Pediatric School Psychology
Doctoral Concentration in Pediatric School Psychology
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About Pediatric School Psychology
The Department of Psychology at East Carolina University offers a concentration in Pediatric School Psychology within its Health Psychology doctoral program. Pediatric School Psychology is a sub-specialty that includes the competencies of both school and health psychology. Pediatric school psychologists bring the understanding of learning, development, and school systems that is characteristic of school psychologists as well as knowledge of health problems, bio-psycho-social influences, and primary to tertiary prevention and intervention that is characteristic of the health psychologist. The overarching goal of the Pediatric School Psychology concentration at ECU is to train entry-level School Psychologists with broad expert knowledge of scientific psychology who can:
- advance knowledge and theory about school psychology issues through original research, and
- professionally and effectively apply health psychology principles to school psychology practices across a preventative three-tier model of service delivery.
The model we use for training is the scientist-practitioner model in which psychologists are trained as both scientists (with expert knowledge of psychology & competence to engage in sound scientific inquiry) and practitioners (with professional dispositions & competencies to provide clinical services using data-based decision-making and empirically-established knowledge). Students are trained to be good consumers and producers of empirical research. Empirical knowledge and data serve as the basis for developing interventions and solving problems in practice.
Graduates of the Pediatric School Psychology concentration are competent to practice within a variety of settings that serve children/adolescents and their families, including public and private schools (particularly where there are school-based or school-linked health centers), developmental evaluation centers, medical or rehabilitation centers, universities, and private practices. The concentration is structured to allow graduates to meet the educational requirements of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction for licensure as a school psychologist, as well as for licensure as a Licensed Psychologist/Health Services Provider-Psychologist by the North Carolina Psychology Board.
Student Admissions, Outcomes, & Other Data
Download the Student Admissions, Outcomes, and Other Data (PDF) to see data concerning the time it takes to complete this doctoral degree at ECU, estimated program costs, internship placement information, as well as attrition and licensure rates.
Minimum Criteria for Admission
- Completion of a bachelor’s degree in psychology, education, child development, or a closely related degree.
- A common core of undergraduate psychology courses including introductory psychology, statistics, and research methods. Additional coursework in learning, developmental, biological bases of psychology, and tests/measurements is recommended.
- An overall GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4 point scale.
- Three letters of reference, two of which are from psychologists (typically the applicant’s former professors).
- Completed ECU Graduate School application and Department supplemental application, including a personal statement outlining the applicant’s professional goals, reasons for pursuing training in School Psychology with a pediatric/health emphasis, and how both the applicant and program will benefit from the applicant’s admission to the program.
- Evidence from application materials that student has the requisite dispositions to be successful in the program and to practice effectively as a professional psychologist (e.g., commitment to profession, a reflective approach to personal development, ability to work collaboratively, ability to accept constructive feedback, responsibility, and academic motivation).
Accreditation & Program Approvals
The school psychology doctoral program at East Carolina University is accredited by the American Psychological Association. We are currently going through the standard re-accreditation process, and the Commission on Accreditation scheduled a site visit that was held in June 2024. For more information on APA accreditation visit their website. The APA Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation is located at the following address:
APA Office of Program Consultation and Accreditation
750 First Street NE
Washington, DC 20002-4242
PH: 202-336-5979