School Psychology Program
Ed.S. Degree Program

The Ed.S. program must satisfy College of Education, University, and State Department of Education criteria, the latter in order for the student to be provisionally certified as a school psychologist in the State of Florida.

Residency and Employment Policy

The Ed.S. Curriculum

Residency and Employment Policy 

Currently, the master's/specialist program can be completed in three calendar years.  Since the curriculum is carefully sequenced, full-time study, as defined by the Program Advisor or Director, is required of students without prior graduate work.  It is assumed that a student will have time for an assistantship or part-time job up to 16-20 hours per week.  However, students working in psychology-related positions outside of the University must have these positions approved in advance to ensure practice within all appropriate ethical guidelines.  Indeed, the Program Director must be notified in writing of all gainful employment engaged in by students throughout their studies when that employment exceeds six hours per week. 

To expand on the student employment area, the current policy passed by the School Psychology program faculty states:

It is expected that students accepted into the Program will follow the pattern below with respect to financial aid and/or assistantship support:

First Year:  Graduate Assistantship in the Department or as set up by the Department

Second Year:  Graduate Assistantship in the Department or as set up by the Department

Third Year:  Paid Internship in a local school system as set up by the Department;

Fourth Year:  Assistantship support as available

Exceptions to the pattern include:

1.When the student chooses not to take an Assistantship because of no financial need or otherwise.

2.When the student, with prior faculty approval, chooses to be employed in the community.  Employment here requires a letter to the Program Director and cannot involve more than 20 hours per week.

Ordinarily it is expected that students will accept a Department or Department-approved assistantship, however, community employment is acceptable only when the nature of the employment is clearly related to the goals of the USF School Psychology Program.

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The Ed.S. Curriculum

From the College's perspective, the Ed.S. program consists of a minimum of 36 semester hours beyond the master's degree.  These credit hours are distributed as follows:

Specialization Coursework:  25-27 Credit Hours

SPS 6971 Thesis (Project):  9 Credit Hours

From the School Psychology Program's perspective, the Ed.S. program is an integrated program consisting of approximately 92 semester hours (post-B.A.) across a number of theoretical, professional, and support areas. 

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