School psychologists are among the most vital — and most underrecognized — professionals in education. GCU's NASP-approved M.A./CAGS program prepares you in three focused years to assess, counsel, consult, and advocate for the children who need it most, earning both your master's degree and New Jersey school psychologist certification.
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GCU's School Psychology program is approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) — the gold-standard credential for school psychology training programs. NASP approval means your preparation meets rigorous national standards, that your degree is recognized by state licensing boards, and that you're eligible for the Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential after meeting the experience requirement.
Between your 300-hour practicum and your 1,200-hour externship, you'll spend more than a full year's worth of work in real school settings before you receive your certification. That immersion is built deliberately into the program — because school psychology cannot be learned exclusively in a classroom. By your externship year, you'll be functioning as a full school psychologist, with faculty and site supervision to guide your growth.
GCU's program is explicitly prevention-oriented and strength-based. Rather than training you to focus only on identifying deficits, the program prepares you to understand children's strengths, prevent academic and behavioral difficulties before they become crises, and build systems within schools that support every learner. This philosophy is reflected throughout coursework, field placement, and supervision.
The M.A./CAGS is an integrated sequence: you earn the Master of Arts in School Psychology at 30 credits (after passing the comprehensive exam), then continue through the specialist-level CAGS coursework and externship year to complete all 66 credits and qualify for New Jersey school psychologist certification. Two distinct credentials — both earned in the same three-year program.
Graduating M.A./CAGS students who want to advance to doctoral-level school psychology practice can continue directly into GCU's Psy.D. in School Psychology through the Advanced Standing pathway. Your M.A./CAGS credits count toward the Psy.D., meaning you don't start over — you build on the foundation you've already established.
Georgian Court University’s School Psychology Program has earned Full Accreditation from the National Association of School Psychologists — valid August 1, 2025 through August 1, 2032.
School psychologists do far more than administer tests. They consult with teachers, counsel students, collaborate with families, lead crisis response teams, design intervention systems, and advocate for equitable access to education — all in a single workday. GCU’s M.A./CAGS program in School Psychology prepares you for that full scope of practice, rooted in the 10 NASP Domains of School Psychology Training and Practice.
The integrated 66-credit sequence begins with your master’s-level preparation: three semesters of coursework covering child and adolescent development, psychopathology, ethics and school law, behavioral assessment, data-based decision making, multicultural issues, statistics, reading assessment and intervention, and crisis prevention. At the 30-credit mark, you sit for the program’s comprehensive examination. A passing score earns your M.A. in School Psychology and advances you to the specialist level.
The CAGS portion deepens your clinical competencies — counseling with children and adolescents, cognitive assessment and intervention, consultation and collaboration, advanced behavioral assessment, neurological bases of learning, and measurement concepts. A two semester practicum (300 hours) and a two-semester externship (1,200 hours) provide the hands-on, supervised experience that bridges coursework and professional practice. The externship year is the culminating experience: functioning as a school psychologist in a host district or school, with both university and site supervision.
This is a full-time, cohort-based program. All coursework must be completed before the externship year, and the program requires fall, spring, and summer enrollment across all three years. There is no part-time pathway, by design — because school psychology training at the specialist level demands continuity, full attention, and sustained field engagement.
GCU’s School Psychology M.A./CAGS is a great fit if you:
New Jersey consistently faces a shortage of certified school psychologists — and the professionals who hold this credential are among the most secure and well-compensated in K–12 education.
| Entry Level (0–3 Years) | NJ Median | Experienced (10+ Years) |
|---|---|---|
| $68,000–$82,000 | $97,430 | $110,000–$140,000+ |
New Jersey is one of the highest-paying states in the nation for school psychologists. Salaries are typically governed by district salary guides, with placement credit given for graduate degrees and experience.
Job Outlook
School psychologist positions are projected to grow 5% from 2023 to 2033, with approximately 5,400 job openings per year nationally. However, the actual supply-demand gap is significantly larger — NASP data consistently shows that most states, including New Jersey, have far fewer school psychologists than recommended staffing ratios. Qualified, NASP-trained school psychologists typically enter a strong job market with multiple competing offers.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| SPS5401 | Sem in Child & Adolescent Development | 3.0 |
| SPS5402 | Seminar: Psychopathology of Childhood | 3.0 |
| SPS5190 | Sem in Psych Services in the Schools | 3.0 |
| SPS5105 | Sem in Ethics & Law for Sch Psych | 3.0 |
| Credits | 12.0 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SPS5104 | Data-BasdDec-MkingI:Beh&Soc/EmoAss&Intrv | 3.0 |
| SPS5110 | Multicultural Issues in Sch Psych | 3.0 |
| SPS5700 | Statistics & Research Design I | 3.0 |
| SPS5910 | Beh Assessment in Edu & Comm Settings | 3.0 |
| Credits | 12.0 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| SPS5102 | Asmnt & Intvntn of Reading Difficulties | 3.0 |
| SPS5406 | School Crisis Prevention & Intervention | 3.0 |
Note: At the completion of these 30 credits, students will sit for the comprehensive examination (SPS5000). With a passing score, students receive their M.A. in School Psychology and are eligible to move on to advanced-level coursework. |
||
| SPS5000 | MA Comprehensive Exam | 0.0 |
| Credits | 6.0 | |
| Total Credits | 30.0 | |
Minimum levels of performance are outlined in the School Psychology program handbook. Students are evaluated and expected to maintain expected levels of performance in their academic coursework, field placements, and professional characteristics. Failure to maintain minimum levels of performance across any of these areas may lead to dismissal from the program. The program handbook is available on the program website and the program BlackBoard site.
