Contact: Maridith Geuder
STARKVILLE, Miss.--A Mississippi State University doctoral program in school psychology again holds full accreditation with the American Psychological Association.
First accredited in 1997, the terminal-degree curriculum is being renewed through 2014. It also is accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists through 2011.
"This is a recognition of the highest level of professional practice by our school psychology faculty members," said Glen Hendren, interim head of the counseling and educational psychology department.
"It's also an outstanding recognition of the leadership provided by our late department head Tom Hosie," he added.
Hosie, who had led the department since 1996, died suddenly earlier this year. He was a distinguished professional service honoree of the American Counseling Association.
The reaccreditation effort was led by school psychology program coordinator Anthony Doggett, with assistance from other school psychology faculty. They include former program coordinator Carlen Henington, as well as Harrison Kane and Kristin Johnson-Gros.
The American Psychological Association is the world's largest professional association for psychologists. With headquarters in Washington, D.C., the organization has nearly 150,000 members.
School psychologists are trained in both psychology and education to help students succeed academically, socially and emotionally. MSU's doctoral program is a rigorous five-year course of study that includes 120 credit-hours past the baccalaureate degree, as well as experiences in clinic- and school-based settings and a 2,000-hour pre-doctoral internship.
Some 30 students currently are enrolled, with 20 more in the educational specialist degree program.
MSU students have held internships at some of the nation's most highly regarded medical- and school-based sites, including the Kennedy Krieger Institute at the Johns Hopkins University Medical Center, Munroe-Meyer Institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and Columbus [Ohio] Children's Hospital.
NEWS EDITORS/DIRECTORS: For more information, telephone Dr. Doggett at 662-325-3312. For more information about the school psychology program, visit www.msstate.edu/dept/SchoolPsych/index.htm.
For more information about Mississippi State University, see http://www.msstate.edu/.