Overview

School Psychology of University of Wisconsin - Whitewater offers a certificate is achieving growing recognition among state school psychology licensing boards and allows for reciprocal certification in selected states outside of Wisconsin.

Consistent with policies of the University of Wisconsin System, the School Psychology program of University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is committed to equal educational opportunity in its training program and encourages application from all persons regardless of race, color, creed, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, political affiliation, marital status, Vietnam-era veteran status, parental status, and pregnancy.

Program Objectives

The School Psychology Program at the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater is designed for those persons who plan to devote their professional careers to the many aspects of school psychological services and desire to assume a role of leadership based on a considerable depth of understanding in their work. The Program recognizes that a contemporary training program must prepare its students for the complex challenges of today's schools and school children, as well as prepare them to meet the demands of the future with intellectual curiosity and professional enthusiasm. The School Psychology Program has the following training objectives:

• To teach the basic skills and content areas of psychology and education in order to meet the requirements of School Psychology as defined by the National Association of School Psychologists, the American Psychological Association, and the Wisconsin State Department of Public Instruction Certification for Provisional and (Full) School Psychologists;

• To teach students to have respect for the integration of science and professional practice;

• To train students in non-biased assessment of school-aged children and youth and to see assessment as integrated with well-researched, measurable treatment procedures.

• To train students to become competent in serving as consultants to teachers, parents and other personnel in their work setting and prepared to carry out programs of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention;

• To train students to become professionals who will act as child advocates and facilitate the optimal best interest of the child in the environments of school, home and community;

• To train students to become professionals who are sensitive to and accepting of human diversity and who are academically prepared for the challenges presented in a pluralistic society;

• To train students to become professionals who will not only be effective consumers of others' research, but as a function of their practice, be able to conduct applied research to benefit the children and families whom they serve;

• To provide students with exposure to and understanding of the ethics and values of the school psychology profession;

• To promote in students a need and respect for continuing professional development and to address those needs through advanced continuing professional development coursework and workshops.