School Psychology, MA & AC
Open doors to a rewarding career focused on supporting students' mental health, academic achievement and social development.
Advocate for Students
Prepare for New York State certification with UB’s NASP-approved school psychology program. Learn to use assessments and data to guide interventions, collaborate with families and teachers and tailor services to each student’s unique needs. Gain expertise in assessment, consultation and counseling while fostering respect for diversity to create inclusive environments that support mental health and academic success.
Speak Up
Keba M. Rogers, BA ’00, MA ’04, PhD ’10, has recently made waves in psychology and education with her successful business ventures, including her consultancy practice, Keba S.P.E.A.K.S., LLC. Established in 2021, Keba S.P.E.A.K.S. works with schools and organizations around the world, serving people through empowerment, activation, knowledge and support (S.P.E.A.K.S.).
Points of Distinction
From the very start of the program, you’ll have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience by working in schools and assessing children. Beginning in the fall of your first semester, this early immersion in real-world settings will allow you to apply your classroom learning to practice, building essential skills in assessment and intervention as you work alongside experienced professionals.
You'll have the chance to deepen your experience by working closely with faculty on research projects. These collaborative opportunities allow you to explore issues in school psychology, contribute to the field’s knowledge base and develop research skills. By engaging in projects, you'll enhance your academic experience and broaden your career prospects.
You’ll learn to apply your understanding of inter-individual differences in every aspect of your professional work, including assessment, consultation and counseling. This knowledge empowers you to tailor school services to meet the needs of each student. By fostering respect for diversity, you’ll help create inclusive environments that support the mental health and academic success of all students.
Program Overview
| Academic credential granted | Master of Arts (MA) with Advanced Certificate (AC) |
|---|---|
| Credits required for completion | 61 |
| Time to completion | 6 full-time semesters |
| Course delivery | On campus |
| School-based internship hours | 1,200 |
| Application deadline | Fall: Feb. 1 |
Year One
Fall | Semester 1 (12 credits)
- CEP 590 Psychology Measurement and Intellectual Assessment
- CEP 640 Perspectives in School Psychology
- CEP 653 Foundations of Counseling Theories
- CEP 656 Collaboration for School Safety
Spring | Semester 2 (12 credits)
- CEP 551 School-Wide Practices for Diverse Learners
- CEP 592 Psychological Assessment of Children and Adolescents
- CEP 644 Counseling With Children and Adolescents
- CEP 692 Specialized Counseling Techniques for Children and Adolescents
Summer | Semester 3 (6 credits)
- CEP 634 Multicultural Counseling
- CEP 541 Human Growth and Development
Year Two
Fall | Semester 4 (13 credits)
- CEP 522 Statistical Methods I
- CEP 593B Practicum in School Psychology
- CEP 695 Psychopathology
- CEP 650 Behavioral Therapy With Children and Adolescents
Spring | Semester 5 (12 credits)
- CEP 572 Research Methods in School Psychology
- CEP 593B Practicum in School Psychology
- CEP 664A Process of Consultation
- CEP 694 Interventions to Develop Academic Skills
Year Three
Fall | Semester 6 (3 credits)
- CEP 699 Internship in School Psychology
Spring | Semester 7 (3 credits)
- CEP 699 Internship in School Psychology
Standardized Testing No Longer Required
To make the application process more equitable, the GRE/MAT is no longer required for admissions consideration. If you still plan to take the GRE/MAT exam, you can send your scores through the testing agency, and they will automatically be added to your application; however, they are not required for admission consideration to this program.
You must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution.
Submit your completed online application, which includes:
- Application fee: A $50 non-refundable application fee, submitted electronically through UB's ePayment system.
- Contact information for at least three individuals who will each be asked to provide an electronic recommendation letter.
- Unofficial transcripts from all colleges attended. (UB transcripts are automatically submitted for current UB students and alumni.)
- Resume/CV
- Statement of Educational and Career Goals: According to the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), school psychologists are uniquely qualified members of school teams that support students' abilities to learn and teachers' abilities to teach. They apply expertise in mental health, learning and behavior; to help children and your youth success academically, socially, behaviorally and emotionally. School psychologists partner with families, teachers, school administrators and other professionals to create safe, healthy and supportive learning environments that strengthen connections among home, school and the community. Please provide a statement addressing the following:
- Your interest in pursuing a career in school psychology.
