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2024-2025 Graduate Studies Bulletin
School-Community Psychology, PsyD
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 Return to: Programs (Alphabetically, University-wide)
Professor Meller, Graduate Program Director, 516-463-5628
This program prepares students to become psychology practitioners who provide services to schools and community health service settings. Emphasis is placed upon training the psychologist as a consultant who brings about change within school and community settings, and who is also a provider of psychological services for individuals and families. The practice of school-community psychology is viewed as involving assessment, intervention, planning, and prevention in public schools, special education facilities, geriatric facilities, veterans centers, centers for the homeless, police departments, facilities for the disabled, facilities for the drug-addicted, etc.
The program is designed to accommodate beginning-level students who enter with a bachelor’s degree, and advanced-level students who enter with a master’s degree in school psychology. Students who are accepted directly upon completion of the bachelor’s degree will attend a full-time, 100-credit program. Advanced students who have already completed a master’s degree in psychology may attend full- or part-time. Course and credit requirements for advanced students will be determined on an individual basis, following a review of official graduate transcripts.
All students are required to complete a one-year internship and practicum experiences as part of their training. A wide range of school and community settings are available for student training. In addition, completion of a doctoral dissertation in an area within the broad field of school-community psychology is also required. The program faculty have varied areas of special expertise and are able to provide specific training in childhood and adult behavior disorders, posttraumatic stress disorders, alcoholism, forensic (police) psychology, homelessness, education, and issues related to gifted and talented children, immigration and cultural adaptation, etc.
Applications completed by January 15 will be screened for regular acceptance. Information about the program and application material can be obtained from the Graduate Admission Office. Students are accepted only for the fall semester of each year.
This program is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) as a doctoral PsyD program in school psychology. It is also approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).
Questions regarding the accreditation status of this program can be directed to the American Psychological Association Commission on Accreditation (202-336-5979), accreditation.apa.org, or to Aaron Joyce, PhD, ABPP, Director, Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation, American Psychological Association, 750 First Street, NE, Washington, DC 20002-4242.
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Note: Professional Liability Insurance for Doctoral Candidates
All doctoral candidates in professional psychology are required to purchase American Psychological Association sponsored Professional Liability Insurance. This provides coverage while performing professional duties as a psychologist in training. Such coverage should be obtained at the very beginning of training. For information, contact the director of the doctoral program in which you are enrolled, or apply directly through the American Psychological Association.
Selection of Doctoral Students
Students who are considered for interview and possible admission to the program must have the required academic background and test scores as detailed in the Admission Requirements listed below, and in our program brochure: Doctor of Psychology, Program in School-Community Psychology and on our program website PsyD Program in School-Community Psychology under the heading of Admission Requirements. Applicants must have at least a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution and have taken courses in Human Development, Statistics, and Experimental Design or Research Methods all of which have been completed with a grade of B or better. Three letters of recommendation and a personal statement are also required. We are looking for students who have a strong commitment to the betterment of the emotional and behavioral needs of children. This commitment most often encompasses a concern for that child’s family and the community. Applicants meeting the above requirements are called by phone and invited for an individual interview. The interview is with program faculty and program doctoral students. When an applicant shows interest in the research of a given faculty member, we attempt to pair that student with the faculty member for the interview. Once the interviews have been completed, each faculty member ranks the applicants and a meeting takes place to obtain a consensus on who should be offered admission. Students showing strong academic backgrounds, self-discipline, and a commitment to children, families and the community are contacted by the faculty member who interviewed them and are invited into the program. Beginning Level
Students admitted with a bachelor’s degree will be required to meet the following admission criteria:
- Successful completion of the baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
- The GRE Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning tests are optional. An applicant may submit these scores for consideration, but they are not required for admission.
- The GRE psychology subject test is optional. An applicant may submit a GRE Psychology specialty test score for consideration, but it is not required for admission.
- For non-native speakers of English, a TOEFL may be required unless waived by the program director, after having received evidence of English-language proficiency.
- A cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better
- A grade of B or higher in each of these require pre-requisite courses:
- Developmental Psychology (Child, Adolescent, Adulthood, Life-span, etc.)
- Statistics
- Experimental Design
- History and Systems of Psychology
The following courses are recommended but not required
- Neuropsychology
- Psychometric Theory
7. Three letters of recommendation.
8. A personal statement.
9. Participation in the interview process (Faculty interview, interview with a current PsyD student, participation in an invited virtual Q and A session)
Advanced Level
Students admitted at the advanced level, who already possess a master’s degree in psychology, will be required to meet the following admission criteria:
- Successful completion of a 60 credit or more master’s degree, specialist degree (Ed.S.) or professional diploam (P.D.) in school psychology from an accredited institution.
- State, Washington DC, or National Certification in School Psychology
- The GRE Verbal Reasoning and Quantitative Reasoning Tests are optional. An applicant may submit these scores for consideration, but they are not required for admissions.
- The GRE psychology suject test is optional. An applicant may submit a GRE Psychology specialty test score for consideration, but it is not required for admissions.
