School Psychology Programs in Illinois

There are nine different programs in Illinois that prepare school psychologists! While the programs have much in common, each program has provided information about potential differences in its degree offerings, practical experiences, and financial support in an effort to assist potential students in determining the best match for them. Please know that these are not official program descriptions and potential students are strongly encouraged to visit each program’s webpage for more complete and up-to-date information.

Eastern Illinois University (EIU)

DEGREE OFFERINGS. Students in our scientist-practitioner model program obtain their Masters (MS) en route to the Specialist (SSP) degree. The Masters is awarded after students complete their first full year of classes (including two summer classes). The Specialist is awarded after students complete their second year of classes, thesis, and school-based internship. 

PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES. We offer three unique practica experiences. The first focuses on gaining knowledge of the interdisciplinary aspects of the school system and students are placed in a classroom and learn to lead small group instruction/intervention, conduct benchmarking and progress monitoring assessments, and implement behavior management strategies. The second practicum focuses on assessment (i.e., social-emotional, academic, and intelligence). In addition, all students participate in our 10-week Academic Intervention Clinic in our Psychological Services Center on campus. The third practicum focuses on consultation and counseling culminating in four cases (i.e., an academic consultation, behavioral consultation, individual counseling, and group counseling). As part of students’ Preschool Assessment for Prevention and Intervention course, all students participate in our 2-session Parent-Child Clinic. 

GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP (GA) + TUITION WAIVER. Approximately 70-100% of our first-year students receive a GA within the psychology department. Approximately 50-100% of our second-year students receive a GA, either within the psychology department or at South-Eastern Special Education (SESE) Co-op. At SESE students assist in school psychology related activities (i.e., benchmarking, progress monitoring, academic, social-emotional, and intellectual assessment). 

Governors State University (GovState)

DEGREE OFFERINGS: GovState offers a part-time, cohort-based Education Specialist (Ed.S.) program in School Psychology grounded in the scientist–practitioner model. The program requires the successful completion of 68 credit hours over a four-year period. Students earn the Master of Arts (M.A.) degree upon completion of 38 credit hours (Phase 1) and are awarded the Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree upon fulfillment of all remaining program requirements (Phase 2). Students enroll in two courses during the fall, spring, and summer semesters, with all coursework delivered on campus one to two days per week. Classes are scheduled on weekday evenings, enabling students to maintain full-time professional and personal commitments throughout much of the program. In alignment with GovState’s mission, the program emphasizes social justice and culturally competent professional practice. In addition, the curriculum incorporates training in mindfulness-based practices. Together, these elements prepare graduates to provide effective, ethical, and equitable services to diverse learners, families, and communities.

PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES: Upon successful completion of Phase 1 of the School Psychology program (Years 1–2), students at GovState engage in two field-based practica during the fall and spring semesters of Year 3. Each practicum is integrated with a corresponding university-based course and requires students to participate in a minimum of one full day per week in PK–12 educational settings throughout the Chicagoland area under the supervision of a licensed school psychologist. These practicum experiences are deliberately varied and systematically structured to promote professional growth across all ten domains of school psychology practice as outlined by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). During the fall and spring semesters of Year 4, students are required to complete a full-time, 1,200-hour internship. This culminating experience provides an intensive opportunity for students to integrate program coursework with applied practice in public school settings. The internship is designed to further develop students’ professional competence and self-efficacy, particularly in collaborating effectively with educators, families, and community partners in their capacity as emerging school psychologists.

GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP + TUITION WAIVER. Graduate students at GovState are eligible to apply for Graduate Assistantships offered throughout the university, including positions within the College of Education and Human Development, which houses the School Psychology program. Graduate Assistantships require a commitment of 15–20 hours of service per week and provide tuition remission for two courses during each semester of appointment. The availability of assistantships may vary by semester in accordance with the university’s fiscal conditions. In addition to assistantships, students may apply for a range of competitive awards available through the GovState Foundation Scholarships initiative. These scholarships are offered each semester and provide financial support to qualified students across academic programs.

Illinois State University

DEGREE OFFERINGS: ISU offers two programs for school psychology training. The Specialist in School Psychology (SSP) program requires that trainees complete two years of on-campus training and a year of a school-based internship. Trainees in the PhD program earn the degree typically following four years on campus and upon completion of an APPIC internship. We do not require a Master’s thesis for either program. SSP students complete an applied research project under the mentorship of their assigned program advisor. PhD students complete a qualifying project prior to their engagement with the dissertation project.

PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES: During the first year of training, students across the SSP and PhD programs engage in pre-practicum experiences simultaneously with introductory coursework. Pre-practicum requirements include a year-long experience in a public school, a semester-long rotation in a Head Start classroom, and a semester-long rotation at our university-affiliated clinic, The Autism Place (TAP). In the second year, trainees in both programs complete two experiences. One focuses on the provision of mental health services in schools and the other on psychoeducational assessment and intervention. SSP students spend the most of their practicum experience in an assigned school, but have opportunities to engage in the provision of academic and social-emotional services at TAP and/or our university-affiliated Psychological Services Center. PhD students obtain a more balanced mix of experiences in the schools and at our university-affiliated clinics in the second-year, and have advanced practicum opportunities in their third and fourth years in a variety of settings both on and off campus.

GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP + TUITION WAIVER. Many students across both programs receive a graduate assistantship offer with the Department of Psychology simultaneously with the offer of admission. There are a range of funded experiences via teaching, research, and professional assistantships, as well as external contracts with community partners.

Loyola University Chicago

DEGREE OFFERINGS:  Loyola University Chicago offers a suite of school psychology degree options designed to prepare professionals at multiple stages of their careers. The MEd/EdS in School Psychology is a NASP-approved program that equips students with the knowledge and skills to become licensed school psychologists, integrating coursework, practicum, and a full-time internship with a focus on evidence-based practice and social justice. The PhD in School Psychology is NASP-approved and APA-accredited andcombines rigorous research training with applied clinical and school-based practice, preparing graduates to engage in research, teaching, and leadership within the field while also meeting licensure requirements. For those seeking advanced professional practice and leadership roles while practicing as a licensed school psychologist, the EdD in School Psychology provides a flexible, part-time online doctoral pathway with tracks tailored to advanced practitioners and/or district administrators. Across all programs, Loyola’s training emphasizes culturally responsive practice, equity, and collaboration to support the academic, behavioral, and mental health needs of PK-12 students and their communities.

PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES: Loyola University Chicago’s school psychology programs are grounded in practical, hands-on training that prepares students for the real-world demands of professional practice and research. Across the MEd/EdSandPhD pathways, students engage in sequential, school-based practicum experiences that begin early in the program and increase in intensity over time. Students complete supervised practicum placements in parochial and public Chicago-area schools that allow them to apply classroom learning to assessment, intervention, consultation, and collaboration with educators, families, and community partners in real educational settings. Practicum placements start with one day per week in the first year, increasing to two days per week in the second year. MEd/EdS students then complete a full-time, year-long internship in the third year, while PhD students advance to more intensive practicum experiences during the next two years and then complete a full-year internship during their fifth year as the capstone of their professional preparation, reinforcing skills in assessment, intervention, research, and systems-level practice within PK-12 environments. These applied experiences are integrated with coursework and are aligned with professional standards to ensure competency across the NASP domains of practice and APA competencies. In addition to these field placements, Loyola’s programs emphasize reflective professional growth, collaboration with diverse school communities, and a commitment to equity and social justice in practice. Students deepen their applied expertise through research teams and faculty mentorship and learn to translate research into applied strategies that address academic, behavioral, and mental health needs.

GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIPS + TUITION WAIVER. Students in Loyola University Chicago’s PhD program receive a graduate assistantship that includes a stipend and tuition remission during their first three years in the program. The EdD program’s cohort model provides a 20% tuition discount for all candidates during the first two years, further enhancing affordability as students advance their leadership and applied practice in school and system
change.

National Louis University (NLU)

DEGREE OFFERINGS: NLU is accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and offers an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in School Psychology. Candidates complete 67 SH over two years of course work and one year of full time internship.

PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES: Candidates have the opportunity to select their school placements for field experience, practicum, and internship. During the first year, candidates complete a school-based field experience for one day (7 hours) per week for a total of 200 hours. During the second year, candidates complete a school-based practicum for two days (14 hours) per week for a total of 400 hours. During the third year, candidates complete a full-time school-based internship for five days per week for a total of 1200 hours. Candidates complete coursework during these school-based experiences.

GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP. Candidates have the opportunity to apply for a graduate assistantship. We offer two graduate assistantships per cohort.

