Department of Psychology at Illinois State University
1. Read the What is a School Psychologist? Web site.
2. Review the Frequently Asked Questions Web site especially those questions that relate to choosing a doctoral vs. specialist degree program.
3. Consider including in your undergraduate program the following recommended courses: Developmental Psychology (child and adolescent or life span), Learning, Behavior Modification, Psychology of the Exceptional Child, and Behavior Disorders in Children.
4. Obtain relevant work or volunteer experiences with children such as: day care worker, day camp counselor, Big Brother or Big Sister, crisis hotline, child care worker for children with special needs, and substitute teacher.
6. Research the Web sites of the school psychology graduate programs in which you are interested. Then, write to the graduate programs you are interested in requesting a date to visit with faculty and current students. Many programs have "open houses" for prospective applicants.
7. Apply to 6-7 graduate programs of your choice.
Most of the programs listed below offer specialist degrees in school psychology(3-year programs). Illinois State is unique in that it also offers a doctoral degree program.