School Psychology (SPY) - Graduate Courses

SPY 700 Cr.3

School Psychology: Role and Function

This course will guide students in identifying and explaining the roles and functions of school psychologists, as well as the "lenses" (i.e., historical, diversity, developmental and relational) they should consider in interpreting the ways in which school psychologists engage in these roles and functions. Students will also learn about the strategic goals the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) uses to promote the importance of, and advocate for, school psychologists. Prerequisite: admission to the School Psychology Program. Offered Fall.

SPY 717 Cr.3

Child and Adolescent Mental Health for School Psychologists

This course provides overview and application of high incidence mental health disorders, specific to the school-based practitioner. Includes the study of etiology, symptoms and school-based treatment of mental health disorders in children. Prerequisite: admission to the School Psychology Program. Consent of instructor. Offered Summer.

SPY 725 Cr.3

Research and Program Evaluation in Schools

This course is designed to increase competencies in understanding and applying educational research and provide skills to successfully participate in school wide evaluation and improvement efforts. Prerequisite: STAT 145 or equivalent; admission to the School Psychology Program. Offered Summer.

SPY 751 Cr.3

School-wide Practices for Academics, Behavior, and Mental Health in a MTSS Model

This course is designed to introduce future practitioners to the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and the application to the school environment. Specific topics will focus on the universal or core interventions addressing the broad areas of academics (i.e., Response to Intervention or RTL), behavior/class management (i.e., Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports or PBIS), and the mental health needs of students. Prerequisite: admission to the School Psychology Program. Offered Fall.

SPY 752 Cr.3

Academic, Behavioral, and Mental Health Interventions

Students will learn methods of systematic data collection and how to translate assessment results into empirically-based interventions. Students will also learn how to develop, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of appropriate academic, behavior, and mental health interventions for children with different abilities and needs. Prerequisite: SPY 700. Offered Spring.

SPY 756 Cr.3

Early Childhood Assessment

This course will provide an in-depth review of best practices of formal and informal assessment techniques in early childhood. Students will learn procedural considerations in assessing the five early childhood developmental domains: cognition, physical, communication, social-emotional, and adaptive. Issues of test development, standardization, reliability, validity, and report writing will also be explored. The challenges of assessing young children and meeting the ongoing needs of the child and family will be addressed. Prerequisite: admission to the School Psychology Program. Offered Fall.

SPY 757 Cr.3

Psychoeducational Assessment I

This course begins with a review of the history of psychological assessment, psychometric principles, and general assessment and testing practices. Building upon this foundation, the bulk of this course is designed to develop student mastery of the standardized administration of current major individual cognitive and achievement measures. Students will also gain beginning experience in written and oral interpretation of current major cognitive and achievement measures. Lect. 2, Lab 2. Prerequisite: admission to the School Psychology Program. Offered Fall.

SPY 758 Cr.3

Psychoeducational Assessment II

This course further develops student skills in psychoeducational assessment. Students will learn various theoretical models that advance assessment processes grounded within an equity and social justice framework, including but not limited to: methods of cognitive assessment within the response-to-intervention framework, assessment procedures for students who are culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) and/or various ability statuses. To meet these goals, students will be introduced to additional measures of cognitive ability and learn advanced interpretation skills. Prerequisite: SPY 757. Offered Spring.

SPY 759 Cr.3

Assessment of Students with Emotional/Behavioral Needs

This course guides students in how to conduct a comprehensive assessment of children and adolescents with emotional and behavioral needs. Students learn how to apply problem solving, eligibility and equity lenses to the creation and implementation of an assessment plan that includes file reviews, interviews, observations and behavior rating scales. Students demonstrate their knowledge and skills through written exams, assessment reports summarizing the results of observations and behavior rating scales, and simulated role plays in which they explain assessment plans or results to mock parents. Prerequisite: SPY 757, SPY 775; admission to the School Psychology Program. Offered Spring.

SPY 761 Cr.1

Orientation to Supervised Practicum in School Psychology

This class covers basic knowledge that will prepare the student for Supervised Practicum in School Psychology I (SPY 762). The skills include: orientation to the school setting, information on legal and ethical requirements, and the initiation of professional skills and accountability. Prerequisite: SPY 757. Offered Winter.

SPY 762 Cr.3

Supervised Practicum in School Psychology I

This is a 200-hour, supervised field experience in the application of school psychology professional skills in a school setting. The applied skills include: data-based decision-making; assessing behavioral, intellectual, cognitive, and academic functioning; and designing and implementing cognitive, academic, and behavioral interventions. Prerequisite: SPY 757; acceptance into the School Psychology Program. Offered Spring.

SPY 763 Cr.3

Supervised Practicum in School Psychology II

This is a 250-hour, supervised field experience in the application of school psychology professional skills in a school setting. The applied skills include data-based decision-making, psychoeducational assessment, counseling, and consultation. Prerequisite: SPY 762. Offered Fall.

