Master of Science in School Psychology (MS)

• Admission Requirements
• General Requirements
• Curriculum

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Program Description

The Master of Science in School Psychology (MSSP) program of Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) is a Terminal Master’s Degree Program that concomitantly provides students with the foundations of the School Psychology profession. The program will prepare its graduates to engage in competent practice of the profession, at the Master level.

As part of the program, students have an option of completing a concentration in Neuropsychology (NP) or in Neuroscience of Learning (NSL). With this MSSP, students will be able to seek licensing in PR and in most states of USA. They may also pursue doctoral studies in School Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Neuropsychology or in Clinical Neuropsychology. By acquiring the foundational competencies of School Psychology, students will master the Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes associated to the main competencies of Professional Psychology. These are: Biological Bases of Behavior, Social Bases of Behavior, Cognitive and Emotional Bases of Behavior, Human Growth and Development, Research and Statistics, Test Construction, Ethics and History of Psychology and Psychology of Personality.

Program Goals

The goals of MSSP are:

1. To develop in our students an in-depth understanding of the psychological (cognitive, affective, motivational), biological and socio-cultural bases of normal and abnormal behavior that serves as the foundation of the practice of School Psychology.
2. To prepare school psychologists for the ethical delivery of evidence-based psychotherapeutic interventions, assessment, and diagnosis when assuming the contemporary roles of the profession based upon the evolving scientific knowledge and expanding scope of practice.
3. Neuropsychology Track: To develop in students, foundational competencies in the field of Neuropsychology allowing them a broad understanding of brain behavior relationships and of the base of psychological processes as they manifest through the development spectrum.
4. Neuroscience of Learning Track: To prepare School Psychologists competent in the understanding of the neurophysiology of learning and of the individual and systemic techniques available to transform learning environments according to the principles of neurolearning.

Admissions Requirements

A bachelor’s degree from a college or university approved by the Council on Higher Education and/or by the corresponding regional accrediting agencies.

At least 15 credits in Psychology at the bachelor’s level including de following courses:

Course Title	Credits
General Psychology	3
Developmental Psychology	3
Statistics	3
Abnormal Psychology	3
Experimental Psychology or
Research Methods	3

1. Official Undergraduate Transcript (Degree Conferred)
2. A minimal GPA of 3.00
3. Two letters of recommendation from professors or professionals familiar with the candidate’s performance in academic and work settings.
4. Certificate of Negative Penal Records/ Background Check
5. An interview
6. CV/Resume
7. Essay
8. Application processing fee (non-refundable).

Upon acceptance, all students are required to submit

1. Written confirmation of acceptance
2. Non-refundable deposit of $100.00 to secure the seat in the entering class.

Other pertinent documents as necessary.

Graduation Requirements

1. Course Requirement
   1. Students must complete all required and elective courses within the established time frame. The Program requires a total of 62 credits, while maintaining a satisfactory academic progress. The school psychology internship do not carry credit value. They are monitored by the hour and not by credit.
2. Performance Requirement
   1. Students should complete all requirements and maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.00 every semester.
3. Successfully complete 120 hours of clinical practice during the first 4 semesters of the program as follows:
   1. Complete 1.5 hours per week for 20 weeks of the first and second semester of the first year attending didactic and practice sessions (SCP 5800 /SCP 5900 ) for a total of 30 hours per semester.
   2. Complete 1.5 hours per week for 20 weeks of the first and second semester of the second year attending didactic sessions with evaluation and intervention practice sessions (SCP 6000 /SCP 6010 ) for a total of 30 hours per semester.
      3. Complete 1,200 hours of internship (SCP 7000 /SCP 7001 ), of which 600 hours must be completed in a school setting.
         1. Clearance from the Internship Coordinator indicating that all practicum-related documentation has been completed and that the requirement of 4 psychoeducational testing batteries has been met.
         2. An unofficial transcript that reflects no Incomplete courses or C grades. All incomplete grades must have been removed and all courses that require repetition must have been approved.
4. Comprehensive Examination Requirement
   1. A Comprehensive Examination must be taken upon completion of the second academic year. A passing score more than 70% in the exam is a requirement for candidacy to the Master Degree.
5. Professional Behavior Requirement
   1. The students should conduct themselves in accordance with the norms for professional conduct set forth by Ponce Health Sciences University, the corresponding accreditation agencies, and the Clinical Practice Manual of the Program.

Grading System

All courses and grades obtained will appear on the student’s academic record, including transferred courses from other institutions.

The Program has established evaluation criteria for the successful completion of courses. These criteria are made available to the students at the beginning of the course. The grading system for graduate students is as follows:

Letter	Grade
A	100% - 90%
B	89% - 80%
C	79% - 70%
F	Failed (below 70%)
E	Extended
I	Incomplete
IP	In Progress
P	Pass
NP	Not Pass
W	Withdrawal
AW	Administrative Withdrawal
NG	No-Grade Reported (under special circumstances)

Satisfactory Academic Progress

This policy has been established to ensure an acceptable time frame for completion of the academic program and the minimally accepted quality of performance. This policy also ensures that the Student Financial Aid requirements, set forth by federal regulations, are met.

This policy applies to students enrolled in the Master’s in Science in School Psychology at Ponce Health Sciences University.

