2007-2008 Academic Catalog

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MSPS (School Psychology) Course Descriptions

MSPS 501 Principles and Techniques in the School System
3 hours. This course examines and invites the student to experience issues, topics, and foundational skill building in school psychology. It moves from the introspective process to the mastery in application of the foundational principles and techniques learned. The integration of school psychology and theological truth will be introduced.

MSPS 502 The Exceptional Child in School
3 hours. This class introduces students to the cognitive, psychosocial, and psychomotor needs of students with a variety of disabilities. Focus is placed on a need-based model of assessment, program planning, and evaluation. Instructional strategies are evaluated in terms of their impact on various disabilities.

MSPS 505 Ethical and Legal Issues in Education
1-3 hours. This course covers the National Association of School Psychologists' (NASP) code of ethics and the Oregon statutes. It gives students an opportunity to learn the process of ethical decision making and how to deal with ethical "traps." Students will practice ethical decision making through case studies and role-plays, and be introduced to obtaining the Initial School Psychologist and Continuing School Psychologist licenses. (Students who already hold a master's or higher degree in a mental health field and are pursuing their certificate can obtain a review and verification of a graduate-level course on law and ethics in their master's program and request a two-credit-hour waiver and, if approved, need only take 1 credit hour.)

MSPS 507 Internship in School Psychology I
4 hours. The internship will be completed in a school system psycho-educational facility, with the goal of emphasizing the professional practice of school psychology. Students will be expected to complete a total of 1,200 hours over a two-semester internship (600 hours per semester) of school psychology practicum under supervision, provided weekly both at the site (individual) and at George Fox University (in groups). (Students must have: (a) successfully passed candidacy, (b) completed all prerequisites with a B grade or better, (c) applied for internship, and (d) attended the Internship Fair before enrolling in internship.)

MSPS 508 Internship in School Psychology II
4 hours. The second internship will be a continuation of the first internship, and completed within the school system psycho-educational facility. It is designed to stress the professional practice of school psychology. Students will be expected to complete a total of 1,200 hours over a two-semester internship (600 hours per semester) of school psychology practicum under supervision, provided weekly both at the site (individual) and at George Fox University (in groups). (Students must have: (a) successfully passed candidacy, (b) completed all prerequisites with a B grade or better, (c) applied for internship, and (d) attended the Internship Fair before enrolling in internship.)

MSPS 511 Advanced School Psychology Research I
1 hour. This course will help students learn about and apply emerging research in school psychology, learning, and school improvement. Special emphasis will be placed on diversity issues in each of these research areas. There will be a focus on how this information can help school psychologists be more effective in encouraging student achievement acknowledging individual differences and diversity issues.
Prerequisite: hold an Initial School Psychologist License.

MSPS 512 Advanced School Psychology Research II
2 hours. This course builds upon MSPS 511. It will focus on issues of learning and diversity, and the relevant research on these topics, such as culturally sensitive instruments. The course will be a combination of lecture, group discussion, and student presentations. Students will write a literature review focusing on learning and diversity (preapproved by the professor) of publishable quality.
Prerequisites: hold an Initial School Psychologist License and MSPS 511.

MSPS 513 Advanced Leadership, Collaboration, and Advocacy I: With School Personnel, Parents, and the Community
1 hour. This systems course will emphasize the importance of school counselors working from a systems perspective to encourage student success in the classroom. Special focus will be placed on how to work most effectively with colleagues, staff, parents, and the public, separately with each system when appropriate, and when to work collaboratively with two or more systems, and the impact it might have on the student. The role of the school psychologist as a leader, collaborating with others, and advocating for the student will be explored in consideration of ethical and legal guidelines.
Prerequisite: hold an Initial School Psychology License.

MSPS 514 Advanced Leadership, Collaboration, and Advocacy II: With Diverse and Special Interest Groups
1 hour. This systems course will explore how to work effectively with culturally, ethnically, and socioeconomically diverse students and/or parents, teachers, school personnel, and communities. There will also be an emphasis on special interest groups and how to work collaboratively with students and/or parents, teachers, school personnel, and communities to encourage student success. It will also consider the role of the school psychologist in taking leadership, collaboration, and advocacy when working with diverse and specialized interest groups.
Prerequisites: hold an Initial School Psychologist License and MSPS 512.

