Department website: https://www.pcom.edu/academics/programs-and-degrees/school-psychology/school-psychology-psyd/

The PsyD in School Psychology program prepares doctoral-level school psychologists with a focus on applied behavior analysis, cognitive behavioral interventions, and comprehensive psychoeducational assessment. Adopting the practitioner-scholar model of training and a competency-based model of education, the program prepares graduates to provide ethical, empirically-based and culturally sensitive direct and indirect school psychological services. The program provides an integration of psychological and educational science and practice in order to facilitate healthy development and learning among school-aged populations. The program will require a minimum of 111 credit hours, including a dissertation, three years of practicum/externship, and a one year doctoral-level internship before graduating. The PsyD Program is a full-time program with a minimum of two days a week of required practicum experiences that begin in the second year of the program.

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Term 1		Hours
Fall
SPSY 512	Psychometrics	3
SPSY 613	Assessment I: Cognitive	3
SPSY 524	Basic Principles in Applied Behavior Analysis	3
SPSY 725	Cognitive Aspects of Behavior	1
	Hours	10
Term 2
Winter
SPSY 504	Developmental	1
SPSY 507	Exceptional Child	2
SPSY 528	Behavior Assessment	3
SPSY 531	Theories of Learning and Behavior	3
SPSY 615	Assessment II: Academic	3
	Hours	12
Term 3
Spring
SPSY 501	Professional School Psychology	2
SPSY 551	Practicum: Functional Behavior Assessment	1
SPSY 618	Assessment III: Behavioral, Social, and Emotional	3
SPSY 748	Biological Aspects of Behavior	1
SPSY 749	Social Aspects of Behavior	1
SPSY 751	Affective Aspects of Behavior	1
	Hours	9
Second Year
Term 1
Summer
SPSY 508	Foundations of Psychotherapy	3
SPSY 527	Ethics, Law, and Professional Practice	3
	Hours	6
Term 2
Fall
SPSY 619	Consultation and Collaboration in Educational Settings	3
SPSY 622	Direct Assessment of Academic Skills	1
SPSY 664	School-Based Practicum	1
SPSY 732	Child and Adolescent Psychopathology	3
SPSY 774	Advanced Integrated Knowledge Seminar	2
WRIT 100	Writing in Psychology	0
	Hours	10
Term 3
Winter
SPSY 526	Single Case Experimental Design	3
SPSY 614	Multicultural Perspectives in Psychology	3
SPSY 617	Academic and Behavioral Interventions	3
SPSY 664	School-Based Practicum	1
	Hours	10
Term 4
Spring
SPSY 525	Behavioral Change and Systems Support	3
SPSY 535	Clinical Supervision, Management & Training	3
SPSY 623	English Learners: Implications & Accommodations	3
SPSY 664	School-Based Practicum	1
	Hours	10
Third Year
Term 1
Summer
SPSY 598	MS Comprehensive Exam	0
SPSY 733	History and Systems of Psychology	2
SPSY 776	Dissertation Seminar	1
	Hours	3
Term 2
Fall
SPSY 736	CBT I	2
SPSY 760	Advanced Practicum	1
SPSY 783	Research Methods	3
SPSY 792	Dissertation Advisement Students are required to take 6 credits of SPSY 792: Dissertation Advisement; students are required to register for this course until they successfully defend their dissertation, credits beyond the 6 do not count toward their degree.	1
	Hours	7
Term 3
Winter
SPSY 760	Advanced Practicum	1
SPSY 737	CBT II: Treatment Strategies	2
SPSY 784	Statistical Analysis	3
SPSY 792	Dissertation Advisement	1
	Hours	7
Term 4
Spring
SPSY 506	Physiology	3
SPSY 620	Prevention & Crisis Intervention	3
SPSY 738	CBT III: Applications	1
SPSY 760	Advanced Practicum	1
SPSY 792	Dissertation Advisement	1
	Hours	9
Fourth Year
Term 1
Fall
SPSY 745	Supervision	1
SPSY 747	Neuropathology	1
SPSY 779	School-Based Externship	1
SPSY 792	Dissertation Advisement	1
	Hours	4
Term 2
Winter
SPSY 741	Assessment IV: Neuropsychology	3
SPSY 779	School-Based Externship	1
SPSY 792	Dissertation Advisement	1
	Hours	5
Term 3
Spring
SPSY 735	Linking Neuropsychological Assessment to Interventions	3
SPSY 740	Instructional Design & Delivery	1
SPSY 779	School-Based Externship	1
SPSY 792	Dissertation Advisement	1
	Hours	6
Fifth Year
Term 1
Summer
SPSY 700	Introduction to Internship	0
SPSY 795: Dissertation Editing: Doctoral students who have successfully defended their dissertations will register for this course until all edits are made to the satisfaction of their dissertation chairs/committees and the final documents are submitted for binding. The fee will be waived for the first term; for any subsequent terms, students will be charged for one credit/term until the final documents are submitted for binding. Dissertation Editing credits do not count toward the minimum of 111 credits required for degree completion.
	Hours	0
Term 2
Fall
SPSY 786	Internship	1
SPSY 795: Dissertation Editing: Doctoral students who have successfully defended their dissertations will register for this course until all edits are made to the satisfaction of their dissertation chairs/committees and the final documents are submitted for binding. The fee will be waived for the first term; for any subsequent terms, students will be charged for one credit/term until the final documents are submitted for binding. Dissertation Editing credits do not count toward the minimum of 111 credits required for degree completion.
	Hours	1
Term 3
Winter
SPSY 786	Internship	1
SPSY 795: Dissertation Editing: Doctoral students who have successfully defended their dissertations will register for this course until all edits are made to the satisfaction of their dissertation chairs/committees and the final documents are submitted for binding. The fee will be waived for the first term; for any subsequent terms, students will be charged for one credit/term until the final documents are submitted for binding. Dissertation Editing credits do not count toward the minimum of 111 credits required for degree completion.
	Hours	1
Term 4
Spring
SPSY 786	Internship	1
SPSY 795: Dissertation Editing: Doctoral students who have successfully defended their dissertations will register for this course until all edits are made to the satisfaction of their dissertation chairs/committees and the final documents are submitted for binding. The fee will be waived for the first term; for any subsequent terms, students will be charged for one credit/term until the final documents are submitted for binding. Dissertation Editing credits do not count toward the minimum of 111 credits required for degree completion.
	Hours	1
	Total Hours	111

