Program Requirements
Become a school psychological examiner
The Specialist in Education: Special Education and Assessment degree is designed to provide the graduate with the qualifications necessary to complete educational testing to provide diagnostic and intervention services for students with special needs in K-12 settings through certification as a School Psychological Examiner.
Candidates enter with a Masters degree in Special Education, Counseling, School Counseling, Counseling Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Educational Psychology, Education or related degree and complete 33 additional credit hours of graduate coursework in Counseling, Psychology, and Special Education; 21 of which must be completed post-Master's and within 8 years of degree completion. Students earning the EdS degree are prepared for certification by Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) as a School Psychological Examiner.
All candidates for the EdS degree will receive a detailed degree audit following admission to the program. The audit will determine the exact number of courses needed for the EdS and will indicate whether any prior coursework is approved for use in the degree program of study.
[NOTE: Prior initial certification as a teacher or counselor is required for DESE certification as a School Psychological Examiner].
Students who have not yet earned a master's degree in education or counseling may pursue the specialist degree in tandem with their graduate studies. Only 30% of the coursework may be counted for multiple programs.
Specialist in Education, Special Education and Assessment
Program description
The Specialist in Education: Special Education and Assessment degree is designed to provide the graduate with the qualifications necessary to complete educational testing to provide diagnostic and intervention services for students with special needs in K-12 settings. Candidates enter with a Masters degree in Special Education, Counseling, School Counseling, Counseling Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Educational Psychology, Education or related degree and complete 33 additional credit hours of graduate coursework in Counseling, Psychology, and Special Education; 21 of which must be completed post-Master's and within 8 years of degree completion. Students earning the EdS degree are prepared for certification by Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) as a School Psychological Examiner.
Admission requirements
Admission requires:
- Completed Graduate College Application in the GradCAS system.
- Submission of official transcripts showing all previous college course work.
- Master's degree in Special Education, Counseling, School Counseling, Counseling Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Educational Psychology or Education with an overall GPA of 3.00 or higher.
- State Department of Education (PreK-12) initial certification in a teaching field OR school counseling certification.
- Supporting documents:
- Letter of interest (addressing why you want to pursue this degree).
- EDS application via GradCAS
- Current official transcripts
- Three official letters of recommendation (at least two of which are from faculty familiar with the candidate's academic work and one from an employer)
- Participation in EdS interview
- The priority deadlines for receipt of all application materials (includes application, transcripts and references) for admission in the Fall semester is April 1 and for Spring semester is October 1.
Degree requirements
Total credit hours required for graduation is 33. At least 21 of the hours must be completed at Missouri State University, and at least 21 credit hours must be completed post-Master's degree within 8 years of degree completion.
Prerequisite Requirements:
- State Department of Education PreK-12 initial certification in a teaching field or school counselor certification; and
- Prior completion of a course in Introduction to Special Education or Psychology of the Exceptional Child with a grade of "C" or higher (undergraduate or graduate accepted). {If this is not met, SPE 715 Foundations in Special Education, will be required}
| Course Code | Course Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| PSY 703 or COU 707 |
Human Growth and Development or Human Development and Personality |
3 hrs |
| PSY 710 | Psychology of Education | 3 hrs |
| PSY 720 | Individual Intelligence Testing | 3 hrs |
| PSY 627 or PSY 629 or PSY 711 or PSY 745 |
Advanced Psychological Statistical Methods or Psychological Tests and Measurements or Introductory Statistics for Education and Psychology or Statistics and Research Design |
3 hrs |
| COU 701 | Tests and Measurements for Counselors | 3 hrs |
| COU 753 | Analysis of Childhood Learning and Adjustment | 3 hrs |
| SPE 780 | Impact of Contemporary Issues & Diversity in Special Education | 3 hrs |
| SPE 782 | Advanced Diagnosis & Remediation of Students with Mild to Moderate Disabilities | 4 hrs |
| SPE 787 | Advanced Behavioral Analysis and Intervention | 3 hrs |
| SPE 792 | Advanced Diagnosis & Remediation of Students with Disabilities Lab | 2 hrs |
| SPE 886 | School Psychological Examiner Practicum | 3 hrs |
NOTE: For students accepted into the EdS program with a Masters degree from another institution that did not require either a substantial seminar paper or thesis, a writing/research project in lieu of seminar/thesis will be required to be completed prior to graduation. This project will be completed with the assistance and guidance of the EdS program coordinator. Further, the EdS program coordinator will evaluate transcripts for each incoming EdS student and may specify further prerequisite coursework, as needed.
Comprehensive Examination and Research Requirement
Students will complete a comprehensive examination upon completion of the Specialist Core. Students will re required to have completed a thesis or seminar project in their Master’s degree. For those not meeting this requirement, a completion of a thesis/seminar equivalent project will be required prior to completion of the EdS degree.