Degrees
A 64 credit Ed.S. in School Psychology, including a 30 credit M.S. in Psychology. Students with a Masters in a related field may be eligible for transferring similar coursework from their prior degree, with advisor approval.
School Psychology - Educational Specialist
School Psychology at Millersville University
Learn more about the school psychology program at Millersville University from Dr. Tuleya-Payne.
Educational Specialist Program: School Psychology
Millersville University offers a School Psychology Educational Specialist Program approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and designed to meet the needs of full time students in addition to those of many working professionals. Candidates earn a 30-credit Master of Science Degree in Psychology and engage in 34-credits of additional curricular experiences as they complete the 64-semester hour, post baccalaureate Educational Specialist degree and certification in school psychology in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Candidates may also transfer into the program after earning a Master's degree in Psychology or closely related field (see FAQ for more details). Upon successful completion of coursework and practicum, candidates engage in a full year, 1,200 hour internship.
The goal of the program is to prepare students for entry level positions as school psychologists in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who will work with students in school settings. In keeping with the ecological perspective, students are prepared to affect student learning through direct assessments and interventions as well as through collaboration with families, teachers, administrators, and community liaisons. The program emphasizes best practices including the Response to Intervention (RtI) model and diversity awareness.
Features of Our Program:
- Provides the candidate with a cross disciplinary approach involving psychology, education, and school psychology
- Emphasizes supervised training in specific assessment, intervention, and consultation skills to serve children by using reflective and data-based decision making
- Provides training to work with culturally, educationally, and socio-economically diverse populations
- Promotes the development of a professional identity that is consistent with the standards, professional ethics and legal mandates that govern the roles of school psychologists
Timeline
Structured for both full-time and part-time students. Full-time students complete the program in 3 years, while part-time students complete the program in 4 years.
Deadlines to Apply
October 1st for spring admission and January 15th for fall admission. June 1st on a space available basis for those who have missed the January deadline (fall). For specific questions, contact Dr. Lauren Kaiser, Lauren.Kaiser@millersville.edu ,...
Application Requirements
If undergraduate cumulative GPA is 3.0, no GRE scores required. 18 undergraduate semester hours in psychology, minimum GPA of 2.75, 3 letters of recommendation, autobiographical sketch, and official undergraduate transcript.
Current Students
For orientation paperwork, detailed plan of work, competency project requirements, and more, log into your D2L account.
School Psychology Handbook
To access the most recent copy of the school psychology handbook, click below.
Portfolio
For more information about the student portfolio, click below.
Practicum
Click below for more information about the practicum.
Internship
Click below for more information about internships.
Supervisory Certification Program: School Psychology
For this advanced certification, applicants must have a Master's Degree or Educational Specialist Degree, Certification in School Psychology, 5 years of experience and other requirements to apply. The program consists of 4 courses (15 credits). Please see the Graduate Catalog for more information on the Supervisory Certification Program.
Students and Staff
Students, Faculty, and Staff involved in conferences and activities.
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Contact Information
Program Coordinator:
Dr. Lauren Kaiser
Office: Susan P. Luek Hall 206B
Phone: 717-871-7274
Email:Lauren.Kaiser@millersville.eduPsychology Department:
111 Susan P. Luek Hall
Millersville University
PO Box 1002 (1 S. George St)
Millersville, PA 17551Tel: (717) 871-7301
Fax: (717) 871-7946 -
Alumni Spotlight
Rosa DiPiazza: Rosa won the Milford School District Behavioral Health Professional of the Year Award. Read more about the award here. Then, she went on to win the Delaware Behavioral Health Specialist of the Year Award in 2022. Click here to read about this award. She also presented twice at the 2023 Annual Convention of the National Association of School Psychologists on two interventions called Planting Seeds: A Tier 2 Guide to Growing Friendships & Breezing Through: A Tier 2 Guide for Executive Functioning.
Dr. Nikole Hollins-Sims: Dr. Hollins-Sims was appointed for PDE Diversity and Inclusion Director and was awarded the 2021 Emerging Professional as part of the Outstanding Commitment to Anti-Racism in School Psychology Award from APA Division 16. Click here to learn more about this award. She also named the 2021 PA School Psychologist of the year. Click here to read more.
Dr. Amber Sessoms: Dr. Sessoms was appointed to the Millersville University Council of Trustees in January of 2020. Click here to learn more. She has also been awarded the School Psychologist of the Year Award from ASPP. Click here to read about this award.
Dr. Nikole Hollins-Sims, 2021-2022 PA School Psychologist of the Year, & Dr. Erica Kaurudar both former MU School Psychology Alum, co-authored a book, titled Creating Equitable Practices in PBIS.
Gabrielle Wilcox (undergrad and school psychology grad student alum) is the first author on a forthcoming text published by Routledge, titled Cognitive Neuroscience Foundations for School Psychologists.
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Faculty Spotlight
Dr. Drew Hunter: Dr. Hunter was the lead author on a manuscript published in August 2022: Examining the Impact of Federal Specific Learning Disability Inclusionary Criteria on Multidisciplinary Team Decision Making When Using Response to Intervention. Dr. Hunter also presented on The Role of Student Growth in Multidisciplinary Team Eligibility Decisions at the 2023 NASP convention.
Dr. Lauren Kaiser: Dr. Kaiser’s Best Practices in Instructional Consultation chapter final revisions was published in July 2023. Dr. Kaiser also co-authored a paper published July 2022: Deliberate practice of consultation communication skills: A randomized controlled trial.
She also gave two presentations at the NASP 2023 conference titled, Learning to Listen With Deliberate Practice of Consultation Communication Skills Decisions & Alternate Pathways to Academia: Practitioner to Trainer. Dr. Kaiser also led an interest group titled Consultee Centered Consultation Interest Group Networking Session.
