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School Psychology

Welcome! The School Psychology Program prepares psychologists to serve as specialists in school psychology, providing a wide range of services, including consultation, assessment, and intervention. School psychologists typically work in public schools and work closely with teachers, parents, families, students, and community resources to ensure that students are learning in an appropriate and supportive environment.

Program Philosophy

Consistent with the mission of the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO), the UNO School Psychology Program’s mission is to graduate students who have met high levels of academic excellence relevant to the knowledge and skills in the profession of school psychology and have engaged in and are committed to the community. The program is designed to prepare graduates to function as scientist-practitioners in service to children and their families, schools, and communities. The program emphasizes an indirect service delivery approach that is oriented in data-based problem-solving and is responsive to cultural and ecological contexts. Although indirect approaches are emphasized (e.g., consultation, assessment, prevention, and early intervention), graduates are prepared to apply direct psychological services (e.g., individual, group, and systems level interventions) when conditions warrant.

 

The program is fully approved by and adheres to the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) standards for training and field placement. Specifically, these standards include:

1) data based decision making and accountability; 2) consultation and collaboration; 3) interventions and instructional support to develop academic skills; 4) interventions and mental health services to develop social and life skills; 5) school-wide practices to promote learning; 6) preventative and responsive services; 7) family-school collaboration services; 8) development and learning; 9) research and program evaluation; 10) legal, ethical, and professional practice.

School Psychology has, once again, been selected by U.S. News and World Report as one of the 50 best careers of 2011! Click here to read more about the projection of growth in this field over the next decade. In addition, the U.S. Department of Labor’s 2010-2011 Occupational Outlook Handbook describes the promising outlook for a career as a school psychologist. Click here for more information.

 

Pictured above are members of the School Psychology program with the 2010-2011 NASP President, Kathy Minke, who visited with the program in March.