Those students whose primary interests are in working with children, youth, families, school personnel and other agencies are the best match for our program. The faculty place high value on scholarship, research and the development of scientific skepticism to best expand your repertoire of psychological service delivery skills. Excellent interpersonal skills and a commitment to the highest level of professional conduct are also important qualities for school psychology graduate students to be successful.

Students are selected for the school psychology programs through a competitive admissions process once a year.  Applications are reviewed for the Ph.D. program beginning February 1st. and for the Ed.S. program beginning March 1. There are “on campus” interview days for both programs and after those occur the offers for admission to prospective new students are made.  Your application must be complete in order for you to receive full consideration for admission.

Applicants must first apply for admission to the OSU Graduate College. For the Ph.D. program please specify your Proposed Major as Educational Psychology, the Degree Sought as Ph.D., and the Option or Specialization as SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY.  For the Ed.S. program please specify your Proposed Major as Education, the Degree Sought as Ed.S., and the Option or Specialization as SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY.  This can be done either online or through the downloadable form which is available at this link: http://gradcollege.okstate.edu/admissions/default.  Applicants who prefer to mail the application to the graduate school should be send the materials to

Graduate College
202 Whitehurst
Oklahoma State University,
Stillwater, OK 74078

Once your completed graduate school application has been received by the Graduate College your materials are forwarded to the College of Education Graduate Records Office.  The COE Graduate Records Office will notify the school psychology program directors of your intent to be considered for admission. The COE Graduate Records Office can be contacted by phone 405 744-9483 or mail at

Ms. Sandi Ireland
Graduate Records Office
325V Willard Hall
Oklahoma State University,
Stillwater, OK 74078

These materials need to be sent directly to the Graduate Records Office:

• A vitae or resume’
• 3-5 page statement of your personal and professional goals and interest in school psychology
• A sample of your best academic or professional writing
• Letters of recommendation
• 3 required for Ed.S. program
• 4 required for Ph.D. program
• Official score report for the GRE (verbal, quantitative, analytical)*
• Official copies of all transcripts

*For the Ph.D. program an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 and\or a graduate GPA of at least 3.5, and at least 1000 on a combined Verbal and Quantitative score from the GRE are preferred. For the Ed.S. program an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0 and\or a graduate GPA of at least 3.5, and at least 900 on a combined Verbal and Quantitative score from the GRE are preferred. Students with Bachelors or Masters degrees are eligible for admission to the school psychology programs.

Financial Support

Students may apply for and receive financial assistance at Oklahoma State University. The first step is to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) through the Office of Financial Aid (see the Office of financial Aid and Scholarships web page at this link:  http://www.okstate.edu/finaid/applying/index

Assistantships

Various teaching, research, practica, School Psychology Center, and faculty/program administrative support assistantships are available within SAHEP.  Assistantships are designed to provide a means of financial income for the full-time student, and to provide the student with special skills that may be useful in future career endeavors. Every attempt is made to match students with their areas of professional interest while serving as a graduate assistant. A faculty member is assigned to supervise each graduate student in his or her assistantship, and graduate assistant performance is evaluated annually. 

Graduate assistants who have been awarded at least a .25 fte assistantship have the non-resident portion of their tuition waived fall, spring and summer semesters along with some of the resident tuition expense (see the SPSY 2007 disclosure tables).

Students who have applied to the program and been invited to the “on campus” interview day complete the application for a SAHEP assistantship during the interview day. Be sure to notify the faculty that you are interested while you are visiting the program.Historically since the program’s initial accreditation by the American Psychological Association, 100% of Ph.D. students have been supported with at least .25 fte assistantship awards and many of the Ed.S. students.  

Graduate student assistantships may consist, but are not limited to, any of the following activities:

• Teaching or assisting in the teaching of undergraduate coursework (typically related to child and/or adolescent development, learning or special education).
• Working in the Reading and Mathematics Center for School Psychological Services
• Assisting the Director of Training (building web sites, organizing materials for conferences, planning and attending department meetings)
• Serving as a research assistant for a professor
• Consulting and providing services in a local school district