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  1. WKU
  2. College of Education and Behavioral Sciences
  3. Department of Psychology

Ed.S. in School Psychology

3-YEAR SPECIALIST DEGREE

Solve Learning and Behavioral Challenges Where It Matters Most.Solve Learning and Behavioral Challenges Where It Matters Most.

WKU’s 66-credit-hour Ed.S. program combines small-cohort instruction, hands-on clinic practice from your first semester, and a full-year paid public school internship. Graduate in three years eligible for Kentucky certification and national credentialing, backed by a 100% career placement rate.

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A school psychology graduate student works one-on-one with an elementary student at a desk beneath a "Power of Yet" growth mindset bulletin board.

Program at a Glance

NASP-Accredited Program

Complete a 66-credit-hour curriculum aligned with National Association of School Psychologists standards.

Full-Year Paid Internship

Complete a comprehensive, supervised school psychology internship in a public school district during year three.

Applied Fieldwork & Clinic

Gain direct assessment, consultation, and intervention experience in regional schools and the WKU Psychology Clinic.

State & National Credentials

Graduate eligible for Kentucky Department of Education certification and the Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential.

What You Can Do With a School Psychology Ed.S.

School psychologists solve problems where learning and mental and behavioral health intersect. The career consistently ranks among the top social service jobs in the nation for good reason. You get daytime hours, school calendar breaks, and summers off. Even better, 100% of WKU graduates secure full-time jobs before graduation.

Student Assessment & Support
  • Evaluate learning disabilities, autism, and behavioral challenges through diagnostic testing.
  • Counsel students individually and in small groups.
  • Build positive behavior plans that keep kids learning in the classroom.
  • Deliver urgent crisis response and safety support during school emergencies.
Team & Systems Consultation
  • Guide teachers, principals, and parents through special education planning.
  • Translate complex test data into clear classroom strategies.
  • Connect struggling families with community mental health providers.
  • Lead school-wide programs focused on suicide prevention and student wellness.
Career & Financial Advantages
  • Step straight into high-demand roles across K–12 public districts and regional co-ops.
  • Earn a full-time salary during your third-year public school internship.
  • Cut your tuition costs to $350 per credit hour through WKU’s Educator Discount.
  • Graduate with Kentucky state certification and national NCSP credentials.

What You Will Study

Graduate training in school psychology centers on applied clinical tools rather than abstract theory. Across 66 graduate credit hours, you build practical expertise in diagnostic evaluation, multi-tiered academic interventions, and collaborative systems consultation.

Coursework integrates directly with your first-year clinic practicum and second-year public school placement.

PSY 540Advanced Developmental Psychopathology

Analyze emotional, behavioral, and developmental disorders through a diagnostic lens. You evaluate evidence-based interventions for ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, anxiety, and conduct challenges.

PSY 545Clinical Child Psychology: Theory and Practice

Apply the theories and techniques of therapy with real students in schools.

PSY 560Assessment of Individual Intellectual Functioning

Master the administration, scoring, and clinical interpretation of standardized cognitive batteries. You gain direct experience evaluating learning profiles and cognitive strengths inside the on-campus WKU Psychology Training Clinic.

PSY 643Psychoeducational Assessment

Standardized, norm-referenced tests of academic achievement including coverage of assessment of children from a variety of cultural, language, and other backgrounds will be introduced. Additional cognitive measures will also be covered. Focus on administering, scoring, interpreting, and integrating psychoeducational test results to provide a full and accurate picture of the student.

Looking for the full 66-hour degree progression? View the School Psychology Ed.S. Program Requirements in the Graduate Catalog

Program Documents

Prefer to read the details first? Download the handbooks below. For official degree requirements, use the Graduate Catalog.

View the Graduate Catalog

Student Handbook PDF

Overview of program expectations and how the Ed.S. is organized.

Download Student Handbook
Practicum HandbookField training expectationsPDFDownloadInternship GuidelinesInternship-year expectationsPDFDownload

Applied Training & Fieldwork

You will not wait until graduation to work with real students. At WKU, field experience starts immediately. We structure our three-year training sequence to build your confidence step by step, taking you from campus clinic practice into a full-time, paid school district residency.

Year 1: Clinic Foundations & Observation

Campus-Based
  • On-Campus Sites: Build core diagnostic and interviewing skills in WKU Psychology Clinic and Campus Preschools..
  • Classroom Observation: Learn how public schools function through structured classroom observations.
  • Peer Mentor: Pair with a second-year graduate peer mentor for guidance through your first year.
  • Faculty Supervision: Master standardized cognitive, academic, and behavioral assessment tools under direct faculty supervision.

Year 2: School-Based Practicum

1-2 Days / Week (200+ Hrs)
  • Field Immersion: Spend one full day each week embedded in a local K–12 public school district.
  • Supervised Hours: Log at least 200 hours of supervised field experience alongside a mentor school psychologist.
  • Independent Practice: Progress from shadowing team meetings to running assessments, consultations, and behavior plans.
  • Praxis Exam: Take the Praxis School Psychology specialty exam in the spring to prepare for your internship credential.

Year 3: Full-Time Paid Internship

Full-Time Paid Contract
  • 1,200 Hours: Complete a 1,200-hour minimum internship through a 10-month public school contract (averaging 1,400 hours).
  • Paid Salary: Earn a competitive district salary with Kentucky Rank II certification benefits while you finish your degree.
  • Weekly Mentorship: Receive at least two hours per week of dedicated, face-to-face mentorship from an experienced field supervisor.
  • Full Scope: Practice a comprehensive role. WKU recommends capping traditional evaluations at 50 per year so you spend significant time providing counseling, crisis response, and system-level intervention.

Meet the Program Coordinator

Savannah Benningfield serves as the Program Coordinator and Instructor for the Specialist in Education (Ed.S.) in School Psychology program at Western Kentucky University. An alumna of WKU’s Ed.S. in School Psychology program, Savannah brings firsthand familiarity with the program’s structure, regional school district partnerships, and field training requirements.

Savannah Benningfield
Savannah Benningfield
- Instructor, Ed.S. School Psychology Program Coordinator

Ready to train as a school psychologist at WKU?Ready to train as a school psychologist at WKU?

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 Last Modified 10/2/26