American International College PSYCHOLOGY. Doctor of Education in Educational

Transcription

1 American International College 1 PSYCHOLOGY Doctor of Education in Educational

2 cognition Doctor of Education in Educational Psychology The Doctor of Education in Educational Psychology (EdD) program provides professional preparation in applied educational/school psychology with an emphasis on learning disabilities and child development. The program is based on a balanced and sequential scientist/practitioner model and emphasizes that theory, research, and practice are interrelated. Students will have the opportunity to be able to design a program of study that may lead to certification or licensure in various professional areas. Those who are interested in pursuing certification or licensure will generally meet academic, experiential, and other requirements depending on the type of certification/licensure sought. However, each state or jurisdiction may have additional requirements. For specific information, your state or provincial certification/licensing board should be contacted. The Program The program consists of four major components: 1. The psychology component consists of courses in both theory and practice, which address advanced topics in graduate-level psychology. 2. The assessment/process component includes practicums/ courses in psychological testing, diagnosis, and intervention. 3. The learning disability/child development component consists of courses that address developmental psychology, diagnosis and remediation of learning disorders, and behavioral management. 4. The research component includes courses in statistics, research methodology, and dissertation preparation and completion. 1

3 Curriculum The Four Components Psychology Component Counseling Theory and Practice # Group Counseling Systems and Theories in Psychology*# Psychology of Learning*# Advanced Abnormal Psychology # Issues and Ethics in Psychology # Family Counseling Psychopharmacology and Substance Abuse Social Bases of Behavior and Cultural Diversity Racial and Ethnic Bases of Behavior Practicum in Psychology school psychology Practicum in Psychology mental health Pre-doctoral Internship school psychology (2 semesters) Pre-doctoral Internship mental health (2 semesters) Cognitive Psychology* Physiological Bases of Behavior Assessment/Process Component Diagnostic Psychoeducational Assessment*# Theory and Practicum - Diagnostic Assessment I: WISC and WAIS* Theory and Practicum - Diagnostic Assessment II: Personality and Projectives* Therapeutic Techniques and Consultation Learning Disability/Child Development Component Psychology of Behavior Management for Special Needs Children # Theories of Learning Disabilities* Seminar in Learning Disabilities* Psychology of Development* Psychology of the Exceptional Child # Directed Study in Learning Disabilities (optional and by permission) A total of 93 credit hours must be completed. Previous graduate credit is considered. No credit is given for courses with grades below B-. * Indicates courses required for qualifying exam # See section on admissions, requirement 1 Admissions Process Requirements Candidates must hold a bachelor s degree in psychology, or a closely related field. Preference will be given to those who have already proven themselves at the graduate level (i.e., holders of MA or MS degrees). Undergraduate and graduate transcripts must be submitted. A GPA of 3.25 is recommended. Students admitted with a bachelor s degree will be awarded an MA in educational psychology upon completion of 30 specific graduate credits. These are designated with # in the Curriculum Components section. Research Component Behavioral Statistics*# Applied Research Methodology*# Multivariate Research Methods Dissertation in Educational Psychology (12 Credits) To apply, please submit: Completed application for graduation admission form, along with the $50.00 non-refundable application fee One to two page personal goal statement 2 Total: 93 Credit Hours Official transcripts of all previous academic coursework 3

4 Three letters of recommendation Curriculum Vitae No more than 33 hours of transfer credit will be accepted from another institution, provided that these are graduate level hours and relevant to specific courses in the doctoral program. However, the student is entirely responsible for the content of the transferred course(s) in terms of meeting the requirements of the Doctoral Program in Educational Psychology. Accordingly, the student is held solely responsible for the competencies covered by the course(s), whether such competencies are addressed in other courses, practicums, exams, or other academic endeavors. Full-time AIC faculty/staff or any person with faculty responsibility will not be eligible for admission. Please send all admissions material to the Office of Graduate Admissions, 1000 State Street, Springfield, MA Retention Student progress will be monitored by doctoral faculty. Credit is not awarded for any course when student performance falls below a B-. Further, each student must maintain at least a 3.25 overall academic record to be eligible for the Doctoral Comprehensive Qualifying Examination. Any student receiving three grades below a B- in the EdD program will be dismissed from the program. Additionally, students are only allowed one re-take of the Doctoral Comprehensive Qualifying Examination. Failure of the re-take will result in dismissal from the program (refer to section on Doctoral Comprehensive Qualifying Examination for specifics). A student can also be dismissed if, in the judgment of the chair of Graduate Studies in Psychology, the student is not making satisfactory progress; the student shows no indication of being professionally committed; or the student engages in inappropriate behavior. Appeals can be filed and will be heard by a retention committee composed of the chair of Graduate Studies in Psychology, the college provost, the dean of Arts, Education and Sciences, and doctoral faculty. Selection The Doctoral Admissions Committee is composed of the chair of Graduate Studies in Psychology, dean of the School of Arts, Education and Sciences, director of the Office of Graduate Admissions, and doctoral faculty. The committee meets three times per year. The committee will review all applications and make decisions based on the applicants overall level of academic performance and other submitted materials. The committee will also closely review each applicant s background in psychology and education. An interview with the applicant may be recommended. The committee will select no more than 15 applicants each year for admission. There may be years when a waiting list is necessary. Applicants are notified of their status and each selected student must submit a deposit of $500, applicable to the first semester s tuition within 30 days of acceptance. 4 All academic advising and interviewing of new and prospective students will be conducted by the chair of Graduate Studies in Psychology, or his designee.

