Home to approximately 27 million residents, Texas is also known as the “Lone Star State”. It has a diverse economic base and is home to numerous Fortune 500 companies. Some of the leading industries in the state include agriculture, petrochemicals, energy, computers and electronics, aerospace, and biomedical sciences. There are plenty of colleges and universities in Texas as well that offer a variety of academic programs for students with diverse educational and professional goals. Students who wish to pursue school psychology programs in Texas can also find a number of options.
School psychology programs provide students with an understanding of the psychological and developmental needs of children and adolescents within contexts of family, school, and community. According to the statistics published by O*NET OnLine, demand for school psychologists in Texas is likely to grow in future.
Why do Children Need School Psychologists?
Many children and youth face education related issues in their lives. Furthermore, they may have problems adjusting in a school environment, along with other related serious issues. School psychologists are qualified members of a school’s team, which can help students, and their families as well as educators understand and resolve various issues that students may face. Applying expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior, they help students succeed academically as well as socially.
School Psychology Programs in Texas
School psychologists usually hold the Ed.S. degree, a doctoral degree in school psychology, or a master’s degree. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a master’s degree program may require 1-3 years to complete while the doctoral degree can be completed in 5-7 years. These programs include classroom based instruction in education as well as psychology. Students in the school psychology programs develop skills in assessment, progress monitoring, mental health interventions as well as behavioral interventions.
The master’s degree can be suitable for individuals seeking entry-level jobs in the field of school psychology. The PhD degree program provides students with more extensive opportunities for research since the objective of this advanced program is to prepare future psychologists to take up leadership roles.
In addition to regular degree programs, some schools in Texas also offer the distance learning programs, allowing working professionals and others to study at their individual routine from any location.
What are the Admission Requirements?
Admissions to the school psychology degree programs may require students to have an academic background in statistics, psychology and experimental psychology. To enroll in the doctoral degree program, candidates need to hold a master’s degree in psychology but some programs may accept students with a bachelor’s degree in psychology as well. Besides, students will be required to submit a statement of purpose, letters of recommendation and GRE scores.
Courses
Degree programs in school psychology allow students to explore a number of areas that help them acquire analytical and problem-solving skills in addition to understanding the problems that children face. Courses are offered in learning, development, social psychology, research and statistics. Students may also cover topics such as assessment, consultation, counseling, along with legal and ethical issues. Some of the common topics in the school psychology programs may include:
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Developmental psychology
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Motor development
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Language development
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Mental health
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Adult development
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Adolescent development
School Psychologist Job Opportunities in Texas
School psychologists are required to work with students, particularly those with learning disabilities, special needs, and behavioral issues. Schools depend on these psychologists in order to assess and counsel students. Besides, school psychologists may also be required to study how various factors affect learning that can be useful for teachers and administrators to help students teach more effectively.
According to O*NET OnLine, there were 7,560 clinical, counseling and school psychologist in the state of Texas in 2012. Demand for these professionals is expected to grow between 2012 and 2022.
Potential Workplace Settings
Many school psychologists work in public schools while others are employed in a variety of other settings, including:
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Data collection and analysis
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Resilience and risk factors
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Consultation and collaboration
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Academic/learning interventions
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Assessment
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School-wide practices to promote learning
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Mental health interventions
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Behavioral interventions
School psychologists, along with teachers and school administrators, are responsible for creating a learning friendly environment most conducive for the students.