Baylor SOE’s School Psychology program will offer the EdS degree from a Dallas campus through a hybrid program.
Baylor University School of Education is launching a new Dallas-based program in School Psychology, offering the Education Specialist (EdS) degree. Baylor’s school psychology program in Waco is nationally accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), and Baylor is now accepting applications for the School Psychology-Dallas EdS program for the fall semester of 2020.
“There has been a national shortage of school psychologists for several years, and there is an expectation for over 20,000 new jobs over the next 10 years,” said Dr. Julie Ivey, associate professor and program coordinator for Dallas. Baylor’s Dallas program is actively responding to this need by expanding opportunities and making this career accessible to more students interested in making a difference and helping children achieve success.”
School Psychology is a specialty of professional psychology that focuses on the science and practice of psychology with children and families, learners of all ages, and the schooling process. School psychologists apply expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior to help children and youth succeed academically, behaviorally, socially, and emotionally.
In Texas, EdS- and master’s-level school psychologists are referred to as Licensed Specialists in School Psychology, or LSSP. This is a term specific to Texas, while most school psychologists in the U.S. are referred to as “school psychologists.” The Baylor EdS degree is a 60-credit hour program typically completed in three years. The third year is spent in a full-time professional internship in the public schools in Texas or other states.
Graduate Dan Woodward said the practical experience he gained in Baylor’s program prepared him well for a career in school psychology.
Baylor’s current school psychology program located in Waco boasts 100 percent pass rates on the national school psychology exam, 100 percent internship placement rate, and 100 percent job placement rate.
The Dallas school psychology program will mirror the Waco program, as both will be offered in a hybrid format, with some courses taught in person and some through distance learning. In-person classes for the Dallas students will be held at Baylor’s Louise Herrington School of Nursing Academic Building, located near the Baylor Medical Center. This site is about 20 minutes from Arlington and 35 minutes from downtown Fort Worth. With free underground parking and 24/7 access to study spaces for individual and group work, the program hopes to welcome students from all parts of the Metroplex.
Baylor graduate Dr. Brandy Dede, who later earned a PhD and is assistant superintendent for a new inclusion charter school in the Dallas area, said the Baylor program prepared her well. “My EdS degree in School Psychology at Baylor prepared me for a rewarding career,” she said. “I am grateful that the professors at Baylor challenged us to think beyond traditional school psychology services and think more systemically when working with children and families.”
Dan Woodward, a Baylor graduate of 2017, works as an LSSP at a private high school in Dallas. “One of my favorite aspects about the Baylor School Psychology graduate program was all of the applied and hands-on experiences we were offered throughout our time at Baylor. The School Psychology program offers experiences in the public school related to individual/group counseling, evaluations/assessments, and teacher consultation that prepare you for your internship and full-time work as a school psychologist,” he said. “We were provided the opportunity to lead our own research projects with faculty that were eventually presented at local and national conferences. The professors supported all of us while applying for internships and throughout our internship year. Even after graduating, I still reach out to my professors for support.”
The Baylor School Psychology program in Dallas is currently accepting applications, with a final fall application deadline of June 30. Please contact Dr. Julie Ivey, coordinator of the Dallas program, at Julie_Ivey@baylor.edu. Fall classes will begin Aug. 24, with orientation the week of Aug. 17.
For more information, go to; www.baylor.edu/schoolpsychologydallas.
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ABOUT BAYLOR SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
For more than 100 years, Baylor educators have carried the mission and practices of the School of Education to classrooms and beyond as teachers, leaders in K12 and higher education, psychologists, academics/scholars and more. With more than 50 full-time faculty members, the school’s growing research portfolio complements its long-standing commitment to excellence in teaching and student mentoring. Baylor’s undergraduate program in teacher education has earned national distinction for innovative partnerships with local schools that provide future teachers deep clinical preparation, while graduate programs culminating in both the Ed.D. and Ph.D. prepare outstanding leaders, teachers and clinicians through an intentional blend of theory and practice. Visit www.baylor.edu/soe to learn more.
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked research institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 16,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.