FAQ'S GENERATED BY CURRENT STUDENTS:
Q. How do I know what classes to take?
A. You will meet with a faculty member (usually your advisor) from the program to complete a study plan before the school year begins. It is recommended to touch base with them at least once during each year to ensure credit for all courses leading up to each degree (M.Ed. and Ed.S.).
Q. How do I register for classes?**
Step 1: Sign into the NLU portal at www.nl.edu using your login information
Step 2: Click the tab labeled “My Services”
Step 3: Click the link it provides under “My Services”
Step 4: Click “Student” under Academic Services
Step 5: Click “Registration” under Student Records
Step 6: Click “Look up Classes” under Registration
Step 7: Select the Quarter for which you are registering and click “submit”
Step 8: Select the subject of classes for which you are searching (i.e. Educational Psychology)
and click “Class search”
Step 9: Select the boxes next to the classes for which you want to register and click “Register”
**Your first term you do not have access to registration through the portal and will have to complete a paper registration form at any of the campuses. Please contact Student Services or the registrar with any questions.
Q. How do I know where my classes are located?
A. During the first week of classes there are lists for all courses (providing Course Number, Professor’s last name, and Room number) in the North Tower of the North Shore Campus on floors 3 through 6.
Q. Can I transfer credits from my undergrad or other college courses I’ve taken?
A. You will need to check with Mark Shinn, the program director, or with your advisor regarding transfer credits from other institutions. They can provide you with information about possible elective replacement courses and assist you with the transfer process. Undergraduate course credits cannot be transferred into a graduate program, but there are a few graduate course requirements that can be waived if you took the same course as an undergraduate, however, you will need to make-up the credit hours with graduate courses.
Q. How do I find out who my advisor is?
A. A welcome letter from the program is sent to you when you are accepted. This letter will provide you with information regarding who your advisor is and other details concerning your admission.
Q. Where do I purchase books?
A. First, you will want to see which books are required for which courses. Go to www.ecampus.com/nlu and click on the link that says “Shop Fall Term 2009,” (or whichever term you are searching). This link will take you to a page where you can search books by Course, Section, and Instructor. You can then purchase the required texts directly from ecampus or from local bookstores. Other websites that may be helpful are: www.amazon.com, www.bestbookbuys.com and www.half.com.
Q. How many hours of onsite observation/activities/experiences will I have to complete?
A. During your first year, you are required to complete 60 hours (Practicum 1). Your second year (practicum 2) you complete 400 hours, which includes all work at your practicum site and work completed for the Center for Learning (CFL). Your third and final year (Internship) you are required to complete a minimum of 1200 hours.
Q. I’m a little confused about the M.Ed. and Ed.S. degrees…what is the difference? Which do I need to become a School Psychologist?
A. As a student enrolled in the School Psychology program, you first complete courses that provide you with your M.Ed. (Masters in Education) degree. (If you are enrolled full-time, you will receive this degree after completing 34 credit hours your first year).
You then enter into the Ed.S. (Educational Specialist) portion of the program, and receive your Ed.S. diploma after completing your second year of classes (full-time) AND your year-long internship. This means you will not receive your Ed.S. degree until your third year (full-time) is completed. This dual-degree was designed to provide students with additional credentials as they enter the field.
Q. Are classes 10 or 11 weeks long? I think I may have seen both advertised.
A. Terms are generally 10 weeks long. The 11th week of each term is “reserved” for make-up sessions of classes that were cancelled during the term due to things such as: instructor illness, severe weather conditions, workshops/conventions, etc. To be sure you should always check with your instructors before assuming you will not have class the 11th week.
Q. What are ISPA and NASP?
· ISPA is the acronym for the Illinois School Psychologist Association. Second year (full-time) students attend the yearly ISPA Convention (usually held in Springfield, IL) in January to interview for internships. They also attend conferences and workshops held at the convention. Volunteer opportunities are available for students looking to earn convention reimbursement. More information will be provided as the convention date nears.
