Ready to support students and their families to facilitate a successful school experience

Combining the principles of educational and school psychology, this dual degree program equips you to be a school psychologist that advocates for the best interests of students and their parents, confronting the inequities of our education system along the way. You'll learn skills and strategies to support students both in and outside the classroom, enabling them to have the most successful learning experience possible.

Our Commitment to You

Upon graduation with a dual MEd/EdS degree in school psychology from Loyola, you will possess the following knowledge, skills, and professional values necessary to commence work as a licensed school psychologist.

KNOWLEDGE

You'll understand psychology, including such areas as the biological basis of behavior, learning, development, and social and individual differences; understand cultural diversity and implement services in a socially just manner; understand problems associated with the physical, cognitive, social, emotional, and educational development of exceptional children and youth. Plus, you'll learn about the profession of school psychology including the history, roles, and functions; the place of the school psychologist within the overall context of the school; and contemporary problems and issues facing the profession.

SKILLS

You'll conduct psychological and educational assessments, including a special focus on issues related to non-biased assessment of minorities and/or culturally diverse students. You'll also develop individual and group counseling skills and preventive mental health consultative procedures. In addition to conducting individual and team-based consultation in school-based settings, you will also interpret educational-psychological research and apply research findings and procedures to instructional programming and mental health service delivery.

PROFESSIONAL VALUES

You'll become a leader in the educational community, using your knowledge and expertise to recognize social inequities and disrupt the education system.

Curriculum

Completion of the MEd/EdS degree program in school psychology requires 66 graduate semester hours, including a full-time internship and two comprehensive portfolio examinations. No thesis is required. The program is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and aligns with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) School Psychology Standards.

The educational specialist degree is a degree between a master's degree and a doctoral degree. Students with a bachelor's degree are admitted to a combined MEd/EdS program. An MEd degree in educational psychology is earned after the first year of study, leading to entrance to the EdS portion of the program. Students without a master's degree may transfer in a maximum of six graduate semester hours.