School Psychology
Program Admission and Enrollment

The UT School Psychology Program is a full-time only program. The application deadline for the school psychology program is January 15^th. Applicants are strongly advised to submit materials to the Graduate School by November 30^th to ensure their complete file has been forwarded to the Department by the January 15^th deadline.  It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that all materials have been received. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. In order to apply to the school psychology program, applicants must submit the following materials and meet the minimum academic prerequisite as follows:  

1. Minimum academic prerequisite: Undergraduate GPA of 2.7 (for admission to the Graduate School) and for the School Psychology program, a preferred Undergraduate GPA of 3.0.

2. Submit GRE scores (taken within the last 5 years) with a required minimum combined score (verbal +quantitative) of 800 and a preferred combined score of 1000.

3. Graduate school application for the Master’s degree in School Psychology.

4. Three (3) letters of recommendation, at least one of which must address the applicant’s academic potential (i.e., from a University faculty member).

5. Statement of purpose, which should be 2-3 pages, and detail why the applicant would like to pursue a career in school psychology and include personal experiences. The statement of purpose should be typed and submitted to the Graduate School rather than typed in the space provided in the online Graduate School application.

6. Official Undergraduate transcripts (and Graduate if appropriate).

7. Completion of interview of school psychologist, which requires the applicant to interview a school psychologist and answer the following questions:

·        What is your educational background (undergrad and grad: place and degree)?

·        What is your career background (other jobs held)?

·        What is a typical day for you?

·        About how many evaluations do you complete per year?

·        About how many parent or teacher meetings do you attend yearly?

·        Do you consider yourself to be special education personnel?  Does the staff consider you special education personnel?

·        How much consultation do you do?  Would you like to do more?

·        What are the characteristics of a good school psychologist?

·        What is the hardest part of your job?

·        What is the most rewarding part of your job?

·        Did your program adequately prepare you for the work you do as a school psychologist? If not, what was lacking?

·        What is your most memorable moment as a school psychologist?

·        If you could change your job, how would you change it?

·        What recommendations would you have for someone just starting out in a school psychology program?

·        In your opinion, what is the biggest issue facing the field of school psychologists today?

8. Students who are invited for an interview should come prepared to

·        Provide a summary of the interview of the school psychologist

·        Discuss the similarities and differences between what the school psychologist discussed and the UT school psychology program philosophy, objectives, curriculum, etc.,  

9. Professional Resume.

Once an applicant’s file is complete, it will be forwarded to the Department of Counselor Education and School Psychology Screening Committee for consideration. In order to be consistent with national training standards and to ensure sufficient faculty members to advise and mentor students, there are a limited number of applicants who are admitted into the program each year. As a result, admission is competitive. The Screening Committee will notify those applicants that have been invited for a campus interview in early February. All applicants interested in being considered for the program must participate in an interview (preferably on campus) with the CESP Department Admissions Committee, which is scheduled for February/March. The interview consists of questions designed to determine the applicant’s match with the training program and potential for completing the program.

When the Committee has completed all scheduled interviews, final determinations will be made and interviewed applicants will be notified of the Committee’s admission decision by mail on or around April 1^st. At this time, those accepted into the program will receive information about course registration and will be assigned an advisor.

The Department of Counselor Education and School Psychology has an equal opportunity admissions policy and does not discriminate against applicants on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, sex, sexual preference, age, or handicapping condition. It is a policy of the Department of Counselor Education and School Psychology to encourage individuals from diverse ethnic, cultural, or social backgrounds to apply for admission.