· NASP is the acronym for the National Association of School Psychologists. Students are strongly encouraged, though not required, to attend the annual NASP convention, which changes location each year and will be held in Chicago for the 2010 year (in February). Volunteer opportunities are available for students looking to earn convention reimbursement. During the fall term the School Psychology Organization (SPO) at NLU nominates one student to be a NASP leader; this person serves as liaison between the NASP organization and NLU school psychology students and faculty.
Q. How do I find a practicum and internship site?
A. The Field Placement Coordinator will send out applications for practicum sites at the end of your first fall term (for full time students). Once you have filled out the application, the Coordinator will try to place you in a practicum site of your choice or based on your location. You will interview for internships starting in January of your second year in the program (for full time students).
Q. What do I need to know about finding/obtaining an internship?
· Start early. The earlier you begin searching districts and filling out applications, the better. It has been recommended that second year students begin the process of preparing their resume and cover letters during winter break.
· Be proactive. Don’t rely solely on the online application. Make contacts at districts in which you have an interest…get your name out there and get to know people in the district when possible.
· The process is very time consuming. Applications can be very involved, and many ask several open-ended questions that require well thought-out responses. Keep in mind that the online application is the only point of entry for many districts (meaning they do not want hard copies of resumes or applications handed in), and they decide whether or not to invite you for an interview based on your application and/or responses to their questions.
· Network, network, network. Attending ISPA (usually mid or end of January) will help you meet people but again, you have to do some networking for yourself. Talk to professors about districts you’re interested in. Attend workshops in your geographic area. School Psychology is a relatively small community; you never know what kind of connections someone in the field may have.
Q. Who can I contact if I have questions about a Fellowship/Graduate Assistant position?
A. You can contact Toni Todd at (847) 947-5228 or ttodd@nl.edu. Position requirements and hours will vary depending upon placement. Generally you can choose to work 10, 15, or 20 hours per week, and will set up a work schedule that is mutually convenient for you and your appointed supervisor.
Q. Who can I contact if I have questions about Financial Aid?
A. You can contact Toni Todd (see contact information above) regarding financial aid questions. You can also contact the Financial Aid Office on the North Shore Campus at (800) 443-5522 x2309 (StudentFinance@nl.edu).
Q. Where can I buy snacks/coffee?
A. There are vending machines located on floors 3 through 6 in the North Tower. There is a coffee machine on the 6th floor. Ms. Elly’s Deli is located on the 2nd floor of the South Tower (hours are limited). There are also microwaves located near the vending machines on select floors.
OTHER QUESTIONS OFTEN ASKED:
Q. What is an educational psychologist? What is a school psychologist?
A. An educational psychologist is a professional who has completed graduate study in educational psychology. Typically an educational psychologist is employed in a university as a faculty member or researcher concentrating on the application of psychological theory for teaching, learning, and human development.
A school psychologist is a professional who has completed a focused specialist or doctoral level graduate preparation program and year-long internship in school psychology. In addition, a school psychologist is licensed/certified by the state board of education to practice in the schools. School psychologists enact their roles in a variety of ways including, but not limited to: educational and psychological testing, consultation and problem solving with teachers and parents, individual and group counseling, and other direct interventions in support of student learning and positive mental health.
Q. How is a school psychologist different from a school counselor?
A. School psychologists and school counselors have common core preparation in psychological theory and research. The chief differences between the professions are in the length and depth of their graduate study programs and in the roles they enact in the schools. School counselors and school psychologists share roles in addressing the academic, personal/social and career development needs of all students. Both professionals are licensed/certified by the state board of education to practice in the schools. School psychologists, by nature of their more in depth study in psychology and learning, are often heavily involved in the identification of students with special needs and in assisting teachers and other professionals in designing academic intervention strategies. School counselors in Illinois are almost exclusively employed at the high school level and play major roles in academic advising and in career development. NationalCollege of Education offers graduate study in both of these professional disciplines. Each program, however, requires separate application and admissions procedures.
