Students—whether they be impressionable second graders or young adults plagued with senioritis—are susceptible to encountering problems that can impact their ability to learn. Not only do social relationships, decision-making and school-related stress have potential to cause problems for students, but any number of problems can exist outside of the classroom and impede student success.
It’s inevitable that some students will need the support of a school psychologist. Through their work, school psychologists improve student achievement, foster improved mental health, support and assess diverse learning needs and create safer, more positive school systems.
About the Program
FSU’s School Psychology graduate program is a three-year program—one year for developing content knowledge and foundations, one year for applying said knowledge, and a third year in a full-time internship setting. Upon completion, graduates will earn both a master's (M.S.) and a specialist (Ed.S.) degree.
Considering that 100% of graduates either find work in the field or go on to a doctoral program, it is no surprise that the program is accredited by The Florida Department of Education and The National Association of School Psychologists. It’s also worth mentioning that school psychologists across the nation make $85,340 on average, and that 75% students in the program receive tuition waivers. The vast majority of school psychologists work in K-12 public schools, but some also find work in private schools, universities, juvenile justice programs, preschools and other institutions.
As a school psychologist, you’ll team up with educators, parents, and other mental health professionals to ensure that every child learns in a safe, healthy and supportive environment.
Our faculty (and their research)
Meet Dr. S. Kathleen Krach. Dr. Krach, who currently serves as the program coordinator, heads the Technology Intervention and Assessment in Schools research team (TIAS). With two new students, the research team is currently investigating the benefits and effects of stealth assessment, which has its name because it uses games and video games to assess students rather than traditional tests. Dr. Krach studies how game-based technology can be used to assess and intervene with social-emotional learning and aggression. Her team is expecting to publish an edited text on stealth assessment next year.
Next up is Dr. Lyndsay Jenkins. She leads the Bullying and Trauma Prevention Research Team. Her lab has been collecting data on two fronts: one being data on bystander intervention in cyberbullying, and the other being data that suggests that victimization from bullying can possibly lead to some forms of trauma. This spring, Dr. Jenkins’ team will be involved in an eight-week intervention to support victims of bullying. If research on bullying prevention interests you, please visit the Bullying Prevention Research Team's web page for more information on their work and how you can apply to be involved.
Finally, Dr. Garret Hall’s research team has recently presented research on math, memory development, and internal validity issues in students. He is also researching other predictors of academic development and finding ways to prevent and assess academic difficulties that students encounter.
If you're interested in Florida State’s School Psychology program, visit education.fsu.edu/school-psychology for more detailed information about the program.