Dr. Charles Barrett, Adjunct Faculty Member, Dr. Barrett authored two books titled; Today in School Psychology Volume 3 and Social Justice In schools: A Framework for Equity in Education. He also gave three presentations at the 2023 NASP Convention, Working Together: Strategic Interconnected Implementation of the NASP Exposure Project; The Proof is in Practice: Advancing Equity for English Learners; When Adults Listen, Children Speak: Student Voice and Equitable Outcomes
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Student and Alumni Professional Presentations
National Presentations:
Danielle Martin*, Dr. Lauren Kaiser, Christina Powley, and Dr. Paul Lords led a presentation titled, Consultation in the Real World, Before, During and After COVID-19 at NASP 2022 in Boston which covered various face-to-face and teleconsultation methods and barriers, solutions and ethical considerations related to these methods.
Dr. Lauren Kaiser presented Adapting the Classroom Check-Up; Novel Approaches to Teacher Support at NASP 2022 with students Katherine Schoener, Danielle Taylor and Sadie Wentland, and colleagues Tyler Smith, Lora Henderson, Wendy Reinke.
Dr. Drew Hunter*: Dr. Hunter (Left) presented at NASP 2020 with colleagues Dr. Joseph Kovaleski (Center) and Dr. Michael Bonshefski (Right). Their presentation, Response to Intervention and Specific Learning Disabilities: Who is Eligible?, reviewed studies that analyzed the use of RTI Data when making special education decisions regarding eligibility.
Rosa DiPiazza*: Rosa led a presentation titled RTI-Based Decision Making Models for SLD Evaluation Referrals: What do we do with Progress Monitoring Data? Dr. Nikole Hollins-Sims*: Dr. Hollins-Sims co-presented with Dr. Kent McIntosh on Using PBIS to Ensure Racial Equity in School Discipline. This presentation covered specific strategies and free resources to increase equity in our PBIS systems. To view the recorded presentation, click here.
State Presentations:
Danielle Taylor* and Professor, Dr. Kaiser presented a case study on Using Instructional Consultation to increase time on task behavior at the ASPP 2022 conference.
Christina Arigo* and Professor, Dr. Kaiser presented at the 2022 ASPP conference on Instructional Consultation and the Active Teaching of Non-Disruptive Behavior.
Alyssa Sunday* presented at the ASPP 2022 conference with colleague, Dr. Chelsea Pruznak, on improving emergent reading skills with a multisensory approach. Click here to read more about the presentation.Dr. Lauren Kaiser, Krislyn Rousseau-McGettigan*, Hannah Lombardo, Bailey Gibson, and Katie Fritz*: Dr. Kaiser, Krislyn, Hannah, Bailey, and Katie presented the Joseph French Lecture at ASPP 2020. They led a two-part session titled Instructional Consultation Part One: Supporting Teachers Amidst Unprecedented Times and Instructional Consultation Mini Skills Part Two: Closing Reading Gaps Pre and Post COVID-19. Click here to learn more.
Dr. Erica Kaurudar*: Dr. Kaurudar (Right) co-presented with Jared Campbell at ASPP 2020. Their presentation, Effective Mathematics Assessment and Intervention Practices, explored how school psychologists can support effective math instruction, assessment, and intervention. Click here to watch a recording of this presentation.
University Presentations:
Sydney Murphy: Sydney's paper, A Systems-Level Approach for Mindfulness Training in Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic, was featured in the Made in Millersville Journal in 2021. Additionally, Sydney presented virtually on this same topic. Click here to learn more about Sydney, watch her presentation, and read her paper. 
Katherine Schoener: Katherine "Kitt" presented virtually at Made in Millersville with her research topic, Using the Classroom Checkup Coaching Model to Increase Student Engagement During Virtual Learning. Click here to watch Kitt's presentation.Danielle Taylor: Danielle's paper, Applying Classroom-Check Up Through Teleconsultation, was featured in the Made in Millersville Journal in 2021. Additionally, Danielle presented virtually on the same topic. Click here to learn more about Danielle, watch her presentation, and read her paper.
Sadie Wentland: Sadie's paper, Utilizing the Classroom Check-Up Model Via Tele-Consultation to Increase Opportunities to Respond in Virtual and Hybrid Learning, was featured in the Made in Millersville Journal in 2021. Additionally, Sadie presented virtually on the same topic. Click here to learn more about Sadie, watch her presentation, and read her paper. 
Bailey Gibson: Bailey's paper, The Effectiveness of Instructional Consultation, was featured in the Made in Millersville Journal in 2020. Click here to read the paper and learn more about Bailey. *Indicates a Millersville University Alumni
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Student Spotlight
Bailey Gibson: Bailey won the 2021 Graduate Student of the Year Award at the Millersville Student Leadership Awards. Click here to learn more about this award.
Christina Powley: Christina is currently a member of the Student Editorial Board for the School Psychology Review Journal through NASP. Click here to learn more about this journal.
Danielle Taylor: Danielle has received a scholarship to attend the Public Policy Institute through NASP, where she will advocate for shortages in the field of School Psychology with our Pennsylvania State Representatives. Danielle originally received this scholarship in 2020, but the Institute was cancelled in 2020 so her scholarship was renewed.
Sadie Wentland: Sadie has received a scholarship to attend the Public Policy Institute through NASP, where she will advocate for shortages in the field of school psychology with our Pennsylvania State Representatives. SASP MU: In 2020, SASP MU received the Outstanding New Student Organization Award at the Millersville Student Leadership Awards. In 2021, SASP MU received the EPPIIC Values Award at the Millersville University Student Leadership Awards. For more information about these awards, click here.
