Externship
New Jersey Association of School Psychologists
SCHOOL OF LIBERAL ARTS
The Program in School Psychology at Kean University is a graduate program at the specialist level. Completion of the program leads to State Certification as a School Psychologist and The Professional Diploma in School Psychology, conferred at graduation upon completion of all program requirements. The program is approved by the New Jersey State Department of Education and is nationally accredited.
To qualify for the Professional Diploma, individuals must possess a master's degree in an appropriate specialty (i.e., in an area related to education or psychology) which involved a research thesis or its equivalent. Students without such a degree are required to complete an M.A. in Educational Psychology as a sub-unit of the professional diploma program. Because the courses which are required in the M.A. portion of the program are vital to our philosophy of school psychology and/or required for certification in New Jersey, students who enter with an appropriate M.A. may still have to take some or all of those courses (depending on a review of their transcripts).
The program follows the scientist-practitioner model of school psychology in which practice is based on strong scientific principles. To this end, a major goal of the program is to provide individuals with a solid background in psychology as a foundation for professional development and with a realistic understanding of the functions, methods and problems of the schools. The program seeks to provide its graduates with special training in understanding the characteristics of children from diverse economic, cultural, racial, ethnic and religious backgrounds so that they will be prepared to recognize and deal with the many variables within the school system which contribute to, or interfere with, a child's progress in learning and personal development.
Because there is ongoing and systematic evaluation of the various components of the program, some components of the program are subject to change after students are admitted. Because such changes are designed to improve the overall quality of the program and the qualifications of its graduates, students are expected to satisfy all new requirements or course substitutions unless specifically exempted in writing by the coordinator.
The general goal of the School Psychology Program is to ensure that graduates are competent, functioning school psychologists who are responsive to the cultural, ethnic, religious racial and economic diversity of the children, parents and staff of the educational institutions in which they will work.
To this end,, the following objectives guide the general philosophy and overall organization of the program, courses and personnel within them:
1. To develop a thorough background in psychology which will act as a foundation for professional practice and development.
2. To develop an understanding of the organization and administration of public schools and the cultural, ethnic, religious and geographic diversity of the students, parents and staff served by school psychologists.
3. To develop a thorough knowledge of psychoeducational evaluation and non-biased assessment techniques including individual tests and scales measuring cognitive, social-emotional and adaptive functioning.
4. To develop an understanding of statistics, measurement and research methodology and to be able to apply them appropriately.
5. To develop a broad base of knowledge dealing with typical and atypical human development including an understanding of exceptional persons from diverse cultural, ethnic, religious and geographic backgrounds.
6. To develop knowledge of, and skill in applying, psychological and educational interventions in school settings and the counseling and consultation skills required to make them effective.
7. To develop an awareness of community resources and the roles of other professionals in helping children, parents and school personnel promote and/or create positive learning environments.
8. To develop knowledge of federal and state laws, professional ethics and professional standards and their application in the schools.
9. To develop skill in writing professional reports and individualized educational plans and how to implement them within the school setting.
10. To develop the oral communication and interpersonal skills necessary to communicate effectively with children, parents and school personnel from varied cultural, ethnic, religious and geographic backgrounds.
The degree to which these goals are achieved is evaluated through a variety of ways, including: Feedback from students; faculty evaluation of student achievement in program course work; review of comprehensive examination results by area; analysis of externship evaluation forms; consultation with site supervisors and periodic program review by the coordinator and faculty members to determine compliance with national and state standards.
All applicants must have a baccalaureate degree and the following courses on the undergraduate or the graduate level: Experimental Psychology, Tests and Measurements, Theories of Personality and Abnormal Psychology. No courses taken to fulfill prerequisite requirements will count toward the required 63 graduate credits. As mentioned above, students who do not have a master's degree in an appropriate area must complete the M.A. in Educational Psychology as a sub-unit of the School Psychology Program.
All applicants must submit scores on the GRE Aptitude Test and three letters of recommendation. Applicants who meet the initial screening requirements are interviewed by a psychology faculty panel who then determine whether the student will be admitted to the program.
The program provides for a structured sequence of practicum and externship experiences following the completion of the foundation courses leading up to the MA in Educational Psychology. The counseling practicum is an exception and is part of the M.A. portion of the program. Admission to the counseling practicum is contingent upon completing Advanced Psychological Counseling (Psy 5720). All practicum and externship experiences carry course credit and follow the legal and ethical guidelines established by professional organizations for such experiences. They are taught by faculty members who meet relevant professional licensure and/or certification standards.
Practicum experiences include: Psy 6110, Psy 6120 and Psy 6130 (Psychodiagnostic Evaluation I, II III); Psy 5730 and Psy 6200 (Counseling Practicum and Psychodiagnostic Evaluation: Practicum). These courses are highly individualized with limited enrollment. All field experiences included in these courses require a significant time commitment beyond that found in other classes. One of the purposes of these courses is to provide a guided sequence of experiences within educational and allied settings.