- For non-native speakers of English, a TOEFL may be required unless waived by the program director, after having received evidence of English-language proficiency.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- A personal statement.
- Participation in the interview process (Faculty interview, interview with a current PsyD student, participation in an invited virtual Q and A session).
Program Requirements - Total Semester Hours: 100
Required Courses
The following courses are required unless transfer credit is obtained. For students who enter at the advanced level, transfer credit is determined on an individual basis. Electives
Students are required to take six semester hours of electives. Below are examples of courses that may be taken to meet this requirement. All electives must be approved by the program director prior to enrollment in the course.
Graduation Requirements
- Completion of the 100-credit program with a cumulative grade point average of B or better. Advanced students will be given transfer credit based on an individual analysis of their prior graduate academic record.
- Successful completion of a qualifying examination which must be taken and passed following the third year in the program. This examination is given in May of each year. Students who fail the qualifying examination twice will be dropped from the program.
- Students must maintain a B average each semester, and receive no more than one C per semester. Students may not receive more than three C’s in total toward the PsyD.
- If a student earns a grade of D in a course, the instructor of that course will inform the Program Director who will then convene a meeting of the Core Program Faculty to discuss the circumstances under which the D was earned. If this is the first D earned during their course of study, the student will be immediately placed on probation and a remedial plan for the student will be developed by the faculty. In the case of a D, course credit will not count toward the degree being sought but the grade is included in determining the cumulative grade-point average. The course or its equivalent, must be repeated. A second grade of D received in any course while enrolled in the program is grounds for immediate dismissal. The Core Program Faculty will decide if the dismissal is warranted. A letter that reviews the discussion and outcome of the meeting will be generated by the Program Director with a copy sent to the student.
- A grade of F in any class is grounds for immediate dismissal from the program. If a student earns an F, the instructor of that course will inform the Program Director who will then convene a meeting of the Core Program Faculty to discuss the circumstances under which the F has been earned. A letter which reviews the deliberations of the Core Program Faculty will be generated by the Program Director with a copy sent to the student.
- Satisfactory performance in a specialty clinic in each of the first six (6) semesters.
- Successful completion of first and second year practica.
- Successful completion of a community externship in the third year.
- Successful completion of a full-time school psychology internship in the fourth year.
- Successful completion of an approved doctoral dissertation.
- Satisfactory performance at an oral defense of the doctoral dissertation
- Students are expected to behave ethically and professionally according to the guidelines for student conduct and academic honesty at Hofstra University, and the Ethical Standards for Psychologists published by the American Psychological Association. Satisfactory interpersonal behavior and professional performance in classes and meetings, on practica and internships, etc. is expected. If a report of an ethics violation or an interpersonal problem which may be impeding professional growth is received, the Program Director will convene a meeting of the Core Program Faculty to discuss the circumstances under which the violation or problem arose. After a faculty investigation, a report will be issued that may clear the student of any wrongdoing, place the student on probation with a plan for remediation or dismiss the student from the program. A letter, which reviews the deliberation of the Core Program Faculty, will be generated by the Program Director with a copy sent to the student.
MS in School-Community Psychology
In the process of completing the requirements for the Doctoral degree, students will earn the MS in School-Community Psychology after completing 36 semester hours in the following courses with a B or better: Psy 201, 201, 210, 220, 224, 227, 231, 232, 233, 251, 253, 258A, 280. Advanced students may have received transfer credit for some of these courses.
Advanced Certificate in School-Community Psychology
To earn the Advanced Certificate in School-Community Psychology, students must have received the MS in School-Community Psychology as above; must have completed three years of the program; and completed the practice hours required by New York State for certification as a school psychologist. Advanced level students may have received transfer credit and their previously completed internship in school psychology may be accepted. All students must have a B average or better in all courses and be a citizen of the United States.
Footnotes (*/**)
*A student who has not made sufficient progress on the dissertation to gain permission of the members of the committee to begin collecting data, will have to repeat the course, paying full fee. A student must maintain continuous enrollment in this course, registering for it during the fall and spring semesters. A student must complete the work for this course within two semesters. If sufficient progress has not been made by the end of this period, the student will have to enroll in PSY 603A - Extended Dissertation Advisement . This course may be taken only once. If the student does not complete the work for this course by the end of the semester, the student will be dropped from the program. **A student who does not complete the dissertation during the semester of enrollment in PSY 604 - Dissertation Advisement , will have to repeat the course, paying full fee. Once PSY 602 - Dissertation Proposal Preparation or PSY 603A - Extended Dissertation Advisement has been completed, a student must enroll in 604, Dissertation Advisement, the following semester and maintain continuous enrollment in this course during the fall and spring semesters. A student must complete the work for this course within three semesters. If the dissertation is not completed by the end of this period, the student must immediately enroll in PSY 605A - Dissertation Extension . The student will be dropped from the program if all requirements for the dissertation are not fulfilled by the end of 605A. Once a candidate has begun work on the dissertation, a leave of absence from the program will not be granted, except in highly unusual circumstances. |
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