Our Ph.D. program offers school psychology as a field of study designed to prepare students for careers in academic and applied settings. Our Ph.D. program is accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists and the American Psychological Association (APA) and approved by the Association of State and Provincial Psychology Boards and the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology (ASPPB/NR). Please contact the APA Commission on Accreditation with any questions.
Our Ph.D. program typically takes a total of five years (including the master’s program and internship) and involves:
The Ph.D. program requires each student to complete at least three academic years of full-time graduate study at Northern Illinois University prior to awarding the doctoral degree. For students entering post-master's, we require each student to complete at least two academic years of full-time graduate study at Northern Illinois University.
To prepare psychologists who have knowledge of social and emotional, cognitive and learning, biological and developmental aspects of human behavior.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of social and emotional aspects of human behavior.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of biological bases of human behavior.
Students will demonstrate knowledge of cognitive/instructional and developmental aspects of human behavior.
To prepare psychologists who have an understanding of the evolution of and key issues in the practice of school psychology.
Students will develop an understanding of the history, roles and functions of school psychologists.
Students will develop and demonstrate an understanding of the professional and ethical standards and legal issues relevant to school psychology practice.
To prepare psychologists who practice as socially competent professionals who are effective communicators, collaborators and life-long learners.
Students will demonstrate effective formal written and oral communication skills related to the practice of school psychology.
Students will demonstrate appropriate, culturally-competent, professional behavior and social competence in their practice of school psychology.
Students will demonstrate a life-long learner disposition by seeking non-required learning opportunities and experiences.
Students will develop competency using relevant information technology to facilitate the practice of school psychology.
To prepare psychologists who take an ecological, evidence-based, problem-solving approach in their assessment of systems and individuals.
Students will develop and demonstrate skills in empirically-validated cognitive and adaptive behavior assessment procedures to meet the needs of diverse populations.
Students will develop and demonstrate competency in the assessment of academic skills and performance using an ecological approach and empirically-validated methods to meet the needs of diverse populations.
Students will develop and demonstrate skills in the assessment of personality, social-emotional functioning, and behavior using an ecological approach and empirically-validated methods to meet the needs of diverse populations.
To prepare psychologists who take an evidence-based, problem-solving approach in their prevention and intervention practices with systems and individuals.
Students will develop and demonstrate skills in the delivery and evaluation of evidence-based counseling interventions for social-emotional issues appropriate to diverse populations.
Students will develop and demonstrate skills in the delivery and evaluation of evidence-based consultative interventions for academic, social-emotional, behavioral and other issues appropriate to diverse populations.
Students will develop and demonstrate skills in the delivery and evaluation of evidence-based direct interventions for academic, behavior and social-emotional issues appropriate to diverse populations.
Students will develop and demonstrate an evidence-based, problem-solving approach to the delivery of school psychological services involving a wide variety of education-related issues to meet the needs of diverse populations.
Students will develop and demonstrate evidence-based, problem-solving approach to the design, evaluation, and implementation of system-wide prevention approaches and of crisis intervention procedures.
To prepare students with advanced understanding and skill in the process of scientific inquiry in research and practice.
Students will develop advanced skills in the principles of research design, statistics, and measurement and the interpretation and evaluation of research.
Students will apply research and evaluation skills in the practice of school psychology.
To prepare students to contribute work to the scientific community through publications and presentations
Students will propose, conduct and complete original research that makes a substantial contribution to scientific inquiry.
Students will develop skills in explaining and presenting research findings.
Julia Ogg, Ph.D.
School psychology program director
Psychology/Computer Science Building 312
jogg@niu.edu