SPY 764 Cr.3

Supervised Practicum in School Psychology III

This is a 250-hour, supervised field experience in the application of school psychology professional skills in a school setting. The applied skills include: data-based decision-making; assessing behavioral, intellectual, cognitive, and academic functioning; and in collaboration with others, designing and implementing cognitive, academic, adaptive, social, and behavioral interventions for students of varying abilities, disabilities, strengths, and needs. Prerequisite: SPY 763. Offered Spring.

SPY 771 Cr.3

Application of Multicultural Psychology

This course is an introduction and application of multicultural psychology theory, research, and practice. It aims to develop students' multicultural competence (i.e., knowledge, awareness, and skills) in order to prepare them to live and work with individuals from diverse socio-cultural backgrounds. It also aims to increase students' understanding of, and commitment to, social justice in their personal and professional lives. Prerequisite: SPY 700. Offered Spring.

SPY 772 Cr.3

Counseling and Therapy Methods

Focus on an integrative framework for major theoretical views and methods for use in counseling and therapy. Includes lab and field supervised experiences in individual and group therapy. Prerequisite: admission to the School Psychology Program. Offered Fall.

SPY 773 Cr.3

Advanced Counseling and Therapy Methods

This course is designed to expand on previous therapeutic methods and skills through participating in additional helping relationships in a school setting. Students will be expected to advance their clinical skills by exploring practical and ethical components of critical incidents in schools. Special emphasis will be placed on designing, facilitating, and evaluating group counseling experiences across development stages. Prerequisites: SPY 772; enrollment in School Psychology Program. Offered Spring.

SPY 775 Cr.3

Behavioral Assessment and Management

Students will learn functional behavioral assessment, behavior management techniques, and how to design effective behavioral interventions. Specific topics also include systematic data collection and measuring progress and outcomes. Prerequisite: admission to the School Psychology Program. Offered Fall.

SPY 776 Cr.3

Psychological Consultation and Collaboration

This course emphasizes theory, research, and applications of psychological consultation and collaboration in a school setting. Students will acquire skills for consulting and collaborating with teachers, parents, and related professionals. Additional topics include organizational systems, organizational development, pupil services, prevention, crisis intervention, home/school/community collaboration, program assessment, and needs assessment. Prerequisite: admission to the School Psychology Program or the Special Education Program. Offered Spring.

SPY 795 Cr.1-3

Directed Studies

Directed readings or presentation of material not available in formal departmental courses. Repeatable for credit - maximum three. Offered Occasionally.

SPY 796 Cr.1-3

Professional Topics and Practices in School Psychology

Contemporary topics emphasizing current research, developments and issues in school psychology. Repeatable for credit. Offered Occasionally.

SPY 797 Cr.3-6

Internship in School Psychology

An intense and diverse professional experience in school psychology for a minimum of 600 hours for 3 credits under the supervision of an experienced school psychologist and a university supervisor and within training guidelines defined by the training program. Activities include assessment, interventions, consulting, counseling, pupil services, and applied projects. Repeatable for credit - maximum six. Prerequisite: completion of all other SPY course work except for SPY 801; a passing score on the national school psychology examination or UW-La Crosse comprehensive examinations. Students must have earned grade of "B" or better in SPY 803. Offered Fall, Spring.

SPY 800 Cr.1-3

Specialist Thesis Proposal

This course is designed to help students complete a thesis proposal and the initial stages of writing a thesis. Topics include resource utilization, ethical issues, protection of human subjects, proposal development, research design, data analysis, scientific writing, and APA-style writing. Repeatable for credit - maximum six. Prerequisite: SPY 700; SPY 725 (may be taken concurrently). Pass/Fail grading. Offered Fall, Spring, Summer.

SPY 801 Cr.1-6

Specialist Thesis

Students complete an independent research project and thesis under the direction of three graduate faculty members. Topics must be in an area related to school psychology and be approved by the student's thesis committee. A minimum of six thesis credits is required. A maximum of six credits applicable to degree. Repeatable for credit - maximum 10. Prerequisite: SPY 800 and consent of instructor. Students must register for at least one credit of SPY 801 each semester, beginning the first semester of their third year and continuing until thesis is approved. Offered Fall, Spring, Summer.

SPY 802 Cr.1-3

Research/Specialist Project

This is one of two components of the capstone requirement for the education specialist degree. Students complete a project on an approved topic related to School Psychology. Students may opt to complete: (a) a research project culminating a poster/presentation at an appropriate conference or outlet or (b) a comprehensive research proposal with an extensive literature review and defend to a committee. Prerequisite: SPY 725 (may be taken concurrently). Offered Fall, Spring, Summer.

SPY 803 Cr.1

Case Conceptualization Project

This course is one of two components of the capstone requirement for the education specialist degree. Students will present to a committee a written and oral case defending methodology and outcome of a child evaluated in a school setting. Prerequisite: SPY 764 (may be taken concurrently) and approval of the program director. Consent of department. Offered Spring, Summer.