- The steps you have taken to prepare for this career path.
- Your specific reasons for choosing the University at Buffalo's (UB) program.
- Diverse backgrounds statement: According to the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), school psychologists have knowledge of individual differences, abilities, disabilities and other diverse characteristics and the impact they have on development and learning. They also understand principles and research related to diversity in children, families, schools and communities, including factors related to child development, religion, culture and cultural identity, race, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, socioeconomic status and other variables (NASP, 2020). Read more about NASP professional standards.
- Please write a statement proving examples of how you have developed knowledge and acquired skills to effectively work with diverse student populations.
Admission Interview: An interview is required to be considered for admission to this program.
Former/Birth Name: Please provide us with your former/birth name if you have one. When requesting transcripts, please ask the sending institution to indicate your current name and former/birth name.
Admission Decision: The admission decision will be communicated to you as soon as review is complete. The decision is based on a number of factors and is the result of a thorough and deliberate process. All decisions are final and cannot be appealed.
In-State Residency Tuition
To qualify for the in-state residency tuition rate, you must provide residency documentation indicating you have lived in New York State (NYS) 12 months before your semester start date.
If accepted, you will need to upload three documents to qualify for the in-state tuition rate. See Required Documents for Residency Application for more information.
International Applicant Additional Requirements
- Official original proof of your degree
- A copy of your passport biographical page
- Official test scores—dated within two years of submitting your application—for either the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language), the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Academic Test, the PTE (Pearson Test of English) Academic, or DET (Duolingo English Test).
- TOEFL minimum score is 250 for the computer-based test, 600 for the paper-based test and 4 for the internet-based test (1–6 grading scale). For scores before 2026, the minimum internet-based test score is 79.
- IELTS Academic Test minimum score is 6.5 overall
- PTE minimum score is 55 overall
- DET minimum score is 120 overall
- Financial documentation: International graduate applicants must document their ability to pay for all costs incurred while studying in the U.S.
- An official bank statement
All financial forms and supporting documentation with required signatures must be uploaded with your application and dated within one year of your intended enrollment date.
Graduates go on to become school psychologists.
New York State prides itself in the high quality of its licensed and certified professionals. For the protection of its citizens, each license and certificate has requirements that individuals must meet in order to be licensed or certified in New York State. SUNY’s academic programs leading to licensure or certification are carefully designed to meet and exceed these state requirements. This is a role SUNY plays in protecting the public.
Per U.S. Federal Regulations, §668.14 and §668.43 and in compliance with the SARA Policy Manual version 25.2, December 16, 2025, the University at Buffalo provides the disclosure(s) on this page related to the educational requirements for professional licensure and certification for academic programs leading to professional licensure to meet the educational requirements for licensure in states where UB students reside. These disclosures do not provide any guarantee that any particular state licensure or certification entity will approve or deny your application. Students are responsible for understanding and complying with all applicable state certification and licensure requirements. Professional licensure/certification requirements vary from state to state, which may affect a student's ability to apply for a professional licensure/certification upon completion of the educational program, prior to licensure. Furthermore, these disclosures do not account for changes in state law or regulation that may affect your application for licensure and occur after these disclosures have been made.
Effective July 1, 2024, federal regulation requires institutions of higher education to make a determination whether a Title IV eligible academic program that leads to professional licensure or certification meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification in the U.S. State where the institution is located and the U.S. States where “distance education” students are located at the time of initial enrollment in the program, as well as U.S. States where the program is advertised as meeting such requirements, and if applicable, the U.S. State where students attest they intend to be licensed/certified. The school psychology MA and AC program at the University at Buffalo (UB) is registered by the New York State Education Department and thus meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification for New York State. Through a good faith effort, and for the purpose of complying with the federal regulation, we have determined that the school psychology MA and AC program at UB meets the educational requirements for licensure/certification in the state of New York; however, it is important to note that UB is not the licensure/certification authority in these U.S. States and cannot assess whether an individual candidate will be issued a license/certificate in these U.S. States and instead each individual candidate must contact the licensure/certification authority in the U.S. State in which they are seeking licensure/certification to obtain guidance on the application policies and procedures for licensure/certification.
Our MA/AC in school psychology program is accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). After successful completion of our program requirements, students are eligible for New York State School Psychology Provisional Certification. Furthermore, our program meets all Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) requirements of NASP.