The NASP-approved School Psychology MA + Certification program provides the education to become a professional school psychologist at the Specialist level (60 credits). The program features opportunities to develop special competencies in areas such as assessment, identifying and treating behavior problems in children and adolescents, utilizing curriculum-based measurement tools to assess school health and student progress, and providing evidence-based therapeutic services to children and adolescents.

A multitude of settings are available for practicum and externship training, including varied public and private schools in Bergen County. The school psychology program is recognized by and registered with the New Jersey State Department of Education. The program holds full NASP approval, and graduates are eligible to become Nationally Certified School Psychologists upon successful completion of the program.

Program outcomes

The School Psychology Programs (MA/Cert and Psy.D.) adhere to the recommended APA and NASP guidelines and objectives with specifically developed assessments corresponding to the specified objectives.

  • Students will obtain and apply knowledge of varied models and methods of assessment that can be used to identify strengths and needs in understanding problems and monitoring progress.
  • Students will obtain and apply knowledge of behavioral, mental health, and collaborative consultation.
  • Students will obtain knowledge of human learning processes and differential learning needs together with the implementation of appropriate strategies addressing strengths and needs of students.
  • Students will obtain knowledge of the human development process, assess the process, and provide direct and indirect services appropriate to presenting needs.
  • Students will obtain knowledge of individual differences and the development of cultural competence, recognizing the importance of context on the academic health and mental health of individuals.
  • Students will obtain knowledge of general education, special education, and related services and to understand schools as complex social systems.
  • Students will obtain knowledge of and to implement evidence based services for prevention, crisis intervention and psychological intervention to promote mental health and physical well-being of students.
  • Students will attain knowledge of research, statistics, and evaluation methods and a demonstration of the application of those skills.
  • Students will obtain knowledge and demonstrate in practice the best practices of the profession of school psychology including ethical, legal and professional standards and engaging in practices reflecting social justice and cultural competence.

Professional Licensure and Certification

Professional licensure and certification requirements may vary from state to state and are subject to change. In addition, separate from educational requirements, state licensure boards may require applicants to complete other requirements. Students should contact the appropriate licensing agency in each home state to obtain the most up-to-date information.

The School Psychology MA certification program has approval through the National Association of School Psychologists through 2025, and, accordingly, the program meets the academic requirements for licensure in all 50 states to be Nationally Certified School Psychologists.

Admission Requirements

Completed applications for admissions are due by March 15 for September admission.

  • Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.
  • Have taken general psychology and statistics, as well as at least three other relevant courses in the field of psychology (including courses such as experimental psychology, child development, abnormal psychology, or theories of personality).
  • Submit three letters of recommendation and a personal statement detailing their interest in the field.

Applications are carefully reviewed, and group interviews are conducted for those applicants who meet the school’s criteria.

This is a  full-time program. However, students are able to both work and pursue the degree, since classes are held in late afternoons and evenings.

Applications also will be considered from individuals holding a master’s degree in psychology, education or related fields who wish to obtain certification as a school psychologist (although respecialization students do not complete our NASP-approved program of study and are thus not NCSP-eligible via the program pathway). 

If such applicants meet the academic requirements of the school, a course of study will be determined on an individual basis to meet certification requirements. If you are interested in this opportunity, it is recommended that you have your graduate transcript reviewed by the State Department of Education, as they will perform a transcript review and advise you regarding which classes you need to complete to fulfill certification requirements for School Psychology.