MSPS 516 Law and the School Psychologist
1 hour. This course is designed for individuals with an Initial Psychologist License. It will address advanced legal issues encountered by school psychologists. Emphasis will be placed on reviewing school law pertaining to school psychologists. Through case discussion, individuals will have an opportunity to apply school law. A legal decision-making process for school psychologists will be introduced and applied in this course.
Prerequisite: hold an Initial School Psychologist License.

MSPS 520 Personality and Counseling Theories and Testing
3 hours. A survey of major contemporary theories of counseling and personality development, with particular emphasis on the etiology and treatment of psychopathological states as interpreted within various theoretical frameworks. Theories are explored regarding their application within the context of doing school counseling. A biblical theory of personality is explored. This course also focuses on basic statistical concepts of measurement and objective and projective personality assessment used by school psychologists, as well as the administration, scoring, and interpretation of objective personality measures and preparing written reports of test results.

MSPS 531 Introduction to School Psychology
3 hours. The course provides instruction in the design and individualization of interventions and the evaluation of intervention effectiveness. Topics include individual and group counseling, self-directed intervention procedures, and preventative mental health groups.

MSPS 544 Academic Achievement and Processing Assessment
4 hours. Students will be provided with educational achievement instruments used by school psychologists and introduced to the administration skills needed for assessing academic achievement, learning modalities, and processing skills. Interpretation and presentation of test scores, formulation of educational recommendations and goals, and comprehensive report writing skills will be emphasized. Particular attention will be given to working with learners of culturally and linguistically diverse populations.

MSPS 546 Cognitive Assessment
4 hours. This course will teach about administration skills for cognitive assessment, and evaluations on children/students (birth to 21) as used by school psychologists. It has a practice application component regarding how to administer and interpret a variety of standardized tests, and present assessment results and educational recommendations. Focus will be given to working with a diverse student population.

MSPS 547 Personality and Behavioral Adaptive Assessment
4 hours. This course will introduce the school psychology student to administration skills for assessments and evaluations in the areas of personality and behavior. Skills in interviewing, record review, observation, interpretation and assessment tools and checklists, and presentation of test results and recommendations for regular and special education students will be covered.

MSPS 550 Group Theory and Therapy
3 hours. A study of the field of group therapy with children and adolescents of various ethnic, cultural, and developmental needs. Various therapeutic approaches and types of groups for a broad range of students are studied in and outside the classroom. The student will gain an understanding of group dynamics both theoretically and experientially.

MSPS 597 Treatment Planning I
1 hour. This course is intended to follow up on completion of all course work other than internship and the graduate clinical project, and in conjunction with MSPS 507 Internship in School Psychology I. The student will explore comprehensive assessment techniques and the administration, scoring, and interpretation of objective personality measures, as well as preparing written reports of test results; intervention strategies; appropriate community referrals; and collaboration with the school system and parents. Various therapeutic methods utilized in treatment and management of mental disorders will be presented. Pass/No Pass.

MSPS 598 Treatment Planning II
1 hour. This course is intended to follow up on completion of all course work, including the first internship and treatment planning, and in conjunction with MSPS 508 Internship in School Psychology II and MSPS 599 Graduate Clinical Project. The student will explore comprehensive assessment techniques and the administration, scoring, and interpretation of objective personality measures, as well as preparing written reports and test results; intervention strategies; appropriate community referrals; collaboration with the school system and parents. Various therapeutic methods utilized in treatment and management of mental disorders will be presented. Pass/No Pass.

MSPS 599 Graduate Clinical Project
1 hour. The graduate clinical project (GCP) is a four-part clinical exam in which the student's perceptual, conceptual, and executive skills are evaluated as applied to an actual case example. In Part I, the student will prepare a comprehensive paper detailing his or her theory on the nature of persons and the therapeutic process. Through use of video, session transcripts, and written reflection, in Part II the student will demonstrate the application of this theory in an actual case presentation. In Part III, the student will present a three-year growth plan. And finally, the student's theoretical paper, case presentation, growth plan, and professional disclosure statement will be evaluated by both a GDC faculty member and a licensed school psychologist in the community. Pass/No Pass. Needs to be taken concurrently with the second term of internship. Additional course fee is required.