The Educational Specialist (EdS) in School Psychology utilizes a scientist-scholar-practitioner model of professional training. Students prepare for positions as school psychologists in early childhood, elementary, and secondary schools, and with other organizations or agencies that focus on psychological services to children, youth, and families.

The areas of professional practice of school psychologists include psychological assessment and psychdiagnostic evaluation, prevention and intervention procedures, consultation and program planning, and research and evaluation. The progress requires study of applied behavior analysis, cognitive-behavior therapy, social-learning theory, and ecological-behavioral-systems theory. Students receive applied experience and training by completing practicum and internship experiences in individual and group work with children in general and special education, including individuals with developmental disabilities and others with special education needs. Included in the practicum and internship experience is work with families, classroom peer groups, and community and school systems.

The Department of Educational Psychology also administers a PhD in School Psychology.

Admissions

Please consult the table below for key information about this degree program’s admissions requirements. The program may have more detailed admissions requirements, which can be found below the table or on the program’s website.

Graduate admissions is a two-step process between academic programs and the Graduate School. Applicants must meet the minimum requirements of the Graduate School as well as the program(s). Once you have researched the graduate program(s) you are interested in, apply online.

Fall Deadline December 1
Spring Deadline This program does not admit in the spring.
Summer Deadline This program does not admit in the summer.
GRE (Graduate Record Examinations) Not required.
English Proficiency Test Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Requirements for Admission policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1241.
Other Test(s) (e.g., GMAT, MCAT) n/a
Letters of Recommendation Required 3

Admission's criteria for the Educational Specialist (EdS) in School Psychology include:

  1. A bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited US institution. International applicants must have a degree comparable to a regionally-accredited US bachelor's degree.
  2. A minimum undergraduate grade-point average (GPA) of 3.00 on the equivalent of the last 60 semester hours (approximately two years of work) or a master's degree with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 is required. International applicants must demonstrate strong academic achievement comparable to a 3.00 for an undergraduate or master's degree.
  3. Reasons for graduate study/statement of purpose.
  4. Curriculum vitae or resume.
  5. Unofficial transcripts from previous institutions.

Funding

Graduate School Resources

The Bursar’s Office provides information about tuition and fees associated with being a graduate student. Resources to help you afford graduate study might include assistantships, fellowships, traineeships, and financial aid. Further funding information is available from the Graduate School. Be sure to check with your program for individual policies and restrictions related to funding.

Program Information

Students are eligible to compete for UW–Madison scholarships.

Students enrolled in this program are not eligible to receive tuition remission from graduate assistantship appointments at this institution.

A limited number of teaching and project assistantships are available within the department. Students can accept appointments and hourly positions up to a 33% appointment as long as they do not include tuition remission. 

On This Page

Minimum Graduate School Requirements

Review the Graduate School minimum degree requirements and policies, in addition to the program requirements listed below.

Major Requirements

Mode of Instruction

Face to Face Evening/Weekend Online Hybrid Accelerated
Yes Yes No No No

 Mode of Instruction Definitions

Accelerated: Accelerated programs are offered at a fast pace that condenses the time to completion. Students typically take enough credits aimed at completing the program in a year or two.

Evening/Weekend: ​Courses meet on the UW–Madison campus only in evenings and/or on weekends to accommodate typical business schedules.  Students have the advantages of face-to-face courses with the flexibility to keep work and other life commitments.

Face-to-Face: Courses typically meet during weekdays on the UW-Madison Campus.

Hybrid: These programs combine face-to-face and online learning formats.  Contact the program for more specific information.

Online: These programs are offered 100% online.  Some programs may require an on-campus orientation or residency experience, but the courses will be facilitated in an online format.

Curricular Requirements

Minimum Credit Requirement 66 credits
Minimum Residence Credit Requirement 51 credits
Minimum Graduate Coursework Requirement 66 credits must be graduate-level coursework. Refer to the Graduate School: Minimum Graduate Coursework (50%) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1244.
Overall Graduate GPA Requirement 3.00 GPA required.
Refer to the Graduate School: Grade Point Average (GPA) Requirement policy: https://policy.wisc.edu/library/UW-1203.
Other Grade Requirements n/a
Assessments and Examinations No formal examinations are required. However, students complete a culminating portfolio.
Language Requirements No language requirements.