| Second Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall Semester | Credits | |
| SPS6100 | Introduction to Counseling Skills | 3.0 |
| SPS6103 | Data-BasdDec-MkingII:CogAsmnt&Intvntn | 3.0 |
| SPS6106 | Prac I: Consultation & Collaboration | 3.0 |
| SPS6911 | Beh Interventions in Edu & Comm Settings | 3.0 |
| Credits | 12.0 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SPS6109 | Data-BasdDec-MkingIII:PsychoEdAsmnt&Intv | 3.0 |
| SPS6405 | Sem Adv Counseling withi Children & Adol | 3.0 |
| SPS6801 | Practicum II: Advanced Practice | 3.0 |
| SPS6912 | Multitiered Prev & Int in Edu Settings | 3.0 |
| Credits | 12.0 | |
| Summer Semester | ||
| SPS6101 | MeasurementConceptsandExperimentalDesign | 3.0 |
| SPS6403 | Neuro Basis of Educational Disorders | 3.0 |
| Credits | 6.0 | |
| Third Year | ||
| Fall Semester | ||
| SPS6200 | Externship I | 3.0 |
| Credits | 3.0 | |
| Spring Semester | ||
| SPS6202 | Externship II | 3.0 |
| Credits | 3.0 | |
| Total Credits | 36.0 | |
Minimum levels of performance are outlined in the School Psychology program handbook. Students are evaluated and expected to maintain expected levels of performance in their academic coursework, field placements, and professional characteristics. Failure to maintain minimum levels of performance across any of these areas may lead to dismissal from the program. The program handbook is available on the program website and the program BlackBoard site.
Applications for the M.A. in School Psychology must be submitted by March 31 for fall semester entry. The program begins each fall. Admission is contingent on a faculty interview; all applicants are notified of their status in writing.
Required application materials:
CAGS-Only Applicants (holders of an existing M.A. in School Psychology): Applicants with a master’s degree in school psychology from another institution may apply for CAGS-level admission only, provided their degree was earned within the last five years. Program faculty will review the comparability of prior training and may require additional master’s-level coursework to ensure NJ certification eligibility.
Contact Graduate Admissions at 732-987-2770 or [email protected] with any questions.
GCU’s School Psychology program is dedicated to the principles of NASP and its 2020 Practice Model. The program’s training goals, grounded in NASP’s 10 domains of practice, prepare graduates to demonstrate expertise in:
Q: How is school psychology different from school counseling? A: School counselors primarily support students’ academic, career, and social-emotional development through counseling, advising, and program coordination. School psychologists are specifically trained to conduct psychoeducational assessments, design data-based interventions, lead multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS), provide mental health services, and serve as members of child study teams. In NJ, school psychologists typically hold an educational services certificate and are integral to the special education evaluation and eligibility process.
Q: Is this a full-time program? Can I work while enrolled? A: This is a full-time program — there is no part-time option. You must enroll in fall, spring, and summer semesters throughout all three years, and the externship year (Year 3) is a full-time field placement. Many students work part-time in related roles during Years 1 and 2, but Year 3 is typically not compatible with outside employment.
Q: What does the externship year involve? A: The two-semester externship (SPS6200 and SPS6202) places you full-time in a school setting — functioning as a school psychologist under the supervision of both a site supervisor (a certified school psychologist at your placement) and GCU faculty. You’ll conduct assessments, provide individual and group counseling, consult with teachers and families, participate in child study team meetings, and complete the full scope of school psychologist practice. It’s 1,200 hours total.
Q: Does completing the M.A./CAGS qualify me for independent licensure as a psychologist? A: No — the M.A./CAGS qualifies you for NJ certification as a school psychologist and for the NCSP credential. Independent practice as a Licensed Psychologist in NJ requires a doctoral degree (Psy.D. or Ph.D.) and additional supervised experience. The Psy.D. program is the pathway to independent licensure.
Q: What is the March 31 application deadline? A: This program admits a single cohort each fall and uses a competitive, interview-based selection process. March 31 allows the faculty time to review all applications, conduct interviews, and make decisions before April 15 — the date by which NASP expects applicants to receive admissions decisions.
Q: What is the NCSP credential and do I qualify for it through this program? A: The Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) is a credential issued by NASP that recognizes completion of a NASP-approved program and passing the Praxis School Psychologist exam. GCU’s M.A./CAGS is NASP-approved. After completing your degree, passing the Praxis exam, and completing 1,200 hours of supervised experience (which overlaps with the externship), you can apply for the NCSP.
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