Students admitted to the degree program will demonstrate professional qualities consistent with those for effective performance in academic and practice settings. An applicant who qualifies may be admitted with or without conditions. To qualify for either admissions status, an applicant must meet criteria printed in the current ASU Graduate Bulletin.

In addition to application materials required by the Graduate School, applicants must submit: (a) all college transcripts, (b) a statement of educational & career aspirations. In addition, applicants must provide 4 recommendations under separate cover (2 from past professors) using the program's applicant recommendation rating form, and, if invited, appear for an interview with the degree committee.

Application materials are available from:

A-State Graduate Admissions
PO Box 1570
State University, AR  72467
gradadmissions@astate.edu

PH:  870-972-2031  Fax:  870-972-3917

Click here to complete an application online.

NASP Website

Arkansas School Psychology Association (ASPA) Website

Curriculum and degree requirements can be found in the most current Graduate Bulletin.

Visit the bulletins page >>

John D. Hall, Ph.D., LP (AR), SPS, NCSP
Coordinator
James and Wanda Lee Vaughn Endowed Professor of Psychology and Counseling
University of Cincinnati
Email:  jhall@astate.edu
Phone:  870-972-3041

Kristin Johnson, Ph.D., NCSP
Assistant Professor of Psychology
University of Southern Mississippi
Email: krjohnson@astate.edu
Phone: 870-680-4844

Meagan Medley, Ph.D., NCSP
Assistant Professor of Psychology
Mississippi State University
Email: mmedley@astate.edu
Phone: 870-680-3164

Asher Pimpleton-Gray, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Counseling
Southern Illinois University

Lacy Overley, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Counseling
University of Mississippi

Blake Sandusky, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Counseling
Auburn University

Jess Curtis, Ph.D
Associate Professor of Psychology
Oklahoma State University

Our Program is fully nationally accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). It is also approved by the Arkansas Department of Education.  Graduates who pass the Praxis II School Psychology Specialty Examination can apply for licensure in Arkansas and in other states as School Psychology Specialists/School Psychologists. They can also apply for national certification as Nationally Certified School Psychologists (NCSP) if they meet the cut-off score on the above examination. In some states holding the NCSP facilitates licensure.  

In terms of licensure as School Psychology Specialists all of our graduates have passed their licensing examination and all are licensed. Most graduates have become nationally certified.  All have been employed.  

The full-time faculty who hold the doctorate (Ph.D.) in School Psychology are graduates of APA and NASP approved programs. These faculty are licensed and have extensive experience working in school settings as school psychology specialists/school psychologists. They are actively engaged in teaching, research/scholarship and service specific to the profession of school psychology.

The other faculty within the department and adjunct faculty associated with the program possess expertise in related areas such as counseling and statistics. They also contribute to the program through their teaching, research/scholarship, and service.

The program strongly encourages students to become actively involved in research/scholarship and service specific to school psychology through local, state, and national professional organizations.

Outstanding field supervisors who are licensed school psychology specialists/school psychologists, many of whom are graduates of the program, volunteer their knowledge, skills, and time to supervise practicum student and interns. A number of these practitioners have also graciously served as adjunct instructors for the program.

Graduates of the program have proven to be highly skilled, successful, and many have assumed professional leadership roles specific to the field of school psychology.       

The graduate degree that our students earn is the Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) Degree in Psychology and Counseling with a Concentration in School Psychology. This is a higher level degree than a Masters and in a number of school settings may result in a higher annual salary for the graduate.

Our program is located in Northeast Arkansas and therefore is geographically set to best serve the Mississippi River Delta Region, the Ozarks, and Southeast Missouri. Although a number of our graduates have relocated to other areas of the state and to other states across the U.S. The program of study is not online.