Bilingual School Psychology (Adv Cert)

The Fordham Graduate School of Education offers two Advanced Certificate (formerly Professional Diploma) programs in school psychology. Both programs lead to certification as a school psychologist. One of these programs, the bilingual Advanced Certificate program, leads specifically to a school psychology certificate with a bilingual extension.

Both Advanced Certificate programs prepare students to serve as practicing school psychologists. Beginning with a foundation in undergraduate psychology coursework, the student completes a minimum of 66 graduate credits of academic study, including one year of supervised internship. The student is then awarded the Advanced Certificate. Students who complete the program successfully are eligible to apply for National Certification as a School Psychologist and students who are U.S. citizens are recommended to New York state for NY certification as a school psychologist.

Graduates of the bilingual school psychology program who complete the master’s in the psychology of the bilingual student are eligible for New York state certification as bilingual school psychologists (i.e. certification as a school psychologist with a bilingual extension).

Completion Requirements

To complete an Advanced Certificate in school psychology or bilingual school psychology, students must

• complete the prescribed program of study, including a minimum of 66 credits beyond the baccalaureate degree, with a minimum of 30 graduate credits taken at Fordham with the approval of an advisor (credit for previous graduate work is granted depending on its relation to the program);
• maintain a minimum overall graduate grade point average of 3.25 (between B and B+);
• successfully complete an end-of-program comprehensive assessment; and
• successfully complete any required related practica or field experiences.

Consistent with accreditation guidelines of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), students earning an Advanced Certificate in School Psychology at Fordham University must take the National Certification in school psychology Exam and request that their scores be submitted to the program director prior to graduation. Although a passing score on the test is not required for graduation, students are encouraged but not required to seek national certification. Because the Fordham school psychology program is fully approved by NASP, students who successfully complete the program and obtain passing scores on the national certification exam are eligible for National Certification as a School Psychologist.

Acceptance into the program carries with it the responsibility to uphold the published ethical standards of the American Psychological Association. Violation of ethical standards may result in termination from the program. The program is committed to fostering and maintaining a learning environment in which all members of the community feel valued and respected. The program reserves the right to review the progress of students and to terminate students from the program on the basis of inability to meet academic, personal, or professional standards. Students may be terminated from the program if they fail to complete any of these requirements.

Admission Requirements

Applicants seeking admission to one of the Advanced Certificate programs in school psychology must meet the general requirements for admission to graduate study in the Graduate School of Education and the following program-specific criteria:

• Possess a baccalaureate or a master’s degree from an accredited college or university with a suitable foundation in the behavioral sciences, including successful completion of courses or their equivalent in the following areas, at either the undergraduate or graduate level: general psychology, child/developmental psychology, educational psychology, abnormal psychology, and psychology of personality. Applicants who lack one or more of these prerequisites may be admitted to the program; however, all but two prerequisites must be completed prior to taking any program coursework. These two prerequisites may be taken concurrently with program coursework. It is preferred that missing prerequisites be taken at Fordham.
• Choose to take and pass a minimum competency examination in psychological and educational measurement. (Students who do not meet the criterion level or choose not to take the exam will be required to enroll in PSGE 6702 Fundamentals of Educational and Psychological Measurement during their first semester at Fordham).
• Have academic and professional goals consistent with the objectives and purposes of the program.
• Show evidence of a high degree of emotional stability, as well as personal and social maturity as indicated by both the student’s record and by an interview with school psychology faculty.
• Have earned a minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.0 (B or better) or a minimum graduate grade point average of 3.5 (B+ or better).
• Provide two letters of reference.
• Demonstrate satisfactory command of oral and written English.
• Provide proof of immunization against measles, mumps, meningitis, and rubella.

Applicants for the bilingual program must also demonstrate competency in both English and a second language through: a license as a bilingual teacher; or a successful rating on a test of dual language proficiency (for example, New York state Education Department Language Proficiency Examination).