Mission, Philosophy, and Context

Mission: The mission of the School Psychology Educational Specialist (EdS) program at Michigan State University is to equip school psychologists with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions necessary to provide quality psychological services to students in school settings. The program includes a planned sequence of course work in school psychology with embedded practica and internship experiences.

Philosophy: At MSU School Psychology, we prepare school psychologists who work with educators, children, youth, and families to promote student learning and growth. We bring a developmental and contextual perspective to our work that considers the needs of learners in the context of families, schools, communities, and cultures. We train school psychologists as data-based, system-wide problem-solvers who apply a social justice lens to their prevention and intervention work organized in a multi-tiered system of supports.

Context: We prepare school psychologists for an expanded role beyond the traditional clinician-tester role. Our graduates use their education and experience to work with teams of school-based professionals to assist individual students with learning and behavioral difficulties, as well as to enhance all students’ educational and social-emotional outcomes. The Educational Specialist Program prepares psychologists for work in school settings with students, teachers, staff, and families to support students with learning, behavioral, and emotional differences.

Program Approval and Accreditation

The MSU Ed.S. program has been granted Conditional Accreditation by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Program Accreditation Board from February 1, 2024 to February 1, 2026. The Accreditation Board will review our Conditional status and additional data from the program in the 2025-2026 academic year. Possible outcomes of this review are full accreditation or no accreditation.  If we receive accreditation, all graduates of the program will remain graduates of a NASP-accredited program. Should the program not receive full accreditation, students who graduate after February 1, 2026 would not graduate from a NASP-accredited program. This would require program graduates to submit additional application materials to become National Certified School Psychologists.  

The program is approved by the Michigan Department of Education. As such, graduates of the program are eligible for credentialing in Michigan as a school psychologist. To be eligible for credentialing in states other than Michigan, a greater number of courses and internship hours may be required. This NASP resource provides state-by-state credentialing information.

Defining Features of MSU’s School Psychology Program

The MSU School Psychology Ed.S. program brings a developmental and systems approach to learning that focuses on the developmental needs of learners in the context of families and schools. We view the science and practice of school psychology as grounded in the knowledge of psychological development as well as an understanding of the social contexts in which development occurs. A developmental perspective provides an understanding of the limits and the potential of individuals, as well as the risks and opportunities in development.

We view research and practice in school psychology as being inextricably related. We consider these to be reciprocal processes where research serves as the basis for practice and practice informs research. The program is committed to preparing school psychologists whose practices are empirically supported. We strive to develop future leaders committed to equitable and just schools that promote the development and well-being of all children and their families.

The School Psychology Program is one of several graduate programs in the department of Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education (CEPSE) in the College of Education.

Hybrid Program Format

The program involves ONLINE and FACE to FACE classes. The online classes are synchronous (nearly always on TUESDAYS) or asynchronous (self-paced). Face to face classes are on the East Lansing campus. Over the past two years, students have had face to face classes for 3 semesters (Y1 spring, Y2 fall, and Y2 spring). Summer classes are typically online.

Funding and Training Opportunity 2025-2026

Read about Project Hi2LD fellowship—offers funding to help with tuition and some conference travel and technology support for individuals to earn their M.A. and Ed.S. degrees in school psychology.

Read about the new Project FOCCUS³ fellowship opportunity, which will provide funding for selected graduate students to pursue an educational specialist degree in School Psychology or a master’s degree in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) from Michigan State University.

Explore MSU School Psychology through our Handbook  

Check out our most recent handbook