mental health settings, students are required to demonstrate competence in the substantive content areas of psychological and educational theory; the scientific, methodological and theoretical foundations of practice in school psychology; data-based decision making; intervention design and evaluation; and cultural and individual diversity.
The school psychology doctorate prepares students to work as leaders in applied practice in educational and mental health settings.
Professional Licensure Disclosure
This program is designed to prepare students to sit for applicable licensure or certification in Ohio. If you plan to pursue licensure or certification in a state other than Ohio, please review state educational requirements for licensure or certification and contact information for state licensing boards at Kent State's website for professional licensure disclosure.
