School Psychology, EdS

MASTER OF SCIENCE IN

School Psychology

California Baptist University

Dr. Bonnie G. Metcalf School of Education calbaptist.edu/grad

Dr. Bonnie G. Metcalf School of Education

“In the School of Education, we are committed to developing educational leaders who combine strong professional preparation with a faith-informed purpose and a global perspective, ready to make a meaningful impact in schools, communities and nations.”

Stacy Meyer, EdD Dean, Metcalf School of Education

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California Baptist University

Program Distinctives

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Learn with a Cohort

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Work in the Field

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Prepare for Credential

This program is made up of a cohort of students that progress through the program together. The cohort model creates an environment where cooperative learning is cultivated with relationships that are essential for vocational networking.

Students will be required to complete a significant number of hours in the field during their studies. The blend of theory and clinical experience provides a model for success in the student’s internship and career as a school psychologist.

Students of this program earn both a Master of Science in School Psychology and a Pupil Personnel Services Credential in School Psychology recognized by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing.

calbaptist.edu/grad

Dr. Bonnie G. Metcalf School of Education

Program Details at a Glance

Program Length

Program Cost*

Program Start Term

68 units

$59,632

Fall (September)

3 years (8 semesters)

$834 per unit $365 per semester general fee

Class Format

Accreditation

Classes are offered on campus Monday–Thursday evenings

WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC)

*Based on current academic year. Subject to change.

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California Baptist University

Led by biblical truth, the Metcalf School of Education’s mission is to prepare globally minded educational leaders of high moral character who are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to create inclusive, lifelong learners.

calbaptist.edu/grad

Dr. Bonnie G. Metcalf School of Education

Alumni Q&A Dollen Azzam Class of 2015

Meet Dollen Azzam, a school psychologist at Kennedy High School, who graduated from CBU in 2015 with a master’s in school psychology. She has been a school psychologist for six years and is very passionate about mental health. She loves working with children and adolescents, and explains how the career she is in is the perfect blend of both.

Q: Why did you want to study school psychology?

A: I actually graduated with my undergraduate degree in business and planned on going into the field of fashion marketing. I realized at some point, however, that a career in business was not going to be fulfilling for me. I needed to find a role where I could help people, and some soul searching and exploring of other career options and programs led me to school psychology.

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California Baptist University

Q: What have you loved most about working in the

Q: What was one of the most valuable things you

field you are in?

took from your time at CBU?

A: The one thing I love the most about my job and

A: The most valuable part of my CBU experience

what keeps me going every day is getting to work

was the relationships I built with my peers and the

with children and adolescents. It is very fulfilling

CBU faculty. I still keep in touch with peers from

to know that I am making an impact on the lives

my cohort, and I am very thankful for the caring

of others, and I enjoy building relationships with

relationship I had with many of my professors.

students and watching them progress.

Q: What is a piece of advice you would give to Q: What about CBU caught your eye when applying

someone looking to apply to this program?

to graduate programs?

A: I would recommend speaking to the program

A: What stood out to me about CBU is the fact that

director and getting a sense of the culture of the

the faculty seemed to care so much about each

program. If possible, it would also be helpful to

individual student. I was coming into the program

speak to current students in the program to get

with no educational background, so I felt that a small

some inside feedback.

program would be a better fit for me. CBU’s program was also more affordable than some of the other programs I had looked at, and that was a factor in my decision.

Q: How did CBU prepare you for the job you are in currently?

A: CBU gave me the necessary foundational skills and theoretical knowledge to be able to go into my internship experience and be ready to learn on the job. My professors at CBU also taught me about the many nuances of this complex career, so I knew what to expect when I was in the field.

calbaptist.edu/grad

Dr. Bonnie G. Metcalf School of Education

Faculty Spotlight Pedro Olvera, PsyD Program Director, School Psychology

My calling as a school psychologist began while

appropriate learning supports and opportunities

working as a youth counselor in a group home

like their English-speaking peers, will thrive and

for children who were in the foster care system or

excel in their learning. My passion in this area

on probation. I wanted to understand how to best

grew out of my personal experience as an English

support and provide them with the resources to be

learner.

successful in life despite the challenges that they encountered. I wanted to serve as an advocate