General Requirements

1. Time Frame for completion of the Academic Program
   A School Psychology Student will be allowed a maximum time frame of 5 years of enrollment beyond the 3 years standard required for the completion of the program. Summer enrollment is considered part of the academic year for the purpose of this measure.
   The total number of years for completion of the degree includes those graduate courses accredited on admission to the School Psychology Program.
   1. Definition of full time: Students with an academic load of 6 credits or more per semester will be considered full time graduate students.
   2. Definition of half time: Students with an academic load of 3 to 5 credits per semester will be considered half time students.
   3. Definition of less than half time: Students with an academic load of less than 3 credits per semester will be considered less than half time or part-time students.
2. Completion of Program Requirements
   1. Course Requirement
      Students must complete all courses and the internship within the established time frame. The Program requires a total of 62 credits.
   2. Performance Requirement
      A student must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.00 for every semester. A student failing to meet this standard of performance will be referred to the Students Promotion Committee.
   3. Comprehensive Examination Requirement
      The program requires approval of a Comprehensive Examination covering core areas of the field.
   4. Professional Behavior Requirement
      The students should conduct themselves in accordance with the norms for professional behavior set forth by Ponce Health Sciences University, the corresponding accreditation agencies, and the Clinical Practice Manual of the School Psychology Program.

Grade Requirement

To graduate, the student should complete all requirements and maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.00. Satisfactory Academic Progress is required for financial aid eligibility and will be reviewed on a yearly basis.

1. Students should perform at a minimum level of achievement of 80% (B) in all courses.
2. Students who obtain a grade of C must repeat the course and pass it. Up to two courses may be repeated. If the student obtains a grade of C in three courses, he/she will be referred to the Students Promotion Committee.
3. Repeated courses with “C” grades will remain on record, but the new grade will be used to compute the grade point average.
4. A grade of “F” in any course will result in referral to the Students Promotion Committee and considered for dismissal based on overall academic performance, including GPA in the program.
5. Grades of “P” (Passed) or “NP” (Not Pass) are applicable to Practice and internship. A grade of “NP” requires repetition. In case of a second “NP” grade in the same practicum or internship, the student will be referred to the Students Promotion Committee with a recommendation for dismissal.
6. An “I” (Incomplete) grade will only be allowed under very special circumstances as determined by the professor. The student must remove the “I” (Incomplete) in agreement with the professor and must be removed by the incomplete removal date of the following academic session. For detailed information about the institutional policy, refer to the Institutional Catalog.
7. A No Grade (NG) will only be used under specific circumstances preventing a faculty member from submitting the corresponding grade for that course. For example, external practicum/internship sites are delayed in the submission of students’ feedback or evaluation reports to the schools or programs. For detail information about the institutional policy, refer to the Institutional Catalogue.
8. Grades of W must be approved when repeated.

Appeal Process for Academic Affairs

Students who are notified by the Program’s Dean a decision of the Students Promotion Committee that he/she must repeat failed courses during the next academic year or to be dismissed from the program, have the right to appeal the decision within five working days after receiving the notification.

The appeal or due process presented below must be followed.

The student will appeal in writing to the Students Promotion Committee (SPC) and include all relevant documentation to support the request. The Committee will evaluate the reasons and evidence submitted to determine if they change their initial decision. The SPC has 48 hours to submit its decision to the Program’s Dean, who will notify the decision to the student.

If the SPC sustains the adverse decision, the Dean notifies the student who may exercise their right to appeal to the Dean of the School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences (SBBS). The appeal must be submitted in writing within five (5) working days of receiving the notification. The Dean of SBBS will evaluate the appeal and the student’s academic record. Rejection of the appeal by the Dean is final.

The SBBS Dean can appoint a three-member AdHoc Committee to re-evaluate all evidence. If an Ad-Hoc Committee is appointed, they will notify the student in writing of the date and the time when the appeal will be evaluated. After the meeting, the Ad-Hoc Committee has forty-eight (48) hours to submit a recommendation to the Dean of SBBS. The Dean will consider the Ad-Hoc Committee recommendation and make the final decision within forty-eight (48) hours.

Any decision will be reported to the student in writing. The decision made by the SBBS Dean is final.

The same process described above will be followed in the case that the adverse decision made by the Committee is for non-academic reasons, such as unacceptable professional behavior. The Program Dean or the VP for Student Affairs will refer the case to the SPC. If the recommendation of the SPC is to dismiss the student, the appeal process described above may be activated.

If an adverse decision is made due to non-academic reasons and the Dean of SBBS sustains the decision after the appeal process, the student may appeal to the Vice-President for Academic Affairs and then to the President.

Financial Aid Eligibility

Financial Aid eligibility is contingent upon satisfactory academic progress. Please refer to the institutional policy on Satisfactory Academic Progress published by the Office of Financial Aid.

Enforcement

The Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs shall have primary responsibility for overseeing this policy and will provide all health sciences students a copy of this document upon admission to Ponce Health Sciences University.

The President, Vice President for Academic Affairs, and the Vice President for Student Affairs, as well as the Program Dean, Registrar and Financial Aid Director will receive all pertinent data to ensure proper enforcement of the policy here set forth.

Tuition and Fees

For more details of PHSU tuition and fees please refer to: Tuition and Fees 2024-2025.pdf

ALL TUITION AND FEES ARE PAYABLE ON OR BEFORE REGISTRATION.

*Ponce Health Sciences University reserves the right to increase the tuition or other fees as deemed necessary. *