The Doctor of Psychology in School Psychology (Psy.D.) is built upon our successful and National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) approved Specialist in School Psychology Program (Psy.S.).

The Psy.D. in School Psychology Program provides a comprehensive plan of advanced studies with the fundamental commitment to develop competent doctoral-level school psychologists who possess a sub-specialization in serving deaf and hard of hearing children as well as other school age children and skilled in the delivery of multiple services in a variety of settings (e.g. schools, private practice, hospitals, clinics, universities, etc.) The Psy.D. in School Psychology Program integrates respect for diversity in theory and practice, basic and advanced psychological principles, consultative and interventionist skills, data-based and problem-solving approaches, and scholarly and research-based learning that advance the field of school psychology and the practice with school age students. The program is anchored in the Practitioner-Scholar model, the goal of which is to develop and produce practitioners informed by research and whose training prioritizes the acquisition of practical and hands-on-experiences.

The Psy.D. program in School Psychology will require completion of 97 graduate semester hours, including extensive practicum and internship experiences. The program generally will require four years to complete. The first year includes a 31-credit sequence of courses in psychology and related areas, courses in American Sign Language (ASL), and successful completion of comprehensive examinations. Successful completion of these requirements results in the Master of Arts degree in Developmental Psychology with a Specialty in Working with Deaf Children. The post-Masters (or 2nd– 3rd years) portion of the program requires an additional 67-semester credit sequence of courses emphasizing school psychological services, content areas, extensive advanced practicum/externship experience, and a yearlong applied research project. The fourth year of the program requires a 12-credit, full-time school psychology internship, served in a school or school/clinical setting anywhere in the United States, the completion of two Internship Comprehensive Intervention Case Studies, and taking the Praxis national exam.

For the program of study, requirements, and list of courses for the Psy.D. in School Psychology, please visit the Academic Catalog.

Requirements

  • Completed application form. See Application Instructions to learn how.
  • A non-refundable application fee of $75.
  • A minimum 3.0 grade point average (on a four-point scale) in all previous undergraduate and graduate study. (Occasionally, applicants with a GPA lower than 3.0 may be admitted conditionally upon the recommendation of the department.)
  • Official transcripts of all undergraduate study, including evidence of having received a bachelor's degree from an accredited university. (Those applying during their final undergraduate year will be required to submit a final transcript after completion of their bachelor's degree and before enrolling in their first semester of graduate study.) See Application Guidelines and FAQ for more information.
  • Official transcripts of all graduate study. See Application Guidelines and FAQ for more information.
  • Three letters of recommendation with one letter addressing the applicant’s potential for advanced study and research.
  • Personal goal statement. See Application Guidelines for more information.
  • GRE is optional (Use 5240 for the ETS institutional code).

Additional program requirements

  • Coursework required
    • Child Psychology/Developmental Psychology
    • Statistics
    • Research Design
    • Abnormal Psychology
  • Interview
  • Resume

All applicants must be able to pass a background check to be advanced to practicum or internship due to all school systems requiring a background check before granting access to school age children. All applicants must demonstrate scholastic ability and interpersonal skills to be an effective psychological practitioner in the schools.

The Admission Committee is made up of all faculty in the Psy.D. School Psychology Program. The committee meets and reviews all applications and materials submitted. Applicants are encouraged to submit additional materials that speak to their likelihood to be successful in graduate studies. The committee selects applicants who are believed to have the potential to succeed in graduate studies and whose personal and professional goals match those of the Psy.D. in School Psychology at Gallaudet University. Successful applicants are invited to an interview.

Advanced standing requirements

Prospective students with advanced degrees in school psychology (including Psy.S., Ed.S., or CAGS from an accredited program) can be admitted with advanced standing in the Psy.D. These applicants must have received their degrees no more than 10 years before the application date. As per APA guidelines, these advanced applicants will be required to complete at least 2 years of residency excluding their internship year to meet APA Standards as well as any deficiency (i.e., missing foundation courses) identified after a careful transcript review by faculty.

Additional criteria for advanced standing

  • Advanced degree in School Psychology (CAGS, Ed.S., Psy.S.) earned no more than 10 years prior to the application date.


Core faculty: Sherry Eyer Ph.D., Tania Thomas-Presswood Ph.D. and Robert Whitaker, Psy.D.

Program Support Specialist: Renee Smith

For more information: Email Dr. Tania Thomas-Presswood, School Psychology Program Director, or call 202-651-5540 (V).