2006-2008 Catalog of Courses

Department of Educational Psychology and Foundations

College of Education

www.uni.edu/coe/epf

Staff:

J. Smith, Interim Head. R. Al-Mabuk, T. Berg, R. Boody, L. Brown, K. Clopton, D. Deemer, K. East, M. Fanelli, S. Fortgang, S. Freedman, S. Gable, A. Gabriele, C. Haselhuhn, J. Henning, M. Heston, E. Joram, K. Knesting, B. Reppas, R. Scott, L. Upham. B. Wilson.

The Department of Educational Psychology and Foundations offers the following graduate programs. (There are no undergraduate majors or minors in the Department of Educational Psychology and Foundations.) The specific requirements for these graduate programs are listed within this Department of Educational Psychology and Foundations section in the following order:

Graduate Majors (M.A.E.)

Educational Psychology

Educational Psychology: Professional Development for Teachers

Graduate Majors (Ed.S.)

Specialist in Education: School Psychology

Master of Arts in Education Degree Programs

Major in Educational Psychology

This major is available on the thesis and non-thesis options. A minimum of 36 semester hours is required for the thesis option and a minimum of 33 semester hours for the non-thesis option. A minimum of 15 hours 200-level course work is required for the thesis option. A minimum of 12 hours 200-level course work is required for the non-thesis option.

The Graduate Record Examination (General Test) is required for admission to the program.

This major is designed for

1. students planning further graduate studies in educational or school psychology;

2. persons with work experience as teachers, instructors or trainers in schools, business, or human service agencies who are seeking further professional development.

Development and Learning Emphasis:

Research and Evaluation Emphasis:

Context and Techniques of Assessment Emphasis:

Major in Educational Psychology: Professional Development for Teachers

This degree program is specially designed to fulfill the professional development needs of experienced teachers. The intent of the program is to enable participants to increase their knowledge base in content areas or to develop expertise in new content areas while sharpening their understanding and skills as classroom teachers. The program seeks to provide a course of study directly tied to teaching practice, in which course selection, student learning, and required research are organized around issues and problems which teachers view as important. The degree program provides ample opportunity for exploring the relationship between theory and practice, with a focus on improving student learning. The program presents a variety of opportunities for peer collaboration, development of strategies for implementing innovations in classroom practice, and thoughtful analysis of contemporary issues and problems facing teachers.

This degree program invites participation from early childhood, elementary, middle school, and high school teachers. This major is available on the thesis and non-thesis options. A minimum of 36 semester hours is required for the thesis option and a minimum of 33 semester hours for the non-thesis option. The thesis or research paper is expected to explore a topic that will improve classroom practice and student learning. A minimum of 15 hours of 200-level course work is required for the thesis option. A minimum of 12 hours of 200-level course work is required for the non-thesis option.

Successful completion of a final oral comprehensive examination is required for both the thesis and non-thesis options.

The Graduate Record Examination (General Test) is not required for admission to the program.

*A student may use one of two common professional core courses, either 200:214 or 260:234, to fulfill 3 hours of the Component II requirements.

Specialist in Education Degree Program

The major in School Psychology at the University of Northern Iowa leading to the Specialist in Education Degree involves breadth of preparation as well as depth in a particular field of specialization.

Course work requirements for the Specialist in Education Degree are defined in terms of a three-year graduate program, including internship and work taken on the master's degree. A minimum of 69 semester hours beyond the bachelor's degree is required for completing the program.

The School Psychology major is open to students who hold a master's degree from an accredited graduate school, and who meet the requirements set forth below.

Detailed information on the School Psychology major may be obtained from the Department of Educational Psychology and Foundations.

For requirements concerning admission, program approval, candidacy, scholarship, residence, examinations,  thesis, and graduation for the Specialist in Education degree see page xxx.

Major in School Psychology

Admission to the Ed.S. program in School Psychology requires an earned, accredited master's degree and a prior graduate preparation equivalent to UNI's M.A.E.: General Educational Psychology degree program with an emphasis in Context and Techniques of Assessment.

The Graduate Record Examination (General Test) is required for admission to the program.

Students with deficiencies will be notified prior to admission. Any deficiencies in the student's background will be added to the student's Ed.S. program requirements.

This major is available on the thesis option. A student who did not complete a thesis at the master's degree level must select the thesis option to complete the Ed.S. degree.

This major is also available on the non-thesis option. Students who completed a thesis as part of a master's degree program may request to have the Ed.S. thesis requirement waived. At the time of admission, the student requesting a waiver will submit a copy of the master's thesis to the School Psychology Committee. The thesis will be reviewed by the School Psychology Committee to determine if the work meets Ed.S. program thesis standards. This determination will be based on

1. the relevance of the topic to the practice of school psychology,

2. whether the thesis is empirically based, and

3. whether the thesis is of such quality that it would be accepted as an Ed.S. thesis in the program.

Notice of approval or nonapproval of the waiver of the Ed.S. thesis will be sent by the program coordinator to the student, the Graduate College, and the Office of the Registrar.

A student who qualifies for the non-thesis option will complete a research paper on a topic related to school psychology. Depending on the extent of the research paper, the student may earn 1-3 semester hours of research credit.

For the thesis and non-thesis options, a minimum of 36 semester hours is required. A minimum of 15 hours of 200-level course work is required. Successful completion of a final oral examination is required.