Q. What degrees do you offer?
A. Students may earn a Master of Education (M.Ed.) or a Master of Science in Education (M.S.Ed.) in Educational Psychology. Individuals wishing to earn their School Psychology certificate must first earn the M.Ed. in Educational Psychology and then apply for the Educational Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in School Psychology after which they are eligible to apply for certification in School Psychology. Students may also earn a Doctor of Education degree (Ed.D.) in either Educational Psychology or School Psychology.
Q. What are the requirements to enter each program?
A. Students applying for a degree in either Educational Psychology or School Psychology must complete the NCE application for graduate school which includes submission of transcripts from all colleges/universities.
Q. What test(s) must be taken?
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School Psychology applicants for either an M.Ed.or Ed.S. must take the GRE.
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School Psychology Ed.S. applicants must take the Illinois Test of Basic Skills and GRE.
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Educational Psychology M.S.Ed. applicants must take the Miller Analogies Test or the GRE.
Q. What is the difference between the M.Ed. degree and the Ed.S. degree?
A. The Ed.S. is an advanced degree between the master’s and doctoral degrees. Students seeking School Psychology certification and already having earned an appropriate master’s degree must complete the Ed.S. degree in School Psychology. Applicants for the Ed.S. must successfully pass the Basic Skills Test administered by the Illinois State Board of Education as a condition of admission. Upon completion of the Ed.S. degree, students must pass the state administered Content Area Examination in School Psychology to be eligible for certification.
Q. How long does it normally take to earn each degree (full-time, part-time)?
Ed.S. – 2 years full-time, 3 years part-time
Q. What kinds of careers are open to an educational psychologist?
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Those who complete the School Psychology certification program can practice as school psychologists.
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For those who received the MS.Ed. in Educational Psychology, hours beyond the master’s degree are needed to teach in higher education. Check each college for requirements.
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The students in Educational Psychology who receive an M.Ed. in Educational Psychology are often teachers who use this knowledge of development for their teaching and planning of programs.
Q. What certification(s) can be earned in each program?
A. We offer only a certification as a school psychologist through the Ed.S. degree program or the Doctoral degree program in School Psychology. The master’s degree in Educational Psychology or a related field is required to apply to the Ed.S. degree or the Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) degree. National-Louis University offers the School Counselor certification program in conjunction with the Human Services graduate program in the College of Arts and Sciences. Interested applicants should review those program requirements.
Q. What is required to get the Type 73 certificate in school psychology?
A. See list of required certification courses.
Q. I have a master’s degree in clinical psychology. What do I need to do to obtain the Type 73 certificate in school psychology?
A. Transcript review with the program coordinator is required. Individuals not yet admitted to the School Psychology program will be assessed a fee for this service. Successfully admitted students may have this fee credited to their account.
Q. I have a doctorate in clinical psychology. What do I need to do to obtain the Type 73 certificate in school psychology?
A. You must apply for and be admitted to the Ed.S. program in School Psychology. Applicants who have earned a doctorate from a regionally accredited institution do not need to retake the GRE. The Ed.S. program is a minimum of 34 graduate semester hours in length including an academic year-long, full-time internship in the schools. The precise courses required for applicants with the doctorate will be determined by a transcript review conducted by the program coordinator and will be based on certification requirements.
Q. I am a classroom teacher and want to remain in my classroom. How would a master’s degree in Educational Psychology benefit me?
A. This master’s degree offers an important perspective on teaching and learning in the classroom. Course work covers theory, research, and practice issues related to thinking and teaching, classroom management, group process and community building, effective observations of children in classroom learning environments, human development as it relates to education, and practices of assessment. Students are encouraged to focus their studies around their own classrooms and issues that are important to them. Through close mentorship with faculty, students complete a research project focusing on their own practice and goals.
Q. What careers are available for a person with a master’s degree or a doctorate in Educational Psychology?
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Teaching in higher education and a variety of other educational facilities
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Independent Educational Consulting
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Administrative positions in higher education
Q. What classes may I take as a student at large in either the School Psychology or the Educational Psychology Program?
A. You should talk to the program director if you have taken other graduate level classes (that have not been used toward a graduate degree) which you think might apply to the program. In general, we recommend taking a Human Development course with an Emphasis on the Elementary Age Child, if you do not have the Human Development prerequisite.
