Doctor of Psychology in School Psychology
PsyD Program
The Doctor of Psychology in School Psychology (PsyD) program at PCOM has a clearly
articulated mission and set of aims, competencies and outcomes consistent with the
health service psychology model.
Highlights of PCOM's APA-accredited PsyD in School Psychology program include:
- Program faculty who are highly credentialed school psychologists and nationally renowned practitioner-scholars
and researchers in the field.
- A multicultural focus preparing graduates in areas of social justice, culturally responsive
practices and advocacy.
- Standardized client actors who immerse students in realistic experiences and clinical
situations.
- Coursework in specialized areas such as cognitive behavioral therapy, applied behavior
analysis, and advanced assessment in the schools.
The PsyD in School Psychology program can be completed in as few as five years, including coursework, practicum, internship and dissertation.
In addition to eligibility for School Psychology Certification, graduates of the PsyD
School Psychology Program at PCOM qualify for the Examination of Professional Practice
of Psychology (EPPP) for partial fulfillment of the requirements for Licensure as
a Psychologist. The program also incorporates a behavior analytic course sequence
verified by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) to apply for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA®) exam.
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PCOM PsyD in School Psychology Program Mission
The mission of the Doctor of Psychology in School Psychology program is to prepare
doctoral-level school psychologists with a focus on applied behavior analysis, cognitive
behavior intervention, and comprehensive psychoeducational assessment in the schools.
Adopting the practitioner-scholar model of training and a competency-based model of
education, the program prepares graduates to provide ethical, empirically-based direct
and indirect school psychological services that promote learning and the well-being
of all children and families with sensitivity to culture and diversity. The program
provides an integration of psychological and educational science and practice in order
to facilitate healthy development and learning among school-aged populations.
Program Aim and Competencies
Program Aim
The aim of the program is to prepare graduates to be entry level health service psychologists
with a specialization in school psychology.
Competencies
The program prepares graduates across several profession-wide competencies including:
- Assessment
- Consultation and interprofessional/interdisciplinary skills
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Ethical and legal standards
- Individual and cultural diversity
- Intervention
- Professional values and attitudes
- Research
- Supervision
About the PsyD Program
The PsyD program is designed to be completed within a minimum of five years and a
maximum of seven years of study. The program will require at least 111 doctoral credits,
with four years of academic coursework completed at PCOM, a dissertation, and a one
year doctoral-level internship required before graduating. The PsyD program is a full-time
program with a minimum of two days a week of required practicum experiences that begin
in the second year of the program. View the course sequence and field training description for additional information.
For more information, please contact:
PCOM Office of Admissions
Email: admissions@pcom.edu
Phone: 215-871-6700 | Fax: 215-872-6719
Career Options
School psychologists support the educational, emotional and social well-being of school-aged
children.
- Program graduates will be prepared to serve children, youth and families in schools,
hospitals, community health clinics and a variety of other mental health settings.
- Graduates will be fully prepared to assume the role and responsibility of the school
psychologist and/or health service psychologist, with specialized training in advanced
assessment practices and applied behavior analytic and cognitive behavioral interventions.
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Application Process and Requirements
Applications to the PsyD program will be considered throughout the year. Visit our
application requirements page to learn about course prerequisites, program requirements, the application process
and more.
Cost of Attendance and Financial Aid
PsyD in School Psychology Program Accreditation
PCOM’s PsyD program in School Psychology is accredited by the American Psychological
Association. Our next required site visit is in 2033.
Questions related to the program’s accredited status should be directed to the Commission
on Accreditation:
Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
Phone: 202-336-5979
Email: apaaccred@apa.org
accreditation.apa.org/contact
The PsyD program is approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) as
an approved Institute of Higher Education (IHE) for the school psychology certification
program.
The PsyD program also contains a course sequence verified by the Association for Behavior Analysis International (ABAI) to provide the course content required for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst® (BCBA®) credential.