Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

 

1. How long is the Program?
The Master of Arts (M.A.)/Master of Science (M.S.) program requires a total of 36 hours. The Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) program requires a total of 36 hours beyond the M.A./M.S. program. If you are a full time student the full program is 4 years. The first two years are spent getting your Master's of Science degree and the second two years are spent getting your Education Specialist degree. However, the fourth year of study is a full year, paid internship, which may or may not result in employment upon graduation. Students usually take classes full time during the fall and spring semesters and may take a few classes during summer sessions.

 

2. What are the differences among the M.A., M.S., and Ed.S. programs?
The M.A. program requires the completion of a thesis and is designed for students who want to pursue their doctorate. The M.S. program does not require the completion of a thesis and is designed for students who want to pursue their Ed.S. degree. Most students complete the M.S. program and then continue their studies by completing the Ed.S. program. The Ed.S. program is a continuation of coursework beyond the Master's degree, and involves the completion of an Ed.S. project.

 

3. What GPA/GRE scores do I need to get in?
UNO admission policy does not require a specific GPA or GRE score. To be considered for a Graduate Teaching/Research Assistant in the Psychology Department students must take the Psychology Subject Test. Also, the test results may take several months for the UNO Psychology Department to receive after the test date. See Graduate Teaching Assistantship Information through the Graduate College for more details.

 

4. What kind of jobs should I be working at as an undergrad to get experience in school psychology?
Any position in the mental health field or the field of education will be beneficial for becoming a school psychologist. Some positions that previous students have held include: therapist for an autistic child, residential treatment care center employee, hospital employee (working with children or on the psych. floor), paraprofessional educator in a school, tutor for a child or adult, daycare or respite care worker, summer camp counselor, volunteer for organizations such as special Olympics, etc.

 

5. How many semester hours does a full time graduate student in the school psychology program take?
Full time for a graduate student is 9 hours (3 classes) per semester. Most of your semesters in the program will be 9 hours, however you may have a semester or two of 12 hours. Nine hours may sound easy but keep in mind that graduate classes are designed to be more intensive than undergraduate classes.

 

6. How many hours should I work while in the program full time?
It is recommended that you work no more than 20 hours during any semester in your graduate school career. There are some opportunities for Teaching Assistantships (TA) for graduate students. If a TA position is not available a part-time job with flexible hours is recommended. TA positions are generally 20-hour a week positions and with tuition waived, excluding fees. These positions rotate and once the Psychology department receives your Subject GRE (Psychology) scores, you will be eligible for an assistantship. Keep in mind these test scores may take a few months for the scores to reach the UNO psychology department. Candidates for TA positions are first offered a position shortly before the start of the school year. To see the deadlines for applying for psychology department positions, see the Graduate Teaching Assistantship Information through the Graduate College for more details. However, TA positions are also available at UNO outside the psychology department; most of these include a tuition waiver. In order to apply for these positions, go to the UNO human resources web page to view available positions and on-line application procedures.

 

7. When do I apply?
The application deadline is January 5th of each year for study beginning in the Fall semester of that application year.

 

8. What are the prerequisites to apply?
A minimum of 15 undergraduate semester hours or the equivalent of psychology courses including basic statistics and an upper level laboratory course emphasizing the experimental method, data collection, statistical analysis, and report writing are required. That is, students are required to have completed at least one class in which they have completed an individual research project. The project must include designing the experiment, collecting data from participants, analyzing data, and writing a report over the project. For example, classes offered at UNO that would fulfill this requirement include laboratory research in Cognitive Psychology (PSYC-4074), Sensation and Perception (PSYC-4214), Behavioral Neuroscience (PSYC-4234), Animal Behavior (PSYC- 4280), Learning (PSYC- 4024). Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores for the verbal, quantitative, and analytical writing sections are required. The Advanced GRE in psychology is recommended for all applicants. It is required for all applicants applying for a teaching assistantship. An admission decision will not be made without these scores. Applicants must complete both Graduate College and departmental application forms, submit three letters of recommendation, and provide transcripts for all undergraduate and any graduate course work they have completed. The Departmental Application Form requires a statement of purpose and an indication of the program and, where appropriate, the area of concentration within the program to which the applicant is applying. In making decisions on admission, the faculty not only considers evidence of academic and professional potential, but also the availability within the department of resources to support the applicant's interests. In some instances interviews with applicants may be required. Classes in statistics are also helpful. Any classes related to developmental psychology are also recommended.

 

9. If I have not been admitted to the program or if I am waiting to apply, can I start taking classes early?
No! Only students admitted to the program are permitted to take school psychology courses. This is done to ensure personal attention and small class sizes to those who are in the program. While you are waiting to start the program, undergraduate courses such as upper level laboratory classes (see number 8), statistics courses, and developmental psychology courses are helpful.

 

10. Do I need research experience?
Although research experience is not mandatory for acceptance into the program, it is recommended before applying. Any prior research exposure will be beneficial since there are research requirements that are integrated throughout each year of the program.

 

11. What is the difference between a School Counselor and a School Psychologist?

 

(www.nasponline.org)

 

12. Where can I learn more about School Psychology?
The National Association for School Psychology (NASP) is our professional organization. Resources and information are available at www.nasponline.org.

Anyone interested in learning more about UNO's School Psychology program is encouraged to visit our department in the Arts & Sciences Hall.

 

 

Top 10 Reasons to Join the University of Nebraska- Omaha's School Psychology Program

 

If you are interested in the School Psychology program at UNO and wish to contact a student currently studying in the program, email program director Lisa Kelly-Vance at lkelly-vance@mail.unomaha.edu.