Program: Specialist in School Psychology, SSP - East Carolina University

Mar 31, 2025

2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

Program Coordinator: Christy Walcott (214 Rawl Building; 252-328-1378; walcottc@ecu.edu)

The MA/SSP graduate program in school psychology is a three-year program to train psychologists for practice in school and related settings and requires 70 s.h. total. The program requires full-time attendance and students must complete both the Psychology, MA school psychology concentration (34 s.h.) and the Specialist in School Psychology, SSP degree (36 s.h.). The first two years of the program provide classroom training and field experiences in assessment, consultation, and interventions for children, adolescents, families, and school systems. The third year consists of a full-time paid internship in a public school setting.

Program completion of both MA and SSP meets the current requirements for licensure by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction as a school psychologist, for certification by the National School Psychology Certification Board, and satisfies the educational requirements for licensure by the North Carolina Psychology Board as a licensed psychological associate. The MA/SSP program is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists, the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP), and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

The SSP requires 36 s.h. as follows:

I. Assessment - 3 s.h.

PSYC 6353 - Behavioral Assessment and Intervention

II. Consultation and intervention - 9 s.h.

III. Educational foundations - 6 s.h.

Choose 6 s.h. of program coordinator approved electives.

IV. Practicum - 6 s.h.

V. Internship - 12 s.h.

Licensure/Certification Requirements in North Carolina

The curriculum for all ECU Certificates, Degrees, and other Graduate Programs have been designed to meet the licensure/certification requirements in North Carolina and prepare students to sit for licensure/certification exams in North Carolina. The various licensure boards in each state are responsible for setting requirements for licensure/certification in their state. Other states have their own requirements, and you’ll want to make sure your program meets criteria in your home state (or state where you intend to work) before you apply. Search our state Licensure Dashboard to see if the program you’re interested in meets the educational requirements for licensing/certification in your home state (or state where you intend to work).