The school based externship is covered in Psy 6510/20/30 with Psy 6500 (Professional Seminar in School Psychology II) as a corequisite. The externship requirement for the Professional Diploma in School Psychology is 1200 hours in a public school setting. The externship must be completed in one year on a full time basis or two years on a part time basis. If taken on a part time basis, the externship must be completed in consecutive semesters. Certification as a school psychologist (in New Jersey) may be applied for after completion of a minimum of 90 days (630 hours) of supervised experience, passing the school psychology comprehensive examination, completion of the MA in Educational Psychology (or its equivalent) and completion of all required coursework. The externship may not be conducted in any school district where the student works, lives, or has family members who work or live. Placement is made by the university based supervisor in consultation with the student. Supervision in these courses is by appropriately certified or licensed individuals and occur in settings appropriate to the general goals of the program. School based supervisors must have a minimum of three years experience and may supervise only one extern at a time. They are expected to meet individually with that extern for a minimum of two to three hours each week for face-to-face supervision. University based and school based supervisors coordinate the externship activities of all externs. All externship sites must contractually agree to provide an appropriate setting and to make some provision for the time commitment of the supervising school psychologist. Externs are required to submit a detailed time sheet each month describing their activities and signed by their school based supervisor. Each site is visited at least once each semester by the university based supervisor to ensure compliance with externship standards. Externs also meet once each week during the Fall semester with the university based supervisor in the Professional Seminar in School Psychology II(Psy 6500). In the Spring semester during the externship, all students must take the School Psychology Comprehensive Examination. This examination assesses both theoretical and applied aspects of the training program and must be passed before either certification or the Professional Diploma are awarded.
Advanced Psychological Counseling (Psy 5720), offered in the Fall, and the Counseling Practicum (Psy 5730), offered in the Spring, should be taken consecutively. Students should be aware that they are responsible for securing their own counseling practicum site (in consultation with the supervising faculty member). The site must have an appropriately licensed or certified supervisor available for on site supervision. Supervision is also provided by appropriately credentialled faculty members who teach the counseling practicum. It is suggested that each student discuss the placement details with the instructor of Advanced Psychological Counseling early in the Fall semester to ensure that an appropriate site is secured before the beginning of the practicum.
The Psychodiagnostic Evaluation Practicum (Psy 6200) uses the services of the Institute of Child Study, located on campus, for clients. This course is taken immediately prior to the externship and provides students with the opportunity to conduct full case studies with children whose parents contract with the university for this service. When appropriate, cooperative case studies are conducted in conjunction with students in the Learning Disabilities Teacher Consultant Program and the School Social Work Program.
Students are assessed a modest fee in each of the Psychodiagnostic Evaluation courses to cover materials used in these courses. Additionally, students must purchase student professional liability insurance through the American Psychological Association (APA) or the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) for all evaluation, practicum (including the Counseling Practicum), and externship experiences. Students must join one of these organizations to purchase this insurance. (Click here for more information on professional organizations).
Students who do not register for classes in the Fall and/or Spring semesters should notify the program coordinator of this fact. Any student who anticipates a prolonged absence from the program must notify the coordinator of their intention. All students should note that the university requires the M.A. be completed within six years of a student's initial coursework. Under no circumstance will this time limit be extended.
Receiving the M.A. in Educational Psychology is contingent upon successful completion of all coursework at this level, passing the comprehensive in educational psychology (for students entering the program from 1994 onward), and successfully completing the thesis.
Students must apply for the M.A. in the Graduate Office and pay all appropriate fees (see the Graduate Handbook or call the Graduate Office for dates).
State certification is contingent upon successful completion of the M.A. in Educational Psychology (or its equivalent), passing all required coursework, passing the school psychology comprehensive examination and successful completion of a minimum of 90 full time days (630 hours) of externship and fulfilling a one year residency requirement. The residency requirement can be fulfilled by taking a full course load for one academic year (i.e. 18 credits over Fall, Spring and Summer semesters).
Students must apply for certification in the Graduate Office and pay all appropriate fees (see the Graduate Handbook or call the Graduate Office for dates).
The Professional Diploma in School Psychology is awarded upon successful completion of all components of the program. Beginning with students who enter the program in 1994, the Professional Diploma will be awarded only to those students who successfully complete a full academic year externship and fulfill a one year residency requirement. The residency requirement can be fulfilled by taking a full course load for one academic year (i.e. 18 credits over Fall, Spring and Summer semesters). This requirement, plus the 1200 hour (one year) externship and completion of all other program requirements, qualifies graduates to take the NASP National Certification examination.
Students must apply for the Professional Diploma in the Graduate Office and pay all appropriate fees (see the Graduate Handbook or call the Graduate Office for dates).
