APU's Educational Psychology Program Receives NASP Approval

Azusa Pacific University's Master of Arts in Education: Educational Psychology and Pupil Personnel Services Credential Program recently received conditional approval from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). This recognition, combined with the university's accreditation by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE), makes APU's master's degree in Educational Psychology a nationally recognized program.

"We're pleased to join other highly regarded programs with this outstanding recognition," said Pedro Olvera, Psy.D., director of APU's school psychology program. "Azusa Pacific now stands as one of just three faith-based universities on the West Coast that have both NASP and NCATE approval. This further solidifies the School of Education's mission to develop ethical, responsive, and informed professionals."

The university's conditional approval highlights the general consistency of the educational psychology program with NASP standards, while offering APU the opportunity to ensure the program meets NASP standards in all areas by December 2011.

According to the National Association of School Psychologists, NASP program approval serves as an important indicator of quality graduate education in school psychology, comprehensive content, and extensive and properly supervised field experiences and internships, as judged by trained national reviewers. Also, graduates of the APU's school psychology program are eligible to become Nationally Certified School Psychologists (NCSP) upon passing the PRAXIS II School Psychology Examination. As the only national standard of training for school psychologists, this NASP certification brings national recognition to recipients' skills and credibility.

Since 1988, the NASP, a specialized professional association of NCATE, has sought to "represent school psychology and support school psychologists to enhance the learning and mental health of all children and youth."

APU's three-year, 66-unit Educational Psychology program prepares graduates to serve as school psychologists in P–12 school districts. The program's cohort model fosters collegiality and professional long lasting relationships among students and faculty. Through rigorous coursework and relevant applied fieldwork experiences, graduates develop comprehensive school psychological services in multiculturalism, collaboration, assessment, consultation, intervention, mental health, research, program development/evaluation, and prevention. Graduates learn to collaborate with parents, teachers, and administrators to promote positive learning environments and maximize success for children.