Goal #1:

To produce graduates who demonstrate knowledge and broad psychological principles

Objectives for Goal #1:

• Students will understand the biological, cognitive, affective, and social influences on behavior.
• Students will have advanced knowledge of the history and systems of psychology.

Competencies Expected for these Objectives:

• Students will demonstrate understanding of the biological influences on behavior.
• Students will demonstrate understanding of the cognitive influences on behavior.
• Students will demonstrate understanding of the affective and social influences on behavior.
• Students will demonstrate understanding of the history and systems of psychology.

Goal #2:

To produce graduates who demonstrate an understanding of professional issues and meet standards of professional conduct for the practice of school psychology

Objectives for Goal #2:

• Students will understand historical and current professional issues and practices guiding the field of school psychology.
• Students will demonstrate professional and interpersonal behaviors congruent with the practice of psychology.

Competencies Expected for these Objectives:

• Students will use knowledge of the historical issues and legal and ethical guidelines in their service to children, families, and others.
• Students will display personal characteristics and work habits consistent with professional standards in their service to children, families, and others.
• Students will display appropriate responses to supervision.
• Students will demonstrate the sensitivity and skills needed to work with individuals of diverse characteristics.
• Students will display skills in supervising others.

Goal #3:

To produce graduates who demonstrate relevant competencies for the professional practice of school psychology

Objectives for Goal #3:

• Students will understand the theoretical foundations of and empirical support for assessment techniques targeting individual differences in cognitive, academic, behavioral, affective, and social functioning.
• Students will understand the theoretical foundations of and empirical support for various consultation models and direct interventions for academic, behavioral, affective, and social problems.

Competencies Expected for these Objectives:

• High-quality assessments that facilitate diagnosis or special education eligibility and intervention development.
• Consultation activities with teachers, parents, students, and other professionals in the areas of problem identification, problem analysis, treatment development and implementation, and outcomes evaluation.
• Students will demonstrate competency in identifying, implementing, and evaluating a range of appropriate empirically supported intervention strategies for behavioral, affective, social, and academic problems.
• Students will demonstrate an understanding of how cultural differences may affect assessment, consultation, and intervention practices and adjust the provision of services accordingly.

Goal #4:

To produce graduates who are consumers and producers of research and who understand psychology as a science

Objectives for Goal #4:

• Students will understand the process of scientific inquiry, including knowledge of research design and statistics.
• Students will understand how to use research to inform the practice of psychology.
• Students will contribute to the scientific community.

Competencies Expected for these Objectives:

• Students will demonstrate knowledge of research design, methodology, and statistics.
• Students will use research findings to guide the selection of the most empirically supported assessment instruments, consultation models, and intervention techniques.
• Students will complete original research projects.
• Students will contribute to the scientific community via professional presentations and publications.