Frequently Asked Questions

Admissions

What is the difference between the three programs?

The CAGS program is a 60 hour program that leads to the practice of school psychology. The PhD program is a 113 hour program that leads to the practice of school psychology and eligibility to apply for licensure as a psychologist. The MSEd is a 30 hour program in child psychology and does not lead to the practice of school psychology.

Are the PhD and CAGS two separate applications?

There is only one application for both programs. Check mark that you want to be considered for either the PhD, CAGS or both. If you check that you want to be considered for both then you are considered for the PhD program first and if not admitted or put on a wait list, then you are considered for the CAGS program.

When are applications due?

Applications are due for the CAGS and PhD programs on January 15 of each year. Applications for the MSEd program in child psychology can be submitted at any time.

About how long does it take to complete the CAGS program? PhD program?

The MSEd program can be done in one year, but most take the program
part-time and therefore takes longer. The CAGS program must be taken full time and takes three years. The PhD program must be taken full time and takes five years.

What needs to be included in the application?

The instructions for what needs to be in the application are on the admissions webpage for each program and are included with a checklist directly on the application which is also available for download.

Are GRE scores needed for the CAGS and PhD application? What is considered a good/needed score for the program?

Yes. GREs are only one part of the admission rubric, but they should be at least near the mean score. The GRE Psychology Subject test is NOT required for admission to any of the programs. GRE scores are not necessary for the MSEd in Child Psychology Program.

I have already earned a Master of Science degree. Is it feasible to by-pass the Master's Degree when working toward the CAGS or PhD?

Yes, we can accept your degree then not award a new MSEd. We will
compare courses to see what from the previous degree will apply to the
new degree.

Education/Training Outcomes

How long does it take to complete the PhD Program?

The PhD program in School Psychology takes 5 years to complete the coursework and internship experience. Five students have graduated from the PhD program since its inception in Fall of 2001. Four of the graduates began the program with advanced standing and received their degree in 6 years (80%). One graduate matriculated into the program with a bachelors degree and received her PhD in 5 years. (20%)

What are the program costs?

The Full-time Tuition for first year students Fall and Spring Semester of 2007-08 is $20,352. Tuition and fees per credit hour is $848.

When do I do an internship?

The 5th year of the PhD program is the designated internship year. The program has successfully placed 100% of its graduates in funded internship settings. All of the internships were paid, none were APPIC member internships nor APA accredited sites. All of the graduate internships met 10 out of 12 CDSPP guidelines for School Psychology Doctoral Level internships.

How many students have left the program?

Research

Q. If I want to research students in my class as they engage in classroom activities and record observational/survey data about their experiences, how do I submit my IRB? (e.g., Action Research)

A. If the experiences you wish to observe is a "standard educational practice" that is, it would be occurring even without research in mind, you can submit your protocol as an EXEMPT review. Submit your IRB application prior to the start of the research and following approval you will need to inform your students of your intention to use their data for research purposes. Students should have the option to NOT have their data used, but can still be required as part of the course to engage in the activities, etc. You will need to exclude any data from students who do not wish to participate in the research.

Q. If I have a dataset from my dissertation or other research do I have to go through IRB again here at Duquesne.

A. The general sense is that if you are re-analyzing your data to answer completely new questions, you should submit an EXEMPT protocol under the "existing database" clause. However, if the data are already analyzed and you are simply publishing articles from data that have already been analyzed, there is no need to have the protocol reviewed. If you have specific cases you want to run by me, feel free to do so.

Q. Do you have to file a final summary of your research even if your protocol was approved as EXEMPT.

A. Yes. Please file a very brief summary of your research after it is complete. This is more to close the case rather than for IRB oversight reasons.

Graduate Assistantships / Research Assistantships

How do I get an assistantship or job while a student in the Duquesne University School Psychology Program?

Students in the School Psychology Program have obtained assistantships for the following programs/departments.

School Psychology Program
Graduate Assistantship – 2 positions @ 20 hours per week hourly stipend, 9 credits fall, 9 Credits spring
Research Assistant – Numerous positions @ varying hourly Requirements – No tuition remission, hourly stipend only

School Psychology Program/Department Office
Graduate Assistantship – 2 positions @ 10 hours per week hourly stipend, 9 Credits per Academic year

There are Graduate Assistantships available throughout the university. School Psychology students have also obtained Assistantships in the following programs/departments.

School of Education
IDPEL Graduate Assistantship – 20 hours per week stipend, 9 credits fall, 9 credits Spring, 6 credits summer
Foundations and Leadership – 20 hours per week stipend, 9 credits fall, 9 credits Spring, 6 credits summer
Leadership Institute
Michael P. Weber Learning Skills Center – 2 Counseling Assistant positions – 20 hours Per week stipend, 9 credits per academic year
Athletic Department

The current School of Education assistantships are listed here.

The current School Psychology assistantship application Information is listed here.

University-wide positions are posted on the human resources website at http://www.hr.duq.edu/employment/employmentfront.html on an ongoing basis.

General

What is the Praxis Test and which ones do I have to take?

The bottom line: to get certified in PA you have to take the PPST Reading, PPST Writing, PPST Math and Content Test 0401 (School Psychology). The good news is the 0401 test is the same test used for the Nationally Certified School Psychologist credential provided by the National Association of School Psychologists.

The Praxis Test is described in the Leading Teacher Handbook. Get more information at the Praxis Website provided by the Education Testing Service.

Where do I get information about the Pennsylvania School Psychology Certificate?

Visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education Website.

Can school psychologists diagnosis Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder?

Read NIH Consensus Statement on ADHD (Pay close attention to section 5, paragraph 2, line 11 - "School-based clinics with a team approach that includes parents, teachers, school psychologists, and other mental health specialists may be a means to remove these barriers and improve access to assessment and treatment.")

Also see, http://www.apa.org/monitor/feb99/adhd.html