The School Psychology Program maintains an active continuing education component for practicing school psychologists through the School Psychology Graduate Student Association's lecture series and a collaborative series with the Institute of Child Study on the Kean University campus. All colloquia are open to students within the program and to practicing school psychologists. Certified school psychologists may take courses normally open only to matriculated students to maintain or upgrade their skills when space is available. The continuing professional education programs are coordinated through the Psychology Department's Center for Applied Psychology.
The general university standard specifies that maintaining a 'B' average is required to remain in good standing. The School Psychology Program maintains a higher standard, however, because it considers that grades of 'C' or less do not reflect sufficient subject mastery in a professional program. Therefore, courses in which a student receives a grade of 'C' or less cannot be used as prerequisites for any other course. Further, any student who receives two grades of 'C' or less (or NC) will be automatically withdrawn from the program.
The program maintains a large collection of professional testing materials, books and journals to assist students in their coursework and practicum experiences. The collection is continuously updated to ensure availability of the most current materials. Additionally, a large collection of books and journals is maintained in the Nancy Thompson Library for student and faculty use. The Department of Psychology also maintains a large collection of computer software directly and indirectly related to the program as well as a fully staffed computer laboratory.
Students are encouraged to join professional school psychology organizations as soon as they are admitted into the program. Student memberships are not expensive and provide students with current publications, discounts at conventions and other professional materials available only to members. Students are required to join at least one professional organization before they take the Counseling Practicum, the psychodiagnostic evaluation sequence and the externship to enable them to purchase student professional liability insurance (required for those courses). The following organizations are appropriate for student membership:
A statewide professional organization with two annual conferences, a newsletter and other professional services appropriate for school psychologists.
A national organization for school psychologists with a national conference, newsletter, major professional journal and other professional publications.
A national organization for psychologists with a national conference, newsletter and many journals in various areas. Division 16 (School Psychology) has its own journal.
Students enrolled in the School Psychology Program are encouraged to become active members of the School Psychology Student Organization. This organization, functioning under faculty sponsorship, provides a forum for lectures, professional discussions and social interactions among the students and faculty in the program as well as among practicing school psychologists in the area.
Students in the School Psychology Program are expected to act in a professional manner at all times. Any student who violates the code of professional conduct, engages in academic dishonesty or who violates professional standards of ethics may be subject to dismissal from the program.
Four of the full-time faculty members and the one half-time faculty member are core faculty in the School Psychology Program. Several other members of the Psychology Department contribute to the program as supporting faculty.
Dr. Dennis R. Finger is the coordinator of the School Psychology Program. Dr. Finger is a certified school psychologist and a licensed psychologist who teaches a variety of courses within the program and supervises the school based externship.
Dr. Robert Roth, a Diplomate in Clinical Psychology, teaches one of the individual intelligence testing courses and was a member of a group which established the Campus School, a facility on the Kean University Campus in which students obtain part of their training.
Dr. Rhoda Feigenbaum is a Licensed Psychologist and a member of the School Psychology Committee teaches courses within the program supervises the counseling practicum.
Dr. Adrienne Garro is a certified school psychologist and a licensed psychologist. She teaches one of the individual intelligence testing courses, other school psychology courses and is a member of the school psychology committee.
Dr. Rosa Bianco is a half-time faculty member assigned to the School Psychology Program. Dr. Bianco is a certified school psychologist and a licensed psychologist. She is a member of the School Psychology Committee and responsible for teaching courses within the program.
FOUNDATION COURSES (33 CREDITS) LEADING TO M.A. IN EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
F = Fall Semester
S = Spring Semester
B = Both Semesters
* Note: These three courses essentially comprise the thesis' sequence and should be planned for in the following order: MAT 5500 (Spring), PSY 5910 (Fall) and PSY 5920 (Spring). Care should be taken to plan course selection so that this sequence is maintained.
[OTHER COURSES BY ADVISEMENT AND PERMISSION OF THE COORDINATOR]
* Note - These two courses may be taken concurrently
** Note - These two courses may be taken concurrently
*** Note - The Externship continues into the Spring Semester
ALL COURSES IN THE PROFESSIONAL SEQUENCE REQUIRE MATRICULATION IN THE SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM, AN APPROPRIATE MA DEGREE, AND PERMISSION OF THE COORDINATOR
Kean University is one of eight publicly supported State colleges. Located in Northern New Jersey, the university serves over 13,000 full and part-time students, of whom approximately 2,000 are studying at the master's level. The student body is diverse and includes a large population of adults returning to school and a steadily increasing percentage of ethnic and racial minorities. Classes are small and there are no teaching assistants to substitute for the more than 350 full time professors, plus experts drawn from the local area.