Required Courses

School Psychology has a prescribed curriculum of 66 credits total, 10 credits beyond the masters' degree.

  • All students will need to complete a portfolio that will serve as the culminating project. This project will need to be approved by all program faculty and clinical staff.
  • All students are required to successfully complete the Year 3 internship.
  • All program courses must be completed.
  • No deviation from the required courses is allowed. Electives are not permissible.
Coursework
ED PSYCH 506 Contemporary Issues in Educational Psychology3
ED PSYCH 540 Introduction to Professional School Psychology2
ED PSYCH 541 Applied Behavior Analysis in Classrooms3
ED PSYCH 711 Current Topics in Educational Psychology3
ED PSYCH 711 Current Topics in Educational Psychology3
ED PSYCH/​COUN PSY  723 Developmental Processes Across the Life Span3
ED PSYCH 740 Cognitive Assessment of Children in the Schools3
ED PSYCH 741 Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Assessment3
ED PSYCH 742 Assessment and Intervention for Academic Skill Problems3
ED PSYCH 844 Childhood and Adolescent Psychopathology in Schools3
ED PSYCH/​HDFS/​NURSING/​SOC WORK  880 Prevention Science3
ED PSYCH 942 Systems of Consultation in School Psychology3
ED PSYCH 947 Evidenced-based Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy3
Practicum
ED PSYCH 828 Beginning Practicum in School Psychology1
ED PSYCH 829 Clinic Practicum in School Psychology3
ED PSYCH 830 Field Practicum in School Psychology6
ED PSYCH 830 Field Practicum in School Psychology6
Internship
ED PSYCH 943 Internship in School Psychology6
ED PSYCH 943 Internship in School Psychology6
Total Credits66

Sample 3-year Schedule

Fall I
ED PSYCH 540 Introduction to Professional School Psychology2
ED PSYCH 541 Applied Behavior Analysis in Classrooms3
ED PSYCH 740 Cognitive Assessment of Children in the Schools3
ED PSYCH 828 Beginning Practicum in School Psychology1
ED PSYCH 844 Childhood and Adolescent Psychopathology in Schools3
Spring I
ED PSYCH 741 Social, Emotional, and Behavioral Assessment3
ED PSYCH 742 Assessment and Intervention for Academic Skill Problems3
ED PSYCH 828 Beginning Practicum in School Psychology1
ED PSYCH 942 Systems of Consultation in School Psychology3
ED PSYCH 947 Evidenced-based Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy3
Summer I
ED PSYCH/​COUN PSY  723 Developmental Processes Across the Life Span3
ED PSYCH 829 Clinic Practicum in School Psychology3
Fall II
ED PSYCH 711 Current Topics in Educational Psychology ((DEI in Education and Psychology))3
ED PSYCH 711 Current Topics in Educational Psychology ((Research Methods))3
ED PSYCH 830 Field Practicum in School Psychology6
ED PSYCH/​HDFS/​NURSING/​SOC WORK  880 Prevention Science3
Spring II
ED PSYCH 506 Contemporary Issues in Educational Psychology ((School Safety and Crisis Response))3
ED PSYCH 711 Current Topics in Educational Psychology ((Research Methods))3
ED PSYCH 830 Field Practicum in School Psychology6
Fall III
ED PSYCH 943 Internship in School Psychology4
Spring III
ED PSYCH 943 Internship in School Psychology4
Total Credits66

 Other Policy

Students in this program may not take courses outside the prescribed curriculum without faculty advisor and program director approval. Students in this program cannot enroll concurrently in other undergraduate or graduate degree programs.

Graduate School Policies

The Graduate School’s Academic Policies and Procedures serve as the official document of record for Graduate School academic and administrative policies and procedures and are updated continuously. Note some policies redirect to entries in the official UW-Madison Policy Library. Programs may set more stringent policies than the Graduate School. Policies set by the academic degree program can be found below.

Major-Specific Policies

Prior Coursework

Graduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions

With program approval, students are allowed to transfer no more than 15 credits of graduate coursework from other institutions. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to an educational specialist degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements. 

