May 11, 2024  
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog 
    
2023-2024 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

School Psychology, Psy.D.


The Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in School Psychology program prepares graduates for careers as professionally credentialed doctoral-level school psychologists. School psychologists typically deliver assessment, intervention, consultation, and supervision services to promote academic, social-emotional, and behavioral success for school-aged children. School psychologists may work within schools, clinics, hospitals, or related behavioral health settings.

The PsyD program of study is designed to align with the standards for professional training and credentialing established by the Maine Department of Education, the Maine Board of Examiners of Psychologists, the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), and the American Psychological Association (APA). The program integrates coursework and field-based experiences to promote general knowledge in the fields of education and psychology and targeted competencies in assessment, intervention, consultation, supervision, and applied research. Students also gain competencies in data-based decision-making, collaborative problem-solving, applied behavior analysis, and ethical-legal standards.

The PsyD program requires a total of 109 graduate credits, which include 600 hours of practica, an empirically-based dissertation, and a culminating 1,500 hour predoctoral internship. Students who opt to enroll in four additional courses are eligible to earn an MS in Educational Psychology (Applied Behavior Analysis Concentration) along the way to the PsyD degree.

Graduates of PsyD program are eligible to apply for multiple professional credentials, including:

  • Certification as a School Psychologist. Graduates of the PsyD program are eligible to apply for (a) state certification as a School Psychologist-Doctoral (093) through the Maine Department of Education and (b) national certification as a Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) through the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).
  • Licensure as a Psychologist. The PsyD program meets the education standards established by the Maine Board of Examiners of Psychologists for licensure as a Psychologist in the state of Maine. Graduates who complete an additional 1500 hour (48 week) postdoctoral training experience under the supervision of a licensed Psychologist are eligible to apply for licensure and sit for the required examinations.
  • Certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Students who enroll in four additional courses, complete 1500+ hours of acceptable supervised independent fieldwork, and pass a national examination are eligible for credentialing as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst®  (BCBA®).

Program Requirements


The Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree in School Psychology is awarded upon completion of the following 109 graduate credits. All courses are three (3) credits unless otherwise indicated.

Elective Courses Required


Elective courses required to earn the MS in Educational Psychology (Applied Behavior Analysis Concentration) “along the way” include the following:

Transfer Credit Policies


A maximum of two courses (6 graduate credits) required for the PsyD in School Psychology program of study may be completed prior to matriculation.

Admitted students may request permission to transfer up to 45 graduate credits toward the PsyD in School Psychology degree. In order for credits to be eligible for transfer, the following criteria must be met:

  • The credits must have been earned as part of a graduate course (e.g., 500 level or higher) offered at a United States institution of higher learning accredited by a regional and/or national accrediting body.
  • The credits must have been earned for a course that is equivalent, in terms of content knowledge and skill requirements, to one required within the program.
  • The earned grade for the course must be a B or higher (GPA equivalent of 3.0).
  • The credits must have been earned within 6 years from the date when transfer credit is requested.
    • The program may, at its discretion, consider coursework completed more than 6 years prior to a request for transfer credit when students: (a) developed initial competence in the professional practice area through coursework and (b) continued to update their competency through professional experiences, which may include relevant professional employment, supervision, and continuing education.
  • The credits for behavior analytic courses must have been earned for a course that was part of an BACB or ABAI Verified Course Sequence aligned with current task list standards.

To request transfer credits, students must complete a course equivalency request form and submit the relevant course syllabi and official transcripts to the Chair of the Department of Educational and School Psychology. Course equivalency requests will be reviewed by the Department Chair and referred to the faculty designee who has expertise in the area of instruction. The faculty designee may ask for additional information from the student or request to consult with the previous instructor. The designee will then make a recommendation to the school psychology faculty, and the faculty will vote to determine whether the course is considered equivalent. The student will be informed about the faculty’s decision by the Department Chair.

If transfer credits are approved, the program will notify the USM Registrar to enter the official transfer onto the student’s record. Transferred credits will be noted on the student’s USM transcript and counted toward the student’s degree program of study.

Note: Graduate students matriculated in an APA-accredited doctoral-level school psychology programs at another university may transfer into the PsyD program if they complete their final 45 credit hours, including two years of full time coursework, the dissertation requirement, and the predoctoral internship, at USM.

Recommended Course Sequence


The following course sequence is recommended for students pursuing full-time study. Part-time options are also available.