School Psychology Admissions

Between 12-15 students are admitted each year into the School Psychology program at FSU.

Timeline:

Students are admitted for the fall semester only. All candidates are considered for admission as soon as their folders are complete and are usually notified no later than the end of February/beginning of March. The admissions acceptance rate is usually about 25%-35% in school psychology.

The application deadline for M. S./Ed.S. candidates is February 1st.

Admissions Prerequisites:

1. Bachelor's degree in Education, Psychology, Business, Liberal Arts, Sociology, Social Work, Home and Family Life, or related disciplines from an accredited college or university.
2. Satisfactory prior academic record reflected by official transcripts of all previous college work. Candidates will be considered if they meet the minimum requirements for graduate admissions.
3. Although not required, applicants who have completed some full-time, part-time, or volunteer experience in counseling, education, or related social service, will be given preference in the application process.

Application Procedures

1. Request a graduate application from the Office of Graduate Admissions, Room 2249, University Center, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1009; telephone (850) 644-3420, or complete online at http://www.fsu.edu/students/prospective/admissions/indexgr.shtml.
2. The Office of Graduate Admissions Requires:
   • A completed graduate application, returned to the Office of Graduate Admissions
   • Two (2) official transcripts of all previous college work.
   • A copy of your Graduate Record Examination (GRE) score, requested from Educational Testing.
   1. Send completed application materials to the Office of Graduate Admissions, Room 2249, University Center, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL 32306-1009; telephone (850) 644-3420. Follow instructions below.

NOTE: The GRE is required by the university for admission. General FSU Graduate Admissions calls for a GRE combined verbal-quantitative score of at least 1,000. Students who do not have a minimum GRE score of 1,000 may substitute one of the following: (a) a passing score on the General Knowledge section of the Florida Teacher Certification Exam (FTCE); (b) a passing score on all sections of the College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST); or (3) a passing score on the Praxis I exam, administered by Education Testing Service. Prospective students may be required to attend an on-campus admissions interview at the discretion of the faculty.

For AY 2006-2007, the average combined verbal-quantitative GRE score for the incoming class was 1130.

A current resumé.

Three (3) letters of recommendation for graduate work. We strongly recommend that at least one of those letters be written by a faculty member who is familiar with your potential as a graduate student.

An autobiographical statement (two to four pages), including reasons for pursuing an advanced degree at this time, a statement of your career goals, and a little personal history.

A copy of the completed Department of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems Application for Admission to the Department. Download an application form here.

Send above 4 items to: Psychological Services in Education Program, Department of Educational Psychology and Learning Systems, College of Education, Florida State University, 307 Stone Building, Tallahassee, FL 32306-4453.

For information on the status of an application, call Ms. Terri Powell, 850-644-8046 or email at powell@coe.fsu.edu.

Part-Time or Distance Programs
Unfortunately, at this time Florida State University is unable to offer online or distance courses. Thus, all courses are taught on FSU’s main campus in Tallahassee, and most are held during the daytime hours. Although part-time attendance is possible, the sequencing of many courses must still be followed.

Fast-Tracking into the APA-approved Combined Doctoral Program in Counseling Psychology and School Psychology

During their first or second year in the School Psychology M.S./Ed.S. program, students may apply for the “fast-track” into FSU’s Combined Doctoral Program in Counseling Psychology and School Psychology (http://www.epls.fsu.edu/psych_services/phdIntroduction.htm). This option allows for talented students to be admitted into the doctoral program without having to complete the M.S./Ed.S. degree program. If, during their first year in the M.S./Ed.S. program, students have doctoral aspirations and would like to be considered for the fast-track program, they should consult with their major professor about the admissions process and likelihood of acceptance. Some of our most talented and successful doctoral students were fast-tracked from their respective M.S./Ed.S. programs.