Undergraduate Credits Earned at Other Institutions or UW-Madison

With program approval, students are allowed to transfer no more than 7 credits of coursework numbered 300 or above taken as a UW–Madison University undergraduate student. With program approval, students may transfer credits taken at other institutions. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to an educational specialist degree is not allowed to satisfy requirements. 

Credits Earned as a Professional Student at UW-Madison (Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, and Veterinary careers)

The program does not transfer credits earned as a professional student at UW-Madison.

Credits Earned as a University Special Student at UW–Madison

With program approval, students are allowed to transfer no more than 3 credits of coursework numbered 300 or above taken as a UW–Madison University Special student. However, these credits are not allowed to count toward the 50% graduate coursework minimum unless numbered 700 or above or are taken to meet the requirements of a capstone certificate and has the “Grad 50%” attribute. Coursework earned ten or more years prior to admission to an educational specialist degree is not allowed. 

Probation

Refer to the Graduate School: Probation policy.

Advisor / Committee

Refer to the Graduate School: Advisor and Graduate School: Committees (Doctoral/Master’s/MFA) policies.

Credits Per Term Allowed

15 credit maximum. Refer to the Graduate School: Maximum Credit Loads and Overload Requests policy.

Time Limits

Refer to the Graduate School: Time Limits policy.

Grievances and Appeals

These resources may be helpful in addressing your concerns:

School of Education Grievance Policy and Procedures

The following School of Education Student Grievance Policy and associated procedures are designed for use in response to individual student grievances regarding faculty or staff in the School of Education.

Any individual student who feels they have been treated unfairly by a School of Education faculty or staff member has the right to file a grievance about the treatment and receive a timely response addressing their concerns. Any student, undergraduate or graduate, may use these grievance procedures, except employees whose complaints are covered under other campus policies. The grievance may concern classroom treatment, mentoring or advising, program admission or continuation, course grades (study abroad grade complaints are handled through International Academic Programs), or issues not covered by other campus policies or grievance procedures. 

For grievances regarding discrimination based on protected bases (i.e., race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, etc.), contact the Office of Compliance (https://compliance.wisc.edu/eo-complaint/).

For grievances or concerns regarding sexual harassment or sexual violence (including sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, stalking, and sexual exploitation), contact the Sexual Misconduct Resource and Response Program within the Office of Compliance.

For grievances that involve the behavior of a student, contact the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards in the Dean of Students Office at https://conduct.students.wisc.edu/).

For grievances about, or directed at, faculty or staff in a School of Education department, unit, or program, students should follow these steps:

  1. Students are strongly encouraged to first talk with the person against whom the concern is directed. Many issues can be settled informally at this level. If students are unable to resolve concerns directly or without additional support, step 2 or 3 should be pursued.
  2. If unresolved after taking or considering step 1:
    1. If the concern is directed against a teaching assistant (TA), and the student is not satisfied, the student should contact the TA's supervisor, who is usually the course professor. The course professor will attempt to resolve the concern informally.
    2. If the concern involves a non-TA instructor, staff member, professor, academic department, or School of Education office or unit, the student should contact the chair of the department or the director of the office or unit, or their designee. The chair or director, or their designee, will attempt to resolve the concern informally. If the concern is about the department chair or office/unit director, the student should consult the School of Education Senior Associate Dean for guidance.
  3. If the concern remains unresolved after step 2, the student may submit a formal grievance to the chair or director in writing within 30 business days1 of the alleged unfair treatment. To the fullest extent possible, a formal written grievance shall contain a clear and concise statement of the issue(s) involved and the relief sought.  
  4. On receipt of a written grievance, the chair or director will notify the person at whom the grievance is directed with a copy of the written grievance. The person at whom the complaint is directed may submit a written response, which would be shared with the student.
  5. On receipt of a written grievance, the chair or director will refer the matter to a department, office, or unit committee comprised of at least two members. The committee may be an existing committee or one constituted for this purpose. The committee, or delegates from the committee, may meet with the parties involved and/or review any material either party shares with the committee.  
  6. The committee will provide a written description of the facts of the grievance and communicate recommendations to the department chair or office/unit head regarding how the grievance should be handled.
  7. The chair or director will offer to meet with the student who made the grievance and also will provide a written decision to the student, including a description of any related action taken by the committee, within 30 business days of receiving the formal grievance.
1

For the purpose of this policy, business days refers to those days when the University Offices are open and shall not include weekends, university holidays, spring recess, or the period from the last day of exams of fall semester instruction to the first day of spring semester instruction. All time limits may be modified by mutual consent of the parties involved.