School psychologists are passionate about what

and someone who could encourage them in their

they do. We work with families, students, school

life journey and found that school psychologists

systems and community groups daily. We conduct

were key professionals that provided this type of

assessments and provide mental health support

guidance for children and adolescents, and I was

for children who are dealing with difficult life

immediately drawn to the profession.

circumstances. In many cases, we will be the only mental health provider that children and families

I have been a bilingual school psychologist for 24

will ever encounter.

years and have practiced in Southern California, Alaska and Washington state. My scholarly

Our faith-based frontline approach to mental

interests and areas of research relate to working

health support in school systems helps us connect

with children who are both Latino/a and bilingual.

children to the resources that they need to cope

Oftentimes misunderstood, these students are

with trauma, learn to their potential or even

mislabeled or perceived to be lower achieving

develop a meaningful relationship with a school

because they are not proficient in English.

adult that can provide empathy and support.

However, my research has demonstrated time and again that these students, when given the

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California Baptist University

Degree Requirements Core Courses SCSP 5030 Counseling Theory SCSP 5130 Advanced Psychopathology SCSP 5170 Learning Theory and Academic Interventions SCSP 5210 Developing Culturally Competent Practitioners SCSP 5270 Schoolwide Behavior Supports SCSP 5330 Crisis Response, Behavior Intervention & Management SCSP 5550 Intervention, Consultation and Collaboration SCSP 5670 Legal and Ethical Issues in School Psychology

24 units 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

School Psychology Requirements SCSP 5010 Introduction to School Psychology SCSP 5440 Individual Intelligence Testing SCSP 5460 Counseling in Schools SCSP 5470 Individual Intellectual Assessment Lab SCSP 5490 Statistics, Research Methods, and Program Evaluation SCSP 5510 Advanced Assessment Seminar I SCSP 5520 Advanced Assessment Lab I SCSP 5630 Assessment of Emotional/Behavioral Disorders SCSP 5680 Advanced Assessment Seminar II SCSP 5690 Advanced Assessment Lab II SPED 5460 Applied Behavior Analysis SPED 5580 Assessment and Interventions

27 units 2 2 3 1 3 2 1 3 2 1 3 4

Practicum Courses SCSP 5360 Practicum

5 units 5

School Psychology Field Experience Courses SCSP 5770 Fieldwork/Internship I SCSP 5790 Fieldwork/Internship II

12 units 6 6

Total 68 Units

calbaptist.edu/grad

Dr. Bonnie G. Metcalf School of Education

Admissions Requirements Application for admission with a $45 graduate application fee.

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university which is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education and/or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, or the evaluated equivalency.

Official transcripts of all college coursework.

Minimum GPA of 2.75 or presentation of a minimum combined score of 300 on the verbal and quantitative sections of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or passing score on the CSET exam to overcome a low grade point average.

Proof of having met basic skills requirements by: Completion of a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university OR passing the state-administered California Basic Education Skills Test (CBEST) or equivalent by the second semester of enrollment.

Verification of Certificate of Clearance from the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing granted prior to admission.

Written statement of purpose and in-person/virtual program interview. Written statement (500-word maximum) and interview will address: • What are your educational goals?

• How will this program help meet those goals?

• What makes you a good fit for CBU? Additional requirements may be requested.

Prerequisites Completed with a grade of “C” or better: • General Psychology • Introductory Statistics • Abnormal Psychology OR Personality Theories One (1) of the following: • Growth Development and Learning • Lifespan Development • Educational Psychology

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*At least two (2) prerequisites must be completed prior to admission. Remaining prerequisites must be completed within the first semester of the program.

California Baptist University

How to Apply

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Submit a graduate application at

calbaptist.edu/gradapp.

Send official college or university transcripts.

Provide any supplemental documents required.

Application Deadline Fall Priority

May 15

Standard

August 1

Ready to take the next step?

Follow this QR code to start your application!

calbaptist.edu/grad

California Baptist University

Graduate Admissions

Dr. Bonnie G. Metcalf School of Education

8432 Magnolia Avenue Riverside, CA 92504

8432 Magnolia Avenue Riverside, CA 92504

951.343.4249 calbaptist.edu

951.343.4313 calbaptist.edu/school-of-education

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