The following goal statements apply to the MA/EdS program and guide the development of specific competencies:

Graduates of the program will,

1. understand the nature of the educational settings in which they are employed and work cooperatively and effectively with parents, school personnel, and other professionals,
2. have broad expertise in the area of assessment at the individual, group, and system level and have broad expertise in interventions including counseling, social and academic interventions, and consultation; conduct comprehensive case studies leading to effective recommendations for intervention,
3. have a broad understanding of child development, individual differences, child and adolescent exceptionality, and cultural diversity and have entry-level competence in research design and statistics,
4. understand the historical, legal, and professional foundations of the field and demonstrate legal, responsible, and ethical professional behavior,
5. obtain licensure from the Tennessee State Board of Education or comparable authority in other states and become Nationally Certified School Psychologists.
6. Doctoral students are expected to achieve the above goals and to achieve greater competence in practice areas, but particularly in the areas of research, interventions, and supervision.

Students seeking licensure endorsement to the Tennessee State Department of Education must complete the MA/EdS sequence. Students who have prior degrees and/or licensure from outside Tennessee will have requirements determined individually to be equivalent to the training level of the above requirements.