The School Psychology Program is housed within the Department of Psychology in the School of Liberal Arts. The Department offers an undergraduate major leading to the B.A. degree and an undergraduate minor in psychology. It also provides supporting courses for education majors and for the growing number of professional programs, particularly those in Allied Health and Health Care and the Administrative Sciences.
At the graduate level, in addition to the Professional Diploma in School Psychology and the M.A. in Educational Psychology, the Department offers a Master of Arts degree in the Behavioral Sciences, with three options: The first is designed primarily for individuals pursuing careers in the helping professions who wish to upgrade their competence in areas of the behavioral sciences, the second is a program in psychological theory and procedures is designed for students holding the baccalaureate degree in psychology, who wish to qualify as a psychological technician or paraprofessional in institutions such as mental health centers and rehabilitation centers, the third is designed for individuals who wish to pursue a degree in business and industry counseling. A new program leading to a Professional Diploma in Marriage and Family Therapy was started in the Fall 1998 semester.
The Psychology faculty includes twenty-one full-time members and one half-time member. A list of the full time faculty with their educational backgrounds appears on below.
AVIOLI,, PAULA S., Professor, B.S.,Cornell University,Ed.M, Harvard University, M.S., Ph.D., Rutgers University
BAUGH, VERNEDA HAMM, Assistant Professor, B.A. Fisk University; Ph.D. Temple University
BIANCO, ROSA G., Assistant Professor, M.A. Kean University; Psy.D. Rutgers University
BOUSQUET, SUZANNE G., Professor, B.A., Northern Illinois University; M.S.,Ph.D., Rutgers University
BOYD-JACKSON, SHARON, Associate Professor, B.A. The City University
of New York, M.A. Adelphi University, Ph.D. Adelphi University
FANTAOUSAKIS, CHRYSOULA, Assistant Professor, B.A. Hofstra University
of New York, M.A. CUNY (Hunter College), Ph.D. CUNY
FEIGENBAUM, RHODA Y.,Associate Professor, B.A. Hunter College; M.A. University of Wisconsin; Ph.D. Fordham University
FINGER, DENNIS, Associate Professor, B.A. Lehman College M.S. Long Island University, M.S.ed. Pace University, Ed.D. Rutgers University
FILARDO, EMILY K., Associate Professor, B.A. Brooklyn College (CUNY) Ph.D. The City University of New York
GARRO, ADRIENNE, Assistant Professor, B.A. John Hopkins University; M.Ed., Ph.D. Temple University
GRATZ, ZANDRA, Associate Professor, B.A. Queens College (CUNY), M.S. Pennsylvania State University, Ph.D. Pennsylvania State University
HARRIS, MARTIN, Professor, B.A. Queens College, M.A., Connecticut College; Ph.D. The City University of New York
JAFFE, MICHAEL L., Professor, B.S. City College of New York; Ph.D. Adelphi University
KAPLOWITZ, HENRY L., Professor, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. Yeshiva University
LORBER, NEIL M., Professor, A.B., M.S. Brooklyn College; M.A., Ph.D. New York University
NG, KIT, Assistant Professor, B.Sc. University of Montevallo (Al)
M.A. Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Tx), M.Ed., University of North Texas, Ph.D. Texas Woman's University
ROTH, ROBERT R., Professor, B.S. Julliard School of Music; M.A., Ed. D. Columbia University
SINGER, MURIEL., Assistant Professor, B.S. Empire State College; M.S., Ph.D Nova Southeastern University
SMITH, LISA, Associate Professor, B.A. Montclair State College; M.A., Ed.D. Rutgers University
SPRINGER, JONATHAN A., Associate Professor, B.A. New York University; M.A. Hunter College; Ph.D. Yeshiva University
STERN, FRANCES M., Associate Professor, A.B., M.A. Kean College; Ph.D. New York University
Course and program advisement is available to all students in the School Psychology Program. The program coordinator is available during regularly scheduled office hours and by appointment to help students plan their course of study and register for appropriate courses.
General graduate advisement may be accomplished through the Office of Graduate Studies in T-106 (Townsend Hall).
Students enrolled in graduate programs at the university are encouraged to participate in the Graduate Student Association. The Association makes a direct contribution to the quality of graduate student life on campus through the sponsorship of intellectual, social, cultural and professional activities. The Graduate Student Association also sponsors programs which provide continuing professional development for practicing school psychologists.
Over 50 graduate assistantships are available to graduate students at Kean university. These assistantships provide for tuition and fee waiver and a weekly stipend. Applicants must be fully matriculated in a graduate program and must register for at least 9 credits of graduate coursework each semester.
Various form of financial aid are available to graduate students at Kean University. These include: Guaranteed Student Loans; Educational Opportunity Fund Grants; National Direct Student Loans; Garden state Graduate Fellowships; and the Kean University Alumni Graduate Student Scholarship. Students seeking more information on these forms of financial aid should contact the Graduate Office.