Degree Requirements

  • Satisfactory completion of 60 credits in the courses approved for the school psychology program.
  • Students receiving two or more grades below B– in any graduate course will be placed on academic probation with the possibility of a reduced course load for the next regular semester, and students who do not demonstrate competency on assignments that prepare them for functioning as school psychologists may need to complete remediation assignments prior to enrollment in the next regular semester.  Students receiving a concurrent or subsequent third grade below B– will not be permitted to continue in the program. Maintaining a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of less than 3.2 for two consecutive years may also lead to termination from the program.
  • Upon completion of 36 graduate credits, students must pass a Comprehensive Examination, which examines general knowledge of psychology and a school psychology specialty subsection.
  • Students must complete a 1200-hour externship in a school or school-related setting under the supervision of a certified school psychologist.
  • Students will be dropped from the program for engaging in unethical or criminal behavior (plagiarism, cheating, violation of APA or NASP ethical guidelines, University policy, governmental law, harassment or endangering the welfare of a child).
  • Students encountering serious psychological adjustment problems will be advised to seek professional counseling. If the problems are not ameliorated, the student may be asked to leave the program.

Fieldwork

The MA + Certification program incorporates a range of field experiences that are designed to familiarize students with how schools function as systems and build specific skills needed for effective school psychology practice.  A unique aspect of this program is the fact that students engage in fieldwork in schools beginning in their first semester of the program.  We believe it is essential for school psychologists to understand typical child development and classroom environments before beginning to assess and intervene to address students’ learning, behavioral, and mental health challenges.  For that reason, students in the MA + Certification program complete fieldwork during their first year of training, which is designed to provide them with experiences in general education settings. 

In their second year of training, students begin to develop assessment, counseling, and consultation skills through a series of structured fieldwork experiences in local school districts.  These experiences comprise the foundational assignments for many of the second-year practicum courses, in which students receive didactic instruction and supervised practice administering testing measures, delivering therapeutic services, and consulting with teachers.  In their third year of the program, students engage in a capstone 1200-hour internship experience.  During this time, they are supported by field supervisors and through a yearlong seminar course designed to help them hone their professional competencies. 

In 2024, the FDU School Psychology Program was awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Education. This grant, called Project THRIVE, will provide full tuition and fees for 24 students in the MA/Certification program over the next 5 years. These students will complete one day of practicum in their first year and 2 days of practicum in their 2nd year in one of our three local partner school districts. They will receive specialized training in school-based mental health and deliver supervised tiered mental health services in our partner schools during practicum and internship. Students will earn a stipend of $2000/year for practicum in each of the first 2 years and $10,000/year for internship in the 3rd year. 

Additional Funding Opportunities

Our training program is committed to increasing diversity in the field of school psychology so that our workforce is more representative of the communities we serve.  We welcome applications from prospective students from historically marginalized backgrounds and students whose lived experiences may uniquely support the schools in which they work.  We offer a number of fellowships and funded practicum roles that are designed to recruit and train graduate students who can effectively deliver mental health services in high-needs schools.

  • Each year, we offer a limited number of fellowships (which offer 25% tuition remission; or the equivalent of 3 credits per semester) to incoming MA/Cert applicants whose lived experiences provide them with a unique perspective of the importance of school psychological services.

Prospective students who are interested in applying for these fellowships should highlight, in 1-2 paragraphs in their personal statements, how their lived experiences provide them with a unique perspective of the importance of school psychological services.  These paragraphs can address how the applicant’s background, identity, interests, or talents would meaningfully enrich their training program and future place of employment and/or how experiencing a challenge, setback, or failure has prepared this applicant to effectively serve students in high-needs schools. 

There are some opportunities to serve as a graduate assistant on campus (working daytime hours) and receive partial tuition reimbursement as a component of your pay.  These opportunities do not arise each year, but when they do, our School Psychology students are often highly sought after to fill the roles, which often fit into the schedules of MA/Certification students. 

For example, The COMPASS Program provides specialized support for college students on the autism spectrum to facilitate their academic success. Each year, the COMPASS team hires academic coaches who will work closely with these undergraduate students to help them create effective study plans, organize their schedules, improve communication with professors, implement strategies to enhance learning, and provide other individualized executive functioning support. Academic coaches commit to 2.5 hours/week (2 hours of services, .5 hours of supervision), all of which can be used to accumulate practicum hours. This position comes with payment at a rate of $15/hour for your services, which equates to $562/semester. Please email compassmetro@fdu.edu  if you are interested in learning more about this position.

