Field-Based Experiences

Experiences Connected to Early Coursework

During the five quarters of the masters program, students will participate in various field-based experiences connected to their core school psychology courses. The majority of these experiences will be conducted at the practicum sites in the Columbus Public School District. Students are expected to complete approximately 100 field-based hours participating in activities such as shadowing a school psychologist and assisting practicum students with assessments, consultations, and mental health interventions. Students will also complete their own cases in various core school psychology courses. Students are expected to maintain a log of their hours for these experiences in order to document their 100 hours. First year master's level students will be assigned a doctoral student supervisor. They will be expected to meet with their supervisor on a regular basis as described in relevant course syllabi.

Second-Year Practicum

All students will participate in a practicum experience in their second year of the masters program. This experience will be completed in the Columbus Public Schools and will take place over the entire academic year. During the first quarter of the second year, students will be expected to be in the schools 4 hours each week (2 credit hours). During the Winter and Spring quarters, students will be expected to be in the schools 8 hours each week (4 credit hours). Additionally, students will be expected to participate in weekly supervision for an hour and a half each week. In addition to school site hours, students will also spend time designing interventions, writing treatment plans and psychological reports outside of school-based hours and supervision. Students are also expected to keep a log of their hours while on practicum, and forms for documenting hours will be provided. In total, students need to complete 300 hours connected to practicum. Additional requirements include a case study presentation and quarterly reflection papers.

Students must receive at least a B- in all of their school psychology courses and be granted advancement to practicum during the annual review of their first year. Students who do not complete practicum with their cohort group for any reason may be expected to find their own practicum site and supervisor. However, to ensure the quality of the practicum experience, the practicum student must follow the policies and procedures outlined in the practicum syllabus.

During the summer prior to practicum, students will be expected to participate in a practicum orientation and meet with their practicum supervisor. Also, students are expected to review material from the first year courses and practice test administration. Specific instructions for how students should prepare for practicum will be provided during the practicum orientation.

Professional behavior and development of clinical skills are extremely important aspects of the practicum experience. You will be expected to have a clear understanding of the program contract and how that relates to your behavior while in practicum. If you have any questions or concerns regarding professional behavior, you are encouraged to ask questions, reacquaint yourself with professional standards and ethical guidelines, and review the program contract. Ignorance will never be allowed as an excuse for unprofessional behavior. Because the school psychology faculty is charged with the duty of gatekeeper for the profession, students will not advance to practicum until certain skills have been acquired during the coursework of the first year. The faculty possesses the complete authority to deny practicum to students who are not sufficiently prepared.

Evaluation of practicum is done once per quarter. During the quarterly individual meeting with their supervisor, practicum students will review the practicum evaluation form included in the practicum syllabus. Copies of these evaluation forms will be given to the student and the practicum coordinator to be placed in the student's program folder. Students who have difficulty while on practicum and do not acquire the necessary level of skills to proceed to internship can be denied the opportunity to go on internship the following year. Because internship placements are made at the beginning of the Spring quarter, only students who have satisfactory performance on practicum during the Fall and Winter quarters will be placed at an internship site. However, in order to be allowed to begin internship, satisfactory performance (a grade of B- or higher) must also be obtained during Spring quarter. If a student is not placed at an internship site at the beginning of Spring quarter due to performance while on practicum, the student may be given a site at a later date if s/he is able to demonstrate the skills necessary for internship during the Spring quarter. The decision to place a student at a later date is left to the discretion of the faculty. Due to the timing and logistical demands of internship, students will not be allowed to make up practicum hours during the Summer Quarter. Internship placements can only begin in the Fall due to the State Department of Education funding.