New Alverno College Graduate Program Aims to Fill Growing Need for School Psychologists

July 24, 2018

Alverno College has launched a graduate program to train educational specialists in school psychology. The Ed.S. program, open to women and men, includes two degrees in one - a 30-credit master of science in educational psychology, which counts toward the more advanced 60-credit educational specialist degree. After successful completion of the three-year program, graduates will be eligible to become licensed Wisconsin school psychologists.

“The need for school psychologists is increasing here and across the country. In fact, many Wisconsin school districts can't fill their openings,” said Scott Zeman, Ph.D., vice president for Academic Affairs at Alverno. “This new program addresses a significant need in our community, and the combination of education and psychology means graduates will be uniquely equipped to help all students address academic, social, behavioral or emotional needs.”

The program is one of several new academic offerings that have emerged from Alverno's strategic plan, whose goal is to align the college's historic strengths with emerging workforce needs. The Ed.S. program aims to provide better-prepared mental health practitioners while addressing the specific needs of students in public and private schools throughout the state. Program graduates will work primarily with special education students to improve academic and behavioral outcomes and also work on prevention and intervention efforts.

Courses will be offered on weeknights and weekends, and hybrid courses will allow students to complete some of their course work online. During the second year, students will spend 20 hours a week at a school for practicum courses, and during the third year students will work full time as a school psychology intern. The college has connections at more than 150 private and public schools throughout the metropolitan area, giving students the opportunity to complete their practica and internships at a variety of urban and suburban schools.

Jeffrey Molter, Ph.D., who has extensive experience as a school psychologist, was named the program coordinator. For the last 27 years, Molter was at Milwaukee Public Schools, where he began as a school psychologist and eventually became manager of psychological services and allied health. In that role, he managed, coordinated and developed staff and services delivered by school psychologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, school nurses, audiologists and speech/language pathologists throughout the district.

For more information about the new Educational Specialist in School Psychology graduate program, please visit alverno.edu/schoolpsychology.