Welcome to the Graduate Programs in School Psychology at Illinois State University! We are very proud of our doctoral and specialist programs and our long history of educating school psychologists dating back to the 1950s. Our Graduate Programs were the first in Illinois to receive approval from the State Teacher Certification Board and now has over 600 alumni working throughout the United States.

Our Graduate Programs have all of the available accreditations and approvals suggested for higher quality training, comprehensive curricular content, and properly supervised field experiences. The doctoral program is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of the American Psychological Association (750 First Street, NW, Washington, DC 20002-4242, 202/336-5979), and approved by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATTE) and the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). Our specialist program is approved by NCATE and NASP. Both programs are approved by the Illinois State Board of Education.

School psychologists are identified as one of the best 50 social services careers by U.S. News and World Report (2011). According to U.S. News:

In 2010, there were 154,300 school psychologists employed. But in the coming years, classrooms will swell and educate more students who have special needs, learning disabilities, and behavioral issues. Schools tending to their needs will increase demand for school psychologists. The Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) expects employment growth of nearly 22 percent in the occupation by 2020. Best Social Services Jobs

Congratulations

Ms. Brea Banks and Ms. Lynda Hernandez-Dempsey, both doctoral candidates, are the recipients of the University Club Scholarship Award for 2013.

May or August Graduation Deadlines

If you are planning on graduating at the end of the spring or summer semester, be sure you satisfy all of the Graduate School's deadlines for filing a graduation application, thesis or dissertation right to defend deposit, and thesis or dissertation oral defense date. See the Graduate School's list of Important Dates and Deadlines (pdf).

Find a Classmate

The Graduate Programs in School Psychology maintains a database of its alumni dating back to the 1960s. If you are interested in finding a classmate, contact Dr. Mark Swerdlik by email. If you are changing jobs or your home address, notify Dr. Swerdlik so we can update our alumni records.

Doctoral Program Data

The Doctoral Program Data is presented in compliance with the American Psychological Association disclosure policy IR C-20.

Useful Links

National Association of School Psychologists
A Career That Makes a Difference (2008 NASP PowerPoint presentation)
Division 16 - School Psychology of the APA
Illinois School Psychologists Association
School Psychology Resources Online
Illinois State's Gainful Employment Data (includes information relevant to the Specialist Program in School Psychology

Pictures

School Psychology Anniversary Dinner (October 2007)

Memories on CD/DVD

The Graduate Association of School Psychologists (GASP) is offering a CD or DVD with a donation to our trainee organization. Donations provided to GASP would be primarily used to support the costs associated with the presentation of trainee research and for training fellowship. See the department's Alumni website for information about the contents of the CD or DVD and for an order form.