The Winthrop School Psychology Program is a three-year, full-time graduate training
sequence leading to the Specialist in School Psychology (S.S.P.) degree. Although
an interim Master of Science (M.S.) degree is awarded at the end of the second year,
students admitted to the program are expected to complete the full three-year training
program.
The Winthrop School Psychology Program is primarily designed to prepare practitioners
who are competent to provide a full range of school psychological services including
consultation, behavioral intervention, psychoeducational assessment, research, program
planning/evaluation, and counseling. Students are prepared to work with diverse clients
from infancy to young adulthood, including those with low-incidence disabilities and
with families, teachers, and others in the schools and community. Opportunities for
working under close supervision in rural, suburban, and urban settings are afforded
students in the program. Although some of our graduates subsequently pursue doctoral
studies, the primary purpose of the program is the preparation of well-rounded professionals
for work in public schools and related settings.
The three-year, full-time program leading to both the Master of Science (M.S.) and Specialist in School Psychology (S.S.P.) degrees utilizes a highly structured, applied, competency-based approach to training.
The curriculum is linked to a comprehensive set of objectives that outline knowledge,
skills, and dispositions needed by school psychologists in order to respond effectively
to the diverse needs of individuals and systems that we ultimately serve. Program
emphasis is placed on psychological and psychoeducational methods whose effectiveness
has been demonstrated through behavioral research. A multi-method, multi-source approach
to assessment of learning and development helps assure that students attain the competencies
needed to be effective school psychologists.
The Winthrop School Psychology Program has been designed to meet national standards
of quality and progresses sequentially from foundations courses to methods/practica
experiences to a 1,200 hour internship. The training philosophy of the program emphasizes
the importance of integrating knowledge and skills under conditions of strong supervision,
support, and collaboration. Completion of supervised field experience over the last
two years of the program provides for closer integration of didactic and experiential
components of the curriculum, more immediate application and integration of skills,
and strong involvement of faculty in this critical stage of training. Low student-to-faculty
ratios in all methods/practica courses and weekly sessions with both faculty and credentialed
field supervisors during traineeship and internship help to assure the monitoring
and support needed for students to become competent professionals. Collaboration and
cooperation among students are also encouraged. 
The combined M.S./S.S.P. program is fully approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and South Carolina Department of Education. Winthrop is also fully accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP). Upon the attainment of a satisfactory score on the School Psychology specialty area
of the PRAXIS and the recommendation of the program director, graduates of the program qualify
to become Nationally Certified School Psychologists (NCSP) and can attain certification as School Psychologists in South Carolina (Level II)
and in the majority of other states.
By completing this degree program at Winthrop, students have taken all courses necessary
for licensure or all courses necessary to take a final state authorization exam in
all 50 states. For additional information see Program Annual NASP Reports.
Employment offers for Winthrop School Psychology graduates typically exceed the number
of graduates each year. Over the past ten years, virtually all graduates seeking employment
in the field have attained such employment within three months of graduation and many
have been offered positions before graduation. Winthrop School Psychology alumni are
employed in many states. Their preparation is evaluated very highly by employers.
Those who have pursued doctoral studies also have been very successful in gaining
admission and in completing their studies.
Immediately upon entering the graduate program, the student should develop, with the
assigned advisor, an individual course of study which meets the requirements for the
degree and the student's objectives.