In addition to some practicum and externship opportunities offered through grants or local funding, we have also had great success helping our MA/Certification students find employment as support staff in local school districts. 

Prospective students are also encouraged to reach out to the FDU Career Development Center (https://www.fdu.edu/academics/centers-institutes/career-development/) to learn more about Graduate Assistantships offered throughout the university.  Once enrolled at the university, students can subscribe to Handshake (https://fdu.joinhandshake.com/login) to receive updates about open positions on and beyond campus.

In recent years FDU school psychology students in the Master’s + Certification program have completed supervised internships at the following school districts or sites across the tri-state area (those sites offering a stipend are noted):

  • Allendale, NJ
  • Bayonne, NJ
  • Bergen County (NJ) Academies
  • Clarkstown, NY
  • Collingswood, NJ (stipend)
  • Cresskill, NJ
  • Dumont, NJ
  • Green Brook, NJ
  • Leonia, NJ
  • Newark (NJ) Public Schools (stipend)
  • North Rockland, NY
  • Old Bridge, NJ
  • Ossining, NY (stipend)
  • Pascack Valley Regional HS (Hillsdale, NJ)
  • Pearl River, NY
  • Ridge HS (Bernards Township, NJ)
  • Secaucus, NJ
  • Somerville, NJ
  • Benedict’s Preparatory School (Newark, NJ)
  • Toms River, NJ
  • West Orange, NJ
  • Wood-Ridge, NJ

Funding Opportunities

There are some opportunities to serve as a graduate assistant on campus (working daytime hours) and receive partial tuition reimbursement as a component of your pay.  These opportunities do not arise each year, but when they do, our School Psychology students are often highly sought after to fill the roles, which often fit into the schedules of MA/Certification students. 

In addition to the practicum and externship opportunities through the Supportive Schools Newark grant, we have also had great success helping our MA/Certification students find employment as support staff in local school districts. 

We also support our students who apply for awards such as the Frank J. Epifanio Minority Graduate Student Scholarship, which is offered annually by the New Jersey Association of School Psychologists (see www.njasp.org).

Please feel free to reach out for more details about any of these opportunities! 

Degree Plan

FALL 2022 ENTRY AND BEYOND

1st Semester

  • PSYC6651     Ethics and Professional Practice in Schools and School Psychology
  • PSYC7819   Introduction to School Learning Problems
  • PSYC6121     Statistics
  • PSYC7615  Child Assessment I with practicum

First Semester Student Review

2nd Semester

  • PSYC6129     Research Methods & Psychometrics
  • PSYC7124     Developmental Psychology
  • PSYC7815    Child Assessment II with practicum
  • PSYC7820    Introduction to School Learning Problems (Part II)

Annual Student Review

3rd Semester

  • PSYC6111  Theories of Personality
  • PSYC6115  Child Psychopathology
  • EDUC6740 Intro to Teaching the Exceptional Child in School/Community
  • PSYC8815 Child Assessment III with practicum

COMPREHENSIVE EXAM (27 to 36 CREDITS COMPLETED)

4th Semester

  • EDUC6931 Diversity, Equity, and Justice in Schools and Society
  • PSYC8910 School-based Consultation with Practicum 
  • PSYC8725 Prevention and Intervention with Children and Adolescents
  • PSYC7215 Biological Bases of Behavior and Learning

Annual Student Review/Review of Practicum Competencies and Readiness for Externship                          Praxis Examination to be taken in June or September                                                                 

5th Semester

  • EDUC6702 Curriculum and Instruction: Theory & Practice
  • PSYC8922 Externship in School Psychology (600 hours)

6th Semester

  • PSYC8923 Externship in School Psychology II (600 hours)
  • PSYC9110 School/Community Mental Health
  •