If the grievance concerns an undergraduate course grade, the decision of the department chair after reviewing the committee’s recommendations is final. 

Other types of grievances may be appealed using the following procedures:

  1. Both the student who filed the grievance or the person at whom the grievance was directed, if unsatisfied with the decision of the department, office or unit, have five (5) business days from receipt of the decision to contact the Senior Associate Dean, indicating the intention to appeal.   
  2. A written appeal must be filed with the Senior Associate Dean within 10 business days of the time the appealing party was notified of the initial resolution of the complaint.
  3. On receipt of a written appeal, the Senior Associate Dean will convene a sub-committee of the School of Education’s Academic Planning Council. This subcommittee may ask for additional information from the parties involved and/or may hold a meeting at which both parties will be asked to speak separately (i.e., not in the room at the same time).
  4. The subcommittee will then make a written recommendation to the Dean of the School of Education, or their designee, who will render a decision. The dean or designee’s written decision shall be made within 30 business days from the date when the written appeal was filed with the Senior Associate Dean.  For undergraduate students, the dean or designee’s decision is final.

Further appealing a School of Education decision – graduate students only

Graduate students have the option to appeal decisions by the School of Education dean or designee by using the process detailed on the Graduate School’s website.

Questions about these procedures can be directed to the School of Education Dean's Office, 377 Education Building, 1000 Bascom Mall, 608-262-1763.

Resources

Other

n/a

Professional Development

Graduate School Resources

Take advantage of the Graduate School's professional development resources to build skills, thrive academically, and launch your career. 

Learning Outcomes

  1. Acquire a strong foundation in current and past theories, research findings, and methodologies in their program area.
  2. Apply knowledge and skills related to addressing issues of diversity and equity for individuals within specific contexts and in all professional activities.
  3. Develop critical thinking skills that promote rigorous evaluation of strengths and limitations in existing theory and research.
  4. Apply the fundamentals of research design, data collection, and data analysis through participating in ongoing research or conducting their own research project(s).
  5. Identify key features of high-quality research or program implementation / evaluation in their chosen field.
  6. Demonstrate writing and oral skills needed to effectively communicate results of scientific research to academic, professional/practitioner, and lay audiences.
  7. Communicate effectively in collaborative work or consultation settings with professional colleagues.
  8. Become skilled communicators of issues in their research and program area for learners in formal classroom and informal learning settings.
  9. Uphold the highest standards of ethical conduct.
  10. Conduct research or program implementation/evaluation in accordance with ethical standards established in their field of inquiry.

Accreditation

National Association of School Psychologists (NASP)

Accreditation Status: Accredited. Next accreditation review: 2028.

Certification/Licensure

Students are required to take the School Psychology Praxis exam.

Professional Certification/Licensure Disclosure (NC-SARA)

The United States Department of Education (via 34 CFR Part 668) requires institutions that provide distance education to disclose information for programs leading to professional certification or licensure. The expectation is that institutions will determine whether each applicable academic program meets state professional licensure requirements and provide a general disclosure of such on an official university website.

Professional licensure requirements vary from state-to-state and can change year-to-year; they are established in a variety of state statutes, regulations, rules, and policies; and they center on a range of educational requirements, including degree type, specialized accreditation, total credits, specific courses, and examinations.  

UW-Madison has taken reasonable efforts to determine whether this program satisfies the educational requirements for certification/licensure in states where prospective and enrolled students are located and is disclosing that information as follows.

Disclaimer: This information is based on the most recent annual review of state agency certification/licensure data and is subject to change. All students are strongly encouraged to consult with the individual/office listed in the Contact Information box on this page and with the applicable state agency for specific information.

The requirements of this program meet certification/licensure requirements in the following states:

Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, District of Columbia; American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands

The requirements of this program do not meet certification/licensure requirements in the following states:

Not applicable

Updated: 1 June 2025