Ed.S. Program

The School Psychology Program (SPP) at the University of Florida prepares school psychologists as scientist-practitioners who, through their services, promote the psychological and academic development of children and youth.

Education Specialist (EdS) training consists of 72 graduate credit hours, including a year-long internship, and leads to the EdS degree. The SPP specialist program is fully accredited by the Florida Department of Education and is approved as a “Nationally Recognized” Program by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP).

Graduates of this program are employed to provide psychological services in schools and other service delivery settings as a certified school psychologist.

For more information about this program, please contact the program director, Dr. Katie Maki.

Tuition and Fees Frequently Asked Questions Email Program Director Application Instructions Apply Now

Program Requirements

A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution, a comparable degree from an international institution, or a degree deemed equivalent by the University of Florida Office of Admissions.
A minimum grade point average of 3.0 upper-division (last 60 credits) undergraduate work.
An acceptable graduate grade point average for previous graduate work.
Candidates for the SPP Ed.S. program are also subject to an interview for further evidence of program fit

For additional questions or concerns not addressed on the webpage or to check on the status of your application please email our staff at sespecsstaff@coe.ufl.edu.

*Please note that the GRE is no longer required.

The University of Florida does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religious preference, disability, or sex, in the administration of educational policies, admissions, financial aid, employment, or any other University program or activity.

Program Overview

Entry: Fall semester
Typical course load: 9-12 credits/semester (depending on semester)
Full-time/Part-time: Full-time
Application Deadline: December 1st
- Interviews: January 24th and 31st
Average Class Size: 10-12
Program Completion: 3 years

EdS Program Handbook

Additional Resources

Practicum

First- and Second-Year Practicum

The School Psychology Program offers a wide variety of practicum opportunities. During practicum placements, school psychology students gain practicum experiences related not only to their course requirements, but also to the expertise of their supervisor and unique characteristics of the placement setting. Opportunities are available to develop expertise in diverse areas, such as early childhood, low incidence disabilities, bilingual school psychology, behavior disorders, pediatric psychology, forensic psychology, post-secondary education, and across the K-12 education spectrum. The interweaving of practicum and coursework throughout the program allows students a depth of experience beyond course requirements alone.

Internship

Ed.S. students typically complete their internship requirements at a minimum of 1,200 hours, in the third year of the training program, in the K-12 public schools in Florida and across the nation.

Example Recent Ed.S. Internship Locations

Birmingham Public Schools, Michigan

Broward County Schools, Florida

Fairfax County Schools, Virginia

Naperville School District, Illinois

Pinellas County Public Schools, Florida

School Psychology Graduate Student Association (SPGSA)

There are six elected SPGSA officers who organize and host events and represent students in program faculty meetings. SPGSA hosts a number of activities and events, such as special topic presentations related to school psychology by faculty members from other academic fields, student social activities, and School Psychology Awareness Week. Additionally, the organization encourages participation in community outreach activities.

Financial Resources

Graduate Assistantships are available through individual academic units. Graduate assistants have part-time teaching or research duties. Stipend rates paid are determined by the employing academic unit. Graduate assistantships frequently support students for more than 1 year. In addition to an hourly wage, tuition waivers for in-state matriculation fees accompany many assistantships. Non-Florida Tuition Waivers are available to eligible out-of-state students with assistantships. Interested students should ask their academic unit offices about the availability of assistantships and the procedure for applying. Early inquiry is essential to be assured of meeting application deadlines. Initial appointment requires clear evidence of superior ability and promise. Reappointment to assistantships requires evidence of continued good scholarship.

UF Resources