Specialist in School Psychology

The Specialist in School Psychology degree is offered in the Department of Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences. Approved 1991. The Specialist in School Psychology degree requires the completion of a minimum of 60 semester hours of graduate level course work including practicum experiences; a full- time, nine-month internship in a school setting, and completion of a thesis or non-thesis option. The thesis option requires a minimum of 4 semester hours of PSY 499 credit. The non-thesis option requires 4 semester hours of an applied research experience in School Psychology.

Students must maintain a grade point average of at least 3.0 throughout their graduate training. Additionally, no more than 9 semester hours with grades of “C” are permissible.

Students must present, exclusive of Thesis 499 or the applied research experience, not less than 30 hours of 400-level course work.

Credit Requirements

Approved 1991, rev 3/03, edited 6/05; 2/17/15

The S.S.P. degree requires the completion of a minimum of 60 semester hours of graduate level coursework including practicum experiences; a thesis or applied research experience in school psychology and a full-time internship in a school setting.

Deficiencies

Approved 1991

When an applicant has been accepted, the department will indicate any courses that may be required to remove undergraduate deficiencies. The department also may specify certain graduate courses which will be required in addition to those listed in the catalog and will designate which, if any, of these courses may be used in meeting requirements for the degree.

Time Limitations

All requirements for the S.S.P. degree must be completed within six calendar years, beginning with the date the student first registers as a Specialist in School Psychology degree student. See Master’s Degree Time Limitations section for complete policy. The form is available at Grad.IllinoisState.edu/students/forms.

Transfer Credit

Approved 1991, updated 3/22/01

Upon recommendation of the department and with the approval of the Graduate School, a student may present a maximum of nine semester hours of graduate credit from another college or university that is accredited by the appropriate regional accrediting association for use in meeting the requirements of the

S.S.P. degree. See entire policy under Master’s Transfer Credit section. 

Admission to Candidacy

To be admitted to candidacy for the S.S.P. degree the student must have a minimum grade point average of

3.0 in graduate coursework at Illinois State, completed all deficiencies, successful completion of PSY 402 or a Thesis Proposal Approval form for PSY 499, on file in the Graduate School, if a thesis is the culminating experience for the specialist program, and an approved Degree Audit on file in the Graduate School. 

Registration for Thesis Work

Approved 1991

The student under the thesis option must register for four hours of 499 Thesis. Any student using the services of the academic staff or the facilities of the University must be registered for the semester or term during which the services are rendered or the facilities are used including the thesis proposal or defense. Also, to register for 499 the student must be working on the subject under the direction of the advisor or thesis chairperson. No grade will be given for the course but credit (CR) will be entered on the student's record at the time the approved thesis is deposited in the Graduate School Office. No credit for 499 may be given to a student who does not complete a thesis. 

Continuous Registration - SSP

Approved 11/14/96; edited 4/26/23

After the Thesis Proposal approval form has been accepted in the Graduate School and a student has completed the courses on the approved Degree Audit and registered for four hours of 499 Thesis, the student is required to maintain continuous registration. The requirement for continuous registration may be fulfilled by registering for Thesis 499.00. The requirement for continuous registration does not apply during a summer term unless the student is proposing, defending, or graduating in that term. Registration for 499.00 may be in absentia. If circumstances prohibit continuing registration a student must request a leave of absence from the University. Any student interrupting registration without obtaining a leave of absence must pay tuition for one credit hour of 499.00 for each of the delinquent semesters upon reenrollment and/or reinstatement. Any student requesting reinstatement in a degree program must complete an application for readmission to the program. Continuous registration is required until the submission of all final deposit materials to the Graduate School. Consult with the Graduate School for more information. (See also Academic Load for Graduate Assistant insurance information.) 

Thesis Committee

Approved 1991; Revised 4/22/04; edited 4/26/23

A thesis is written under the direction of a thesis committee appointed in a manner specified by the department. The committee normally consists of three or more full members of the Graduate Faculty, but shall not be fewer than two members. In all cases the chair must have full graduate faculty status. The majority of the committee, which includes the chair, should have full graduate faculty status. An associate Member may co-chair a thesis with a Full Member. Inquire with your department for any additional requirements. Proposed committee members who are not members of the Illinois State University Graduate Faculty must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies. A student must be admitted to a Specialist degree program in the Graduate School before a thesis committee can be appointed.

Thesis Proposal

Approved 1991

The Proposal for Research, including the title, scope, and design, must be approved by the student's thesis committee before a student is admitted to candidacy. The student is required to file an approved Proposal for Research with the department at a time and in a manner specified by the department. Institutional policy requires that all research involving human subjects be reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB). Research involving animals must be approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Research involving biohazards must be reviewed by the Institutional Biosafety Committee (IBC). A copy of the Thesis Proposal approval form shall be deposited in the Graduate School Office by the early part of the semester or term in which completion of the S.S.P. degree is expected, according to the deadlines published by the Graduate School. 

Thesis Acceptance

A complete draft of the thesis must be uploaded to ProQuest before the "Right to Defend" will be issued to the student. For complete details on the completion of the dissertation. See grad.illinoisstate.edu/students/thesis-dissertation/plan/.