School Psychology

Career opportunities that graduates of the EdS program pursue consist of:

• School psychologists working primarily in school settings
• Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA)

We have a verified course sequence for the BCBA where students may pursue BCBA positions after obtaining supervised hours and securing the credential.

Federal regulations require the University of Cincinnati to publicly disclose whether completion of certain programs that lead or may lead to professional licensure or certification would meet a given state’s educational requirements for a specific professional license or certification required for employment in an occupation (regardless of whether the program is on-ground, online, or hybrid).   To learn whether a University program meets a given state’s educational requirements, please visit the University of Cincinnati State Authorization webpage. 

Students are assigned a faculty advisor upon admission to the program. The advisor is one of the core faculty members in the School Psychology program. Students meet at least once per semester with their advisor in formal meetings, although all faculty are available for ongoing support.

Why choose our EdS in School Psychology program?

• Students obtain a Master of Education (MEd) in Foundations in Behavior Analysis after year one as part of the program
• This program has a strong ecological-behavioral orientation with a social justice focus
• Students are involved in field experiences starting their first semester
• Experiences are available across urban, suburban, and rural sites
• Opportunities to be engaged with research (i.e. presentations, publications, etc)
• All students receive some level of financial support

Graduation Application for MEd and EdS

Upon meeting all requirements for the MEd and EdS degrees, students must apply for graduation online. According to University policy, before a student can graduate, they must meet the following requirements (a) be registered for at least one graduate credit in their program in an academic year, after having met minimum degree course/candidacy requirements to be considered a graduate student throughout the academic year, (b) complete requirements for any grades of NG, N, I, UP, SP, and F before the Program can certify graduation, (c) receive satisfactory grades for the graduation semester, and (d) complete all Program requirements. Each student must apply individually for graduation, and the Program certifies that candidates meet all Program requirements. Deadlines for graduation are strictly adhered to. Students are required to be aware of these dates which are posted on the Graduate School Website. It is the student’s responsibility to apply and ensure that all requirements are met and the web-based application is submitted.

• We follow all Graduate School guidelines around transfer credits.
• Students may be asked to provide syllabi for courses to demonstrate course equivalency.
• The Program Coordinator and Program Faculty review students’ requests and submit the potential transfer credits to the Graduate School for final approval.

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of all applicants whose native language is not English - including those with F-1 visas, J-1 visas, and green cards. This test must be taken in the applicant’s own country before admission is granted. The minimum acceptable TOEFL score is 520; for the electronic version it is 190. 40.

The TOEFL requirement may be waived for students with a degree from an accredited American college or university in which coursework was taught in English and for students who can document a score of at least 520 in a TOEFL taken in the five years immediately prior to their application to the School Psychology Program at the University of Cincinnati. Waivers may also be granted for students who earned at least a 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam or at least a B in the Cambridge CPE exam. Requests to waive the TOEFL requirement should be sent with the appropriate documentation to the Assistant University Dean for Advanced Studies for consideration.

UC's EdS Program in School Psychology is:

• Fully approved by National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)
• Verified Course Sequence by the Behavior Analyst Certification Board (BACB)
• The College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services (CECH) is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)