Doctor in School Psychology Program Competencies and Expected Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students are expected to have demonstrated competency in the following areas:

  1. Case conceptualization and diagnoses through application of clinical strategies for problem analysis.
  2. Addressing client problems through multiple psychotherapeutic strategies.
  3. Sensitivity to ethnic, gender, and racial diversity in clinical practice.
  4. Understanding of the impact of clinician thoughts, feelings and behavior on client dynamics in individual, group, supervisory and consultative settings.
  5. Responding from an informed ethical base that demonstrates understanding of ethical code and state law governing psychology practice.
  6. Development of relevant research hypotheses and methods of problem analysis through multiple methods of research inquiry and analysis.
  7. Select, administer and analyze a wide range of assessment techniques to facilitate problem understanding and recommendations.
  8. Understanding of normal and atypical patterns of development and behavior across the life span of clientele, including children, adolescents, adults, and elderly clients.
  9. Understanding of psychophysiological, neuropsychological and pharmacological considerations in relation to diagnostic understandings.
  10. Understanding of human sexuality in relation to diversity of expression and treatment implications.
  11. Understanding of historical and contemporary factors that have helped to define psychology as a scientific and professional discipline.
  12. Understanding of social psychology principles that shape individual and group psychology.
  13. Understanding of managed health care and its implications for psychology practice.
  14. Instructional skill through the organization and dissemination of clinical literature and data in conjunction with leading discussions and presentations in classroom settings and seminars.