5 Residence Students must complete a course of studies which encompasses a minimum of three academic years of full-time graduate study, or its equivalent. A minimum of one academic year of full-time graduate study in psychology, or its equivalent, must be completed in residence at AIC within these three years. Completed in residence is generally meant to include the following factors: Frequent interaction between faculty and students Opportunities for appropriate and adequate supervision and evaluation Student access to psychology faculty Student access to other matriculated students in the EdD program at AIC. Statute of Limitations Requirements for the EdD should be fulfilled within a period of 10 calendar years from the student s initial registration for graduate study (eight years if the student has received transfer credit for a master s degree). Fellowships There are two Ethel S. Blake Fellowships awarded each year to second year doctoral students who demonstrate significant academic progress, outstanding scholarship, and financial need. Each recipient receives a stipend of $1500 plus full tuition remission (up to 18 credit hours) per academic year. In turn, recipients will be assigned to a professor and are expected to be available for approximately 15 hours per week to perform various functions (e.g., teaching, research, or assisting). These hours are at the discretion of the supervising professor. The fellowship is renewable annually for up to three years, provided the student is performing positively. Students must reapply each year by May 1. Doctoral Comprehensive Qualifying Examination All doctoral candidates must pass a two-day qualifying examination. This examination is administered in June, must be taken before beginning dissertation work, and can only be taken after completing 60 hours of graduate course work. Students must demonstrate proficiency in core competency areas. Students who fail the examination may retake it only once. Practicum Training Students in the EdD program must obtain supervised practicum training in the delivery of professional psychological and psychoeducational services. Such training can be obtained through practicums, practicum courses, and full-time pre-doctoral internships. The goal of practicum training is to provide students with a theoretical foundation and the opportunity to develop strong assessment, diagnostic, and psychotherapeutic skills. Students apply theoretical knowledge, implement clinical and psychoeducational techniques based on this knowledge, and develop the professional and personal traits important to the identity of a professional practitioner. Upon completion, students are trained to be ethical, competent professionals with highly developed assessment and psychotherapeutic skills. EdD students must complete a minimum of three practicums over the course of three semesters. Practicums includes assessment, diagnosis, and therapeutic process. Practicums are based on classroom participation and field based experiences. Students must also complete a predoctoral internship. The pre-doctoral internship is typically completed after 60 credit hours of doctoral work and after the Doctoral Qualifying Exam is passed. The pre-doctoral internship is an intensive, supervised experience in psychotherapeutic and assessment procedures in an ap- 6 7

6 proved clinical or related facility. On-campus meetings and seminars with a supervising professor are also required as part of the process. Students are responsible for securing their placement. Each state or provincial certification/licensing board has specific pre-doctoral training requirements that must be satisfied. If students wish to pursue certification or licensure they should contact the certification/licensing board in the state or province in which they wish to practice. These contacts should be made early in their doctoral studies. Proposal and Dissertation Proposal Successful completion of the Doctoral Comprehensive Qualifying Examination allows a student to begin the dissertation process. The dissertation represents the culminating doctoral experience. The initial step in this process requires each student to assemble a dissertation committee consisting of a chairperson and two additional committee members. Under the supervision of the chairperson and guidance of committee members, a student then develops a dissertation proposal. The proposal is a vital component in the process leading to the successful completion of the dissertation. It is through preparation of the proposal that the student and the committee reach an acceptable action plan. Upon completion of the proposal and approval of the committee chairperson and committee members, it is forwarded to the chair of Graduate Studies in Psychology for approval. Once this proposal has been approved, the student then makes arrangements to present their proposal to the AIC Human Subjects Committee. The purpose of the Human Subjects Committee is to ensure that research complies with regulations concerning human subjects in research. Students should contact the chair of the Human Subjects Committee to schedule an appointment. Given this approval, the candidate is now prepared to begin the final work on their dissertation. Dissertation The dissertation is the culminating event of the doctoral study. Students are prepared for the dissertation by completing all course and program requirements and by completing the research sequence of Behavioral Statistics (3 credits), Applied Research Methodology (3 credits), and Multivariate Research Methods (3 credits). Dissertation in Educational Psychology (12 credits) is completed while preparing the proposal and dissertation. The dissertation may be an empirical study, 8 a theoretical contribution, or a program assessment, but the student must demonstrate doctoral level scholarship. Each dissertation will be monitored by the committee and must reflect: 1. Original research, which is psychological in nature. 2. A high degree of scholarly proficiency, methodological sophistication (publication quality), and consistent with ethical principles of the profession. 3. The potential for significant contribution to the psychological literature. When the dissertation is completed, the student then prepares for their oral defense. The defense takes place in the presence of the full dissertation committee and other college personnel as necessary. Each member of the committee must sign the signature page indicating that the student has passed their defense.

7 Accreditations American International College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC). Contact Curriculum Information John J. DeFrancesco, PhD Chair, Graduate Studies in Psychology Graduate Admissions