Array MMSP Courses | Alverno College

MMSP Courses

The MMSP certificate follows a cohort model. It takes one year to complete and begins in the summer. Students take two courses in the summer, one course in the fall, and one in the spring.

Initial Courses

The first nine credits are didactic and will provide school psychologists with foundational knowledge in working with multicultural and multilingual students:

SPY 620: Practice of School Psychology with Multilingual Students
SPY 640: Counseling Multicultural and Multilingual Students
SPY 650: Assessment of Multilingual Learners

Examples of topics covered in these courses include best practices in language acquisition assessment, assessment interpretation for multilingual learners, interpretation services in school contexts, testing bias, multicultural and multilingual counseling, culturally responsive family-school partnerships and systems-level supports for multicultural and multilingual students.

Final Course

The final three-credit course is a seminar course in which you will be able to apply your learning to your respective school context with supervision from an expert school psychologist.

For Monolingual School Psychologists

SPY 725: Supporting Multilingual Students Seminar: A seminar that will allow you to demonstrate your ability to provide the continuum of school psychological services to multicultural and multilingual students. Examples of services include conducting evaluations for students who speak a language other than English, using interpreters to communicate with students and families and recognizing the role that culture plays in the counseling relationship.

For Multilingual School Psychologists

SPY 730: Seminar for Multilingual School Psychologists: You will refine your skills in the continuum of services provided in a language besides English. Professional language proficiency will be assessed upon entry using the ACTFL OPI oral and written exam and upon exit by a multilingual school psychologist. All languages are welcome. The MMSP with Language Endorsement will give school districts assurance that you are able to deliver school psychology services in your respective language, giving you the advantage when applying for bilingual school psychology positions.