Program Requirements

The Ed.S. degree in School Psychology consists of 72 semester hours with four interacting components.

Total Credit Hours: 72

Attendance Policy

The Catalog of The Citadel Graduate College delineates a general policy regarding class attendance. Students are expected to be familiar with this general attendance policy.

The graduate program in School Psychology is, by its nature, an applied practitioner program leading to an anticipated passing score on the PRAXIS II School Psychology subject test and certification as a Level II School Psychologist in South Carolina. A number of the courses are designed to facilitate the acquisition of hands-on experiences with various diagnostic, evaluation, and intervention techniques where skill acquisition is based on instructor demonstrations and modeling, guided individual and group practice and participation by the student, role playing, and group activities, such as simulations, that build the necessary foundations for the acquisition of the basic skills necessary to the practice of the profession of School Psychology. In these courses, a strict absence policy has been adopted to ensure that learning experiences are not compromised. Specifically, courses that fall under this absence policy are as follows: PSYC 503 , PSYC 504 , PSYC 505 , PSYC 512 , PSYC 612 , PSYC 615 /PSYC 616 , PSYC 617 /PSYC 618 , PSYC 605 , PSYC 606 , PSYC 607 , PSYC 608 , PSYC 621 , and PSYC 622 . Students enrolled in these classes are advised to consult their syllabus and instructor for more specific details.

Program Policies Regarding Student Performance

Academic Performance

All candidates are expected to maintain high academic standards in order to remain in good standing in the School Psychology Program.  A course grade of “C” is a warning that the candidate is not performing at the level expected for graduate level study.  If a candidate receives a grade of “C” or “C+” in seven (7) or more credit hours of graduate course work, they will be terminated from the School Psychology program.  A grade of “F” is a clear statement of inadequate performance.  If a candidate receives a grade of “F” in a graduate course, the candidate will be immediately terminated from the program per CGC policy. 

With regard to the program’s formal field-based experiences (i.e., School Psychology practica, PSYC 615/616/617/618,  and internship, PSYC 621/622), successful completion of these courses is defined as earning a grade of “B” or better with no domain being rated as falling below the standard “meets expectation” on the candidate’s field-based supervisor rating forms, which are completed at the conclusion of the fall and spring semesters.  These circumstances will prompt a candidate remediation plan in an effort to address any noted concerns and/or deficiencies:

Informal Remediation:

• Any grade that is deemed to be below standard (e.g., grade lower than “B”, university supervisor ratings below 2.0) on a required field-based assignment will result in the candidate repeating the assignment, either via revisions or starting anew (at the discretion of the university supervisor). 
• Any domain with an average rating that falls below “meets expectations” on the field-based supervisor evaluation during enrollment in PSYC 615/617 or PSYC 621/622 will result in an informal remediation plan. The plan will be individualized, and may require readings, written assignments, and/or recompletion of assignments.

Formal Remediation: 

• Formal remediation will involve the candidate, all program faculty, including the university supervisor, and the field-based supervisor. 
• Any domain with an average rating that falls below “meets expectations” on the field-based supervisor evaluation during enrollment in either the practicum or internship course sequences will result in a formal remediation plan. The remediation plan will be individualized, and may require readings, written assignments, and/or recompletion of the course sequence. This may require the candidate to re-register for specific courses in which concerns and/or deficiencies were noted, as well as extend the timeline for completion of the program more generally. Failure to successfully complete the plan will result in termination from the program.
• If a candidate is released from their field-based placement site due to a skill deficit, they may be re-assigned to another site and assigned a formal remediation plan to complete the course requirements. Such action may extend the timeline for completing the course requirements and/or require the candidate to re-register for courses.  Failure to successfully complete the plan will result in termination from the program. 

Termination: 

• Release from the field-based placement site due to legal, ethical, and/or behavioral concerns that poses a risk to students or the placement environment more generally
• A final grade of F in any field-based placement course (PSYC 615/616/617/618, PSYC 621/622)

Impaired Candidate Policy

This policy provides procedural guidelines if a candidate’s behavior interferes with their ability to function competently while enrolled in the program.  It applies to all full or part-time candidates who are enrolled in the School Psychology Program at The Citadel.  Candidate impairment is defined as interference in the academic or professional functioning of the candidate due to, but not limited to, serious emotional/psychological disorders, chemical abuse or dependence, sexual intimacy with clients/students, conviction of a felony, or any form of negligent, unethical, or unprofessional conduct. When a candidate exhibits signs/symptoms indicative of possible impairment that may interfere with their academic/professional functioning, the Program Director will initiate steps to assess the presence and degree of impairment and to effect remediation when necessary. The candidate will be informed of any allegations of such impairment and be given the opportunity to address the allegations.  Faculty/staff members at The Citadel, field-based supervisors (or other designated school/agency administrators), or other candidates may raise concerns regarding a suspected impaired candidate. These concerns should be directed to the attention of the candidate’s faculty advisor and the Program Director.

When the candidate’s behavior and/or problems are potentially serious enough to jeopardize student/school welfare at a field placement site, damage the reputation of The Citadel, and/or warrant serious disciplinary action (such as limitation of field-based activity, suspension, or termination), the allegation will be reported immediately to the Coordinator of Practica or the Coordinator of Internships as well as the Program Director.  If, at any time, the candidate’s field-based supervisor believes a practicum candidate/intern is too impaired to continue their assigned duties, they may immediately suspend the candidate from their duties and placement-related activities.  In such instances, the Coordinator of Practica and/or Internships will consult with the candidate’s field-based supervisor and/or other relevant school district representatives to review and attempt to resolve the concerns.  However, it should be noted that the field-based supervisor as well as any school building or system-level administrator has the authority to mandate that the candidate’s practicum/internship placement be terminated effective immediately.  Under these circumstances, the Coordinator of Practica and/or Internships retains the right to record a grade of “F” as the candidate’s final course grade.  Such action will result in the candidate’s immediate termination from the program.

When the candidate’s behavior and/or problems are significant, but not to the degree described above, the Program Director will review the allegations with the candidate, meet directly with the candidate to discuss the expressed concerns, and recommend to the candidate a plan for remediation when correction of behavior is necessary. When, in the opinion of the Program Director, the informal plan for remediation is successful, the matter will be considered resolved. However, if in the opinion of the Program Director, the plan for remediation is not successful, written documentation of the problem and the need for formal remediation will be reviewed with the candidate.

Recommendations regarding formal remediation may include, but are not limited to:

• Recommendation for psychosocial counseling/therapy to be conducted by a professional who does not teach at The Citadel.  If counseling or psychotherapy is recommended as a requirement for remaining in good standing in the Program, the candidate’s advisor or, if requested by the candidate, another School Psychology Program faculty member must be permitted to establish communication with the candidate’s counselor/psychotherapist to ensure that specific difficulties and/or areas are addressed and appropriately resolved such that future professional development is likely. Such communication would be then shared with the School Psychology Program faculty only to the extent necessary to provide information regarding the candidate’s standing in the program and progress toward appropriate remediation and to plan, if necessary, specific educational and training aspects to enhance the candidate’s professional development in light of noted problems.
• Recommendation of a leave of absence
• Recommendation to pursue another career
• Termination from the Program

Candidates who wish to appeal a suspension and/or a lesser disciplinary action recommended by the Program Director should contact the Head of the Psychology Department, who will review the matter and initiate the appropriate protocol (See the CGC Academic Catalog).