Specialist Program
Why study School Psychology at TWU?
TWU's Specialist in School Psychology Program is fully accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists through February 1, 2028.
School psychologists are a valued part of the transdisciplinary teams that help students succeed in school settings. In Texas, school psychologists are known as Licensed Specialists in School Psychology (LSSP). As an LSSP, you will coordinate with teachers, family members, school personnel, and other professionals to create optimal learning environments for children and adolescents. The TWU Specialist in School Psychology (SSP) degree provides specialized training in the cognitive, social-emotional, and behavioral development of children and youth. Emphasis is placed on training students in the assessment of learning, behavioral, and emotional difficulties; consultation with teachers and parents; and intervention with academic, social, emotional, and behavioral problems. Our faculty is easily accessible and invested in the success of every student. With a small student-to-faculty classroom ratio, you are guaranteed personalized attention as you pursue your SSP degree in school psychology.
The SSP program is modeled after the National Association of School Psychologist’s entry-level training standards for the practice of school psychology. Entry level practice as school psychologists requires a minimum 60 credit hour graduate degree. In Texas, graduates of the SSP Program are eligible to apply for the Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential from NASP and become licensed as an LSSP by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists. The LSSP is a license for practice in the public schools only and does not extend to private practice.
For those who may be interested in working outside the schools, our LSSP program provides excellent preparation for those wishing to pursue doctoral training in school psychology.
Admission to the Specialist in School Psychology
Program Contact
Courtney Banks, PhD
940-898-2396
cbanks10@twu.edu
Application Deadlines
Fall admission only - January 5th
Admission Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree, preferably in psychology or a related field.
- At least 18 semester hours of undergraduate coursework in psychology, including:
- Introduction to Psychology/General Psychology
- Developmental Psychology/Lifespan
- Statistics
- Experimental Psychology/Research Design/Research Methods
- Cognitive Psychology/Psychology of Learning
- Physiological Psychology/Behavioral Neuroscience
- Applicants without the required undergraduate coursework, if accepted into the program, would be required to complete the coursework prior to beginning their graduate work.
- A GPA of 3.0 overall or higher in the last 60 semester credit hours of undergraduate coursework of their major program.
- Collect and submit the following documents into the TWU Application:
- School Psychology Program Application: Download and complete the School Psychology Program Application Form Upload into application under Other column
- Résumé or vitae.
- Letter of Intent and Essay Questions: Please prepare a letter o intent and answer the following essay questions in one document
- What experience or major life event most influenced your desire to pursue a degree in school psychology?
- How would you assess your fit for the TWU School Psychology Program?
- Describe your anticipated career trajectory after earning your degree.
Graduate Admission
Begin by reviewing your program's website to see if there are additional admission requirements and application deadlines prior to applying.
- Apply online.
Apply to Graduate Programs via the TWU Online Graduate Application Portal following instructions below. - Submit transcripts to TWU.
- Domestic Applicants must submit official transcripts for each college or university attended, both undergraduate and graduate. See the Information on Transcripts website for more details.
- International Applicants are now required to provide an evaluation prepared by a NACES or AICE member evaluation service. International transcripts should not be sent directly to TWU. See the International Admissions website for more details.
- Submit Recommendation Requests
If your program requires you to submit names for recommendations you will need to do it in the application. - Pay the application fee.
The $50 fee ($75 fee for International applicants), which applies to all new and returning applicants, can be paid by:- Credit card - Pay Online through the application as the last step before submitting the application. The second portion of the application will not be available until the application fee has been received.
- Certified check or money order by mail or electronically - Payable to TWU, sent by mail to:
TWU Admissions Processing, 304 Administration Drive, Suite 102, Denton, Texas 76204
(include your full name and ID number). - Cash (no personal checks) - Pay at the Bursar's Office. After paying, bring the receipt to Admissions Processing (down the hall in ACT).
- Fee Waivers - Graduate applicants who are certified McNair Scholars are eligible for a McNair Scholar Application Fee Waiver. TWU Alumni may be eligible for the Alumni Advantage Fee Waiver. Check your eligibility here: https://twu.edu/alumni-advantage/. If eligible submit the request using the Application Fee Waiver Submission
- Following fee payment return to the application dashboard where supplemental application documents can be uploaded. The online application will list which documents are needed to fulfill the program admission requirements. You can also check the program's website.
For more information or assistance with the application or graduate admissions, visit the Graduate Admissions website.
Students who wish to apply for a Graduate Assistantship must meet the General Criteria for Appointment of Graduate Assistants.
The SSP in School Psychology prepares graduates to meet Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists (TSBEP) training requirements for the Licensed Specialist in School Psychology (LSSP) license, as set forth in TSBEP Board rule 463.9. Graduates must also pass the required exams, the National School Psychology Examination and Jurisprudence Examination, and complete the requisite LSSP application. If you are a resident of another state, contact our department to determine whether our program fulfills licensure training requirements in your home state.
Disclosure statement(s) for licensure and certification
Page last updated 11:16 AM, March 28, 2024