Northern Illinois University (NIU)

DEGREE OFFERINGS. The NIU School Psychology Program has two degree programs: a SSP program and a PhD program. Students earn a Specialist in School Psychology (SSP) degree upon completion of three years of training, inclusive of a third-year internship. This path results in a Master’s degree after 30 credit hours. There is not a thesis requirement for the SSP students. Students in the Ph.D. Program earn the degree upon the completion of five years of training, inclusive of a fifth-year internship. This path results in a Master’s degree after 30 credit hours, inclusive of the completion of a Master’s Thesis.  The majority of the coursework is offered in-person during the day.

PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES: Students begin practicum in both programs in the spring of the first year. Currently, all first year students are placed in the Rockford Public Schools in their first year. Students are required to complete 75 hours in the first year practicum.  In the second year, students complete a 350-hour practicum experience over the course of the full year and students are matched to sites based. During the second year, students gain more intensive experiences in assessment, consultation, and treatment intervention. In the summer following the second year, students participate in a parent training practicum. In the third year, SSP students will complete a year-long internship. PhD students will participate in advanced-practicum and the third and fourth years with a minimum of  350 hours each year.  The advanced practicum typically occur in the school setting, but can also take place in other sites that match with the student’s interests. All students also participate in an advanced practicum in the Psychological Services Center in the Psychology Department in the third year by serving one client, and in the fourth year by providing supervision to a third-year student in the program. 

GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP + TUITION WAIVER. We have traditionally been able to fund all students with a graduate assistantship and tuition waiver.  SSP students typically have coverage for their first and second year and have to pay tuition in the third year while on internship. Typically, first and second year students have a graduate assistantship or teaching assistantship position in the Psychology Department. Ph.D. students receive funding in the third and fourth years.  This funding most typically comes from an externship placement in a school district, which does come with tuition waivers.  

Southern Illinois University - Edwardsville (SIUE)

DEGREE OFFERINGS: We are a combined program providing training in Clinical Child and School Psychology (CCS). Approximately 80-100% of each cohort is made up of students in the School Psychology Track. All enrolled students earn a Master’s Degree in Clinical Child and School Psychology: School Psychology students earn this degree in December of their second year and then proceed on to the Specialist program in the spring semester of their second year. The Specialist Degree is awarded after students complete two semesters of Specialist coursework, thesis, and school-based internship in the third year. Any students who wish to complete a terminal Master’s Degree are well-prepared for continuing graduate study at doctoral programs in Clinical, School, or Counseling Psychology. Many Master’s and Specialist graduates from our program have gone on to successfully complete doctoral degrees, and we enjoy providing mentorship toward that goal. 

PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES: The SIUE CCS program is proud of the diverse practicum opportunities that our program offers. Most incoming first year students participate in the Partnerships for Academic and Community Engagement (PACE) program, during which they learn how to implement and evaluate evidence-based academic intervention services for local elementary school students. Beginning in the spring of first year and every semester thereafter, students will attend practicum in a local school district under the supervision of a licensed school psychologist. Students working as PACE graduate assistants will complete practicum within the SIUE Attention and Behavior Clinic in the first year, where they will learn best practices in conducting comprehensive evaluations of students suspected of having autism or ADHD. Second year students in the program also have opportunities to obtain additional experience in autism assessment within the Attention and Behavior Clinic. For all students, course assignments each semester are attached to practicum placements, providing students an opportunity to apply course concepts to the practice of psychology with youth, families, and community partners. 

GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP + TUITION WAIVER. All graduate assistantships at SIUE are accompanied by a full tuition waiver, and summer tuition is also covered by GA positions. We have been able to offer a GA position to all incoming first year students for over a decade, and anticipate continuing to be able to do so. Many of these positions extend into the second year, for those that do not, second year students have successfully found GA positions around the school and university, and typically have these positions secured by late summer going into the second year of the program. During the internship year, SP Track students will need to pay for tuition. 

The Chicago School

DEGREE OFFERINGS: There are four different paths, all NASP/APA accredited, to the school psychology credential at The Chicago School. The EdS is 68 credits; the PsyD is 94 credits. 

1. The traditional “on-ground” EdS program; students earn their Specialist in School Psychology (EdS) degree upon completion of the three years of training inclusive of the third-year internship experience. Classes are in-person two days per week. This path results in a Master’s Degree and Specialist Degree in three years time. Note: The Chicago School is currently developing a specialist-degree track that would enable graduates to sit for master’s level clinical licensure in the state of Illinois; it would include at least three additional courses.