Doctor of Psychology in School Psychology (PsyD)

Applicants to the Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in School Psychology program must have completed a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field at a regionally accredited college or university, with a 3.0 GPA (B) or higher prior to matriculation. Prior to admission, applicants must have completed the following foundational coursework:

• 6 credits of English
• 6 credits of Math
• 15 additional credits of Psychology coursework

Transcripts will be carefully reviewed by the Admissions Committee.

Application requirements and a link to the online application is available at https://www.pcom.edu/admissions/apply/.

This program utilizes a rolling admissions policy, so applications will be considered throughout the year as they are received. Students will be accepted into the program until the desired enrollment is reached. Classes begin in the fall term.

The Admissions Committee screens applications, invites some applicants for an interview, evaluates the applicants and selects new students. Following the completion of the admission process, each applicant will be notified of the Admission's Committee decision in writing, including any conditions that must be satisfied prior to or following enrollment.

Required Application Materials:

• PCOM Application for Admission
• Autobiographical Statement: In 500 words or less, describe their professional goals and how a PsyD in School Psychology can help achieve those goals.
  • In this statement, applicants should articulate why they are a good fit for the program, and conversely, why the program is a good fit for the applicant.
  • Additionally, applicants should briefly discuss the resources and support available to them to successfully complete the program.
• Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework.
• Three letters of recommendation.
• Official scores from the GRE general test (PCOM institutional code for GRE – 2662).
  • The GRE may be waived if the applicant has a 3.3 or higher undergraduate GPA.
• Writing sample (preferably graded)
• Curriculum vitae or resume

Official college transcripts from all colleges/universities schools attended must be sent directly to:

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Office of Admissions
4170 City Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19131

We will accept electronic transcripts via email from Parchment Services and National Student Clearinghouse to admissions@pcom.edu. 

Letters of recommendation can be sent directly to PCOM Admissions in .pdf format to recommend@pcom.edu. All other admissions documents can be sent to admissions@pcom.edu.

Transfer Policy:

A candidate who currently holds a graduate degree in psychology or a related field may be eligible to have up to 30 credits of graduate work transferred towards the PsyD degree program. Eligibility for course transfer is as follows:

• Each course must have been taken in an APA-accredited or NASP-approved program within a 7 year period.
• A grade of “B” or better is required for each course
• A syllabus for each course must be submitted for Program Director review.
• At least 2 graded assignments (per course) must be submitted for Program Director review

 or

• An exam may be completed to demonstrate content knowledge.

It is the discretion of the program director as to which courses can be transferred based on the above criteria.