MA and EdS Degree
This program is offered collaboratively with the College of Education and coursework from both areas is required. Students entering the program must complete both the MA and the EdS degrees, including an internship of one school year, in order to obtain an endorsement for licensure. The EdS degree is an advanced sequence in the specialty and is to be pursued only by persons who have completed the MA degree or comparable degree with a concentration in school psychology, or who already hold school psychology credentials. The program is accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), and holds full approval from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)/CAEP. It is also formally approved by the Tennessee State Department of Education and leads to that agency’s license in school psychology.
The overall goal of the MA/EdS program is that students will successfully complete the content domain-related requirements of the program, obtain credentialing for school-based practice from the Tennessee State Board of Education or comparable authority in other states, and become Nationally Certified School Psychologists (NCSP).
Program objectives are: (1) understanding of the nature of educational settings and ability to work cooperatively and effectively with parents, school personnel, and other professionals; (2) broad expertise in assessment and intervention at the individual, group, and system level; and (3) development of research and evaluation skills, including data analysis and oral and written communication of research.