2. The “blended” EdS program; the first year of coursework and experiences one would take in the “on-ground” program are spread out over two years. Classes meet in-person on Saturdays (one Saturday for each course credit) with asynchronous and synchronous virtual learning in between. Students are typically on campus for 7-9 Saturdays a semester including summers. This schedule allows students to continue to work weekdays for the first two years while they accomplish the first year of requirements. Beginning in Fall 2026, the number of Saturdays of in-person attendance each semester may be reduced by 3 Saturdays for students who choose to take one 3-credit course in a weekly evening on-line format. The third year in the program, students do two days per week of practicum just as with the on-ground program so they typically can no longer work full-time. The fourth year is a full-time internship. This path results in a Master’s Degree and Specialist Degree in four years time. 

3. The PsyD program is essentially identical to either of the two options above (minus the EdS internship) plus three additional years but can lead to a clinical license as well as an educational license. Students engage in a structured process to complete a dissertation to answer a question of their choosing; the intent of the dissertation is to prepare students to engage in research throughout their career as a practitioner. In addition to advanced coursework and completing a dissertation, students can choose one or two years of advanced practicum (2-days a week); these practica are in a variety of settings (e.g., clinics, agencies, hospitals, and schools) where children and families receive educational and/or mental health services. The final year is a 12-month, full time APPIC internship. This path results in a Master’s Degree, Specialist Degree, and PsyD in five or six years. Regardless of whether students choose to do their entire PsyD at The Chicago School or enter the APA accredited program as a post-specialist (described below) from another NASP approved program, they are eligible to sit for licensure to obtain their license as a clinical psychologist.

4. The PsyD “post-specialist” entry point is for people who already have their NCSP and degree from a NASP approved program. They can enter the APA-accredited PsyD program and complete a dissertation, two or three years of study, practica, and then a doctoral APPIC internship. In terms of coursework, they pick up where they left off and do not repeat courses. This path is slightly longer than going straight through for the PsyD because it involves two internships (the one they already completed for the EdS and one more for the PsyD). This path results in a PsyD from The Chicago School’s APA accredited program.

PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES: First year students are typically placed within Chicago Public Schools or a school near their home for 160 hours of beginning practicum.Their second year, intermediate practicum is 550 hours or two days per week also in a school. PsyD students do an advanced practicum in a school and/or other clinical settings. The final year of both programs is an internship (EdS is 10 mos/1200 hours; PsyD is 12 mos/2000 hours). The Chicago School hosts the Illinois School Psychology Internship Consortium, an APA accredited doctoral internship sponsored by the four doctoral granting institutions in Illinois.

FINANCIAL AID. The Chicago School does not receive state funding and does not provide tuition waivers. Students who are coming from education or mental health fields receive a 10% tuition discount and apply for scholarships and financial aid. Members of CTU receive a 20% tuition discount. There are also opportunities to work as a faculty assistant, teaching assistant, or graduate assistant.

Western Illinois University (WIU)

DEGREE OFFERINGS: Students will earn their Specialist in School Psychology (SSP) degree upon completion of the three years of training inclusive of the third-year internship experience. 

PRACTICAL EXPERIENCES: The WIU graduate program offers a four-semester practicum sequence that begins during the first year of the program. Students complete a field-based practicum in two different placements across years one and two. The first-year sequence is designed to expose students to the working roles within a school district. The assignments are connected to this first-year experience for students to learn more about the systems-level services that school psychologists are involved with (e.g., MTSS). The second-year practicum experience is a more comprehensive training experience where students are involved with assisting with comprehensive assessments as well as group and individual counseling services. We also offer additional training experiences in our Western Autism Center of Excellence (WACE) for those interested in gaining more experience completing comprehensive autism evaluations for young children. 

GRADUATE ASSISTANTSHIP + TUITION WAIVER. Many of our graduate students receive graduate assistantships, which include a tuition waiver, across years one and two. These experiences range from within the Psychology department to campus positions such as with the Office of Student Services or externally through scholarship programs or external contracts with regional school districts. The WIU program also has scholarship funding available through a Mental Health Service Professionals Grant with the U.S. Department of Education for enrollment between 2026-2029.