School Psychology

The SSP degree clearly reflects the fact that the requirements for graduation from the School Psychology Program at WCU are more intensive than would be required for a Masters degree. The program consists of 71 credit hours and requires 3 years of course work including practicum and internship experiences. While a Masters (MA) degree is earned on the way to the SSP, the SSP is the terminal degree in the field allowing for practice as a school psychologist.

The WCU School Psychology Graduate Program is accredited by CAEP and by the NC Department of Public Instruction. In addition, the program has received Full Approval by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) through the year 2026

The School Psychology Application Committee accepts applications from students with a variety of different undergraduate degrees including psychology and education. The Committee looks for applicants who show strong potential for success in the program both academically and professionally. While undergraduate GPA (and if needed GRE scores) are both very important, they are not the only criteria considered. An applicant's personal statement as well as letters of reference are also important aspects of the application. New cohorts of students enter the program in the Fall semester each year. The deadline to apply is February 1st.

The Psychology Department is very aggressive at seeking out Graduate Assistantships for students entering our graduate programs. As a result, almost all of the graduate students entering this program have been provided with either a full or a half Assistantship. Every year, the Graduate school also offers a limited number of out-of-state tuition waivers that are distributed based on various application criteria.  In the past few years, most of the out-of-state graduate students in the psychology department have received some sort of tuition waiver. Our students are also typically very competitive for scholarship funds available through the WCU Graduate School.

Students in the WCU School Psychology Program are given many opportunities for diverse community experiences. This includes involvement with school systems in the region including several Charter Schools. The public schools in this region provide a unique picture of rural Appalachian communities but also reflect changes related to the increase in Hispanic populations within these communities. In addition, the Cherokee Indian Reservation is located close by and there is one school system that provides a more innercity perspective.  Opportunities are also provided to our students for service learning including potentially serving for 2 years as a Check and Connect Mentor to middle school students at the WCU lab school, The Catamount School

All students accepted into this program are expected to complete a thesis project as part of their graduation requirements. Thesis projects that focus on applied research are encouraged. A high degree of support from psychology faculty is provided in the completion of these thesis projects.

Two different Practicum experiences are provided for each student during their second year in the program. Each student spends one semester working two days a week in one of the local schools under the supervision of a school psychologist. In that setting, students complete psychological assessments, counseling projects, and an intervention case study. The other semester is spent working in the psychology department’s McKee Assessment and Psychological Services Clinic. Here, students are supervised by university faculty and provide comprehensive evaluations for children referred by various community agencies, parents, Charter Schools, and our lab school at WCU, the Catamount School.

Students spend their third year in the program working full time under the supervision of a school psychologist. They are allowed to work anywhere in the United States as long as the school system or other setting chosen can meet the internship requirements established by the program. The students engage in activities similar to those required for their practicum but at a higher level of expectation. University supervision is provided virtually through various means and there is no requirement for face-to-face, on-campus supervision during the internship year.

Each student who enters the WCU School Psychology Graduate Program will be given access to the program’s Canvas site.  At this site, resources will be provided to assist the students in the completion of program requirements and the development of professional skills.  Students are provided with assessment feedback throughout the program.  This includes ongoing advising, 1^st year faculty and self-reflection feedback, practicum and internship supervisor evaluations, and practicum and internship report feedback.