School Psychology

The SSP degree clearly reflects the fact that the requirements for graduation from the School Psychology Program at WCU are more intensive than would be required for a Masters degree. The program consists of 71 credit hours and requires 3 years of course work including practicum and internship experiences. While a Masters (MA) degree is earned on the way to the SSP, the SSP is the terminal degree in the field allowing for practice as a school psychologist.

The WCU School Psychology Graduate Program is accredited by NCATE and by the NC Department of Public Instruction. In addition, the program has received Full Approval by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) through the year 2026.

The School Psychology Application Committee accepts applications from students with a variety of different undergraduate degrees including psychology and education. The Committee looks for applicants who show strong potential for success in the program both academically and behaviorally. While GRE scores and undergraduate GPA are both very important, they are not the only criteria considered. An applicant's personal statement stating interest in the program as well as letters of reference are also important aspects of the application. New cohorts of students enter the program in the Fall semester each year. The deadline to apply is February 1st.

The Psychology Department is very aggressive at seeking out Graduate Assistantships for students entering our graduate programs. As a result, for the last 5 years at least, 100% of the graduate students who were eligible through full acceptance into the program have been provided with an Assistantship. Every year, the Graduate school also offers a limited number of in-state and out-of-state tuition waivers that are distributed based on GRE and undergraduate GPA scores.  In the past few years, most of the out-of-state graduate students in the psychology department have received some sort of tuition waiver. Our students are also typically very competitive for scholarship funds available through the WCU Graduate School.

Students in the WCU School Psychology Program are given many opportunities for diverse community experiences. This includes involvement with school systems in the region including four Charter Schools. The public schools in this region provide a unique picture of rural Appalachian communities but also reflect changes related to the increase in Hispanic populations within these communities. In addition, the Cherokee Indian Reservation is located close by and there is one school system that provides a more inner city perspective.  Our students also complete service learning activities as part of their courses taken while enrolled in the program.

All students accepted into this program are expected to complete either a Thesis project (pdf) or Research project as part of their graduation requirements. The research project is a more applied school-based project whereas the thesis project is typically more theoretical and experimental in nature.  Students are encouraged to choose research projects that are consistent with the types of research conducted by School Psychologists in the field. See the School Psychology Graduate Program Handbook for further guidance in choosing between these two research requirement options. A high degree of support from psychology faculty is provided in the completion of these projects.

Two different Practicum experiences are provided for each student during their second year in the program. Each student spends one semester working two days a week in one of the local schools under the supervision of a school psychologist. In that setting, students complete psychological assessments, counseling projects, and intervention case studies. The other semester is spent working in the McKee Assessment and Psychological Services Clinic in the department. Here, students are supervised by University faculty and provide comprehensive evaluations for children referred by various community agencies, parents, four Charter Schools, and our lab school at WCU, the Catamount School.

Students spend their third year in the program working full time under the supervision of a school psychologist. They are allowed to work anywhere in the United States as long as the school system or other setting chosen can meet the internship requirements established by the program. The students engage in activities similar to those required for their practicum but at a higher level of expectation. University supervision is provided virtually through various means and there is no requirement for face-to-face, on-campus supervision during the internship year.

Each student who enters the WCU School Psychology Graduate Program will gain acess to the program Blackboard community. This system allows students to maintain a portfolio of required activities as well as yearly goals and reflections. The assessment process was developed to not only provide the program with student performance data but also to provide the student with consistent ongoing feedback to assist them in evaluating and improving their own skills and professional progress as a developing school psychologist.