Minimum Admissions Requirements
All applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree in psychology, education, or a related field from a regionally accredited institution and have completed three credit hours in research and evaluation or statistics prior to the start of the specialist program. Additional criteria reviewed will include the following:
- relevant experience, professional accomplishment, or exceptional credentials
- the quality of the applicant's written statement of professional experiences
- professional/faculty letters of recommendation
- personal interview
To be considered for admission to graduate study in the specialist (Psy.S.) program in school psychology, all applicants are required to present evidence of scholastic ability, significant interest in the area of school psychology, interpersonal sensitivity, personal stability, and sound moral character. The school psychologist is required to interact with children of various ages, parents, teachers, and a variety of school personnel. Interpersonal effectiveness, including maturity, flexibility, and professionalism must be demonstrated by the applicants.
An applicant who meets the following criteria, in addition to the above minimum requirements for admission, may be considered for acceptance into the program as a degree-seeking student.
- A bachelor's degree in psychology, education, or a related field from a regionally accredited institution
- Non-refundable application fee of U.S. $50
- A 3.0 GPA based upon the last 2 years of undergraduate study preferred or a 3.4 GPA from a regionally accredited graduate program in psychology, education, or a related field based on a minimum of 18 credit hours
- Completion of 3 credit hours of undergraduate or graduate coursework in research and evaluation or statistics
- Submit the attestation statement
- GRE scores are not required.
The standards required for admission keep in mind the safety and well-being of the clients graduates will eventually serve in clinical situations. Candidates for the degree must possess-with or without reasonable accommodation-multiple abilities and skills including intellectual, conceptual, integrative, and quantitative abilities and intrapersonal, communication, behavioral, and personal attributes including empathy, emotional self-awareness, and emotional maturity. These are further defined in the student handbooks.
In accordance with the guidelines established by the American Psychological Association, accepted applicants have until April 15 to respond to our offer, although earlier notification is desired. You may be subject to a background check upon acceptance into the program.
Students may be provisionally admitted to a degree-seeking program based on a review of unofficial transcripts or other specific program admission requirements. However, this admission includes a condition that final and official documents and requirements must be received within 90 calendar days from the start of the term. If these final and official documents and/or requirements are not received by that time, the student will not be allowed to continue class attendance. Financial aid will not be disbursed to a provisional/conditional student until he or she has been fully admitted as a regular student (all admissions requirements have been approved by the college/program admissions office). Students who have an unpaid balance 30 days from the start of the term will be assessed a $100 fee.
During the admissions process, all prospective students are required to disclose convictions of any criminal offense in any city, state, or country, other than minor traffic offenses. Prospective students are required to disclose any time they have entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere (no contest) to a criminal offense; had adjudication of guilty withheld for a criminal offense; participated in a first-offender or pretrial diversion program, or its equivalent, or committed any offense where the records have been sealed or expunged, including criminal offense committed as a juvenile. Driving under the influence is not a minor traffic offense for purposes of this policy. Prospective students also are required to disclose any pending criminal charges filed against them and disclose if they are currently incarcerated or will be incarcerated upon or during enrollment at NSU. Subsequent to submission of admission applications, prospective students have a continuing duty to disclose all of the above. Failure to disclose, omitting, or providing false information relating to any of the above may result in rescission of admissions offers or disciplinary action against a student, up to and including dismissal from NSU.
While enrolled at NSU, students have a continuing duty to disclose all of the above, along with any arrest or pending criminal charges within 10 days of any arrest or charges being filed. Students must notify the assistant dean for Student Development of any arrests or pending criminal charges. A failure to timely disclose any arrests or pending criminal charges may result in disciplinary actions against a student up to and including dismissal from NSU.
NSU’s College of Psychology’s clinical, school, and counseling programs maintain affiliation agreements with health care and community agencies and may also place students within the NSU Psychology Services Center (PSC). These affiliations allow for student clinical training experiences required in the programs. Trainees will be required to undergo Level 2 background and drug screenings.
Please note that the university and affiliate sites have a zero-tolerance policy for drug use. Testing positive for illegal or illicit drugs, including marijuana (even if prescribed or certified by a physician), or a controlled substance for which the individual does not have a prescription, would constitute a failed test and as such, could invalidate the placement/match and result in a referral for further action. (Updated Feb 2022)
It is important to note that many agencies with whom the NSU College of Psychology partners for practicum/internship/post-doctoral residency program placements require that students show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 (including recommended boosters).
Not being vaccinated may eliminate some placements as an option and in turn disrupt the sequence of training, delay program progression, and/or timely degree completion.
Questions may be directed to the appropriate program office. (Updated Feb 2022)