Find information about the School of Graduate and Continuing Studies' On-Campus Programs here.
Curriculum
A total of 122 credit hours are needed to complete the program. A minimum of 92 credits of coursework beyond the baccalaureate degree must be completed, in addition to one year of internship (18 credits) and a minimum of 12 credits of dissertation.
As specified by University regulations, all work for the degree must be completed within 7 years from the date of the start of the program. Every student must fulfill a residency requirement, which requires the student to be registered for courses as a full-time student for two consecutive semesters. Thus, this is a four-year program at the minimum, with three years of coursework (including approximately 800 hours of supervised practical experiences), at least one year of full-time residency, and then a year-long full-time supervised internship. The content of the coursework is a balance of scientific bases, research experiences, and academic and professional applied psychology.
Nine credits of electives are required, and may be fulfilled by courses or advanced practicum experiences. All students must pass master’s level written comprehensive examinations, engage in a research apprenticeship, pass a doctoral qualifying examination and complete a written dissertation.
Sample Sequence of Courses for a Full-Time Student’s Program
This sample program shows the case of a student who completes the degree in four years as planned. Many students require additional time to complete their dissertation.
Year 1
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
Year 2
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
Year 3
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
Year 4
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
Undergraduate Preparation for the M.A./C.A.S., and Psy.D. Programs
The student must present evidence of competence in the following subject areas:
- Introduction to psychology
- Statistical and/or experimental methods
- At least one of the following:
- Developmental psychology (e.g., child and adolescent psychology)
- Personality
- Abnormal psychology
Students who have not taken these courses, but who are acceptable candidates otherwise, may make arrangements upon approval of the School Psychology Committee to satisfy these requirements via coursework or independent study in the summer preceding admission. Other courses, such as tests and measurements, learning or educational psychology are looked upon favorably. Practical experiences in psychology or education as well as any other relevant experiences are seen as valuable preparation.
Up to 6 graduate credits may be transferred to the master’s degree. Students who enter the doctoral program with prior graduate training relevant to the field of school psychology (including a prior master’s degree in school psychology) must complete ½ of their credits for doctoral coursework at Alfred University. This means that no more than 45 of the 90 credits of coursework can be transferred towards the doctoral degree.
Admission
Students applying to the School Psychology Program must submit the following documents directly to the Graduate Admissions Office:
- a completed application form
- three (3) letters of recommendation
- official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate coursework
- Graduate Record Examination (GRE) results-General Test
- a personal statement of objectives
- a statement of research interest (Psy.D. only)
Admission to the M.A./C.A.S. School Psychology Program is limited to 18 students each year, and six students for the Psy.D. program. The deadline for applications to the Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) program in School Psychology is January 15.
Review of applications for the M.A./C.A.S. program in School Psychology will begin on February 1. Late applications will be considered if places in the class still exist for qualified applicants. Early application is strongly encouraged.
Interview
An on-campus interview is expected of each applicant for admission to the program, but warranted exceptions may be made. Correspondence about the program should be addressed to:
Brad Daly, Division of School Psychology
1 Saxon Drive, Alfred, NY 14802
Telephone: 607-871-2212