2023-2024 Academic Catalog

Print Options

School Psychology (SPSY)

SPSY 5010 -  Introduction to Counseling in School Psychology  (3 Credits)  

Provides an overview of the counseling theories relevant to the practice of school psychology and an understanding of the role of theory in practice. Includes consideration of legal/ethical issues and both the cultural and developmental context of the major theories. Max Hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

SPSY 5100 -  Introduction to the Neurosequential Model in Education™  (3 Credits)  

Introduction to the core concepts of the Neurosequential Model™ (NM) that impact learning. Core concepts include basics of brain organization, brain development, understanding state-dependent learning, the stress response systems, and the impact of trauma and neglect on children. Typically offered: fall. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Typically Offered: Fall.

SPSY 5200 -  Application of Neurosequential Model in Education™  (3 Credits)  

Focuses on helping educators and other school personnel better understand and teach challenging children by offering practical strategies and classroom practices related to structuring classroom schedules, activities and interactions that can help all children (not just children impacted by trauma and adversity) learn in an optimal way. Prereq: SPSY 5100. Typically offered: spring. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Prereq: SPSY 5100.

Typically Offered: Spring.

SPSY 5600 -  Behavior Analysis and Intervention  (3 Credits)  

This course introduces knowledge and skills necessary for school psychologists to proactively address child problem behaviors. Content includes application of Positive Behavioral Support (PBS), functional behavior analysis and intervention, evaluation of behavior change. Relevant federal, state regulations are also addressed. Restriction: Restricted to SPSY majors within the School of Education and Human Development or consent of the instructor. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restriction: Restricted to SPSY majors within the School of Education and Human Development.

SPSY 5800 -  Workshop: Topics in School Psychology  (1-6 Credits)  

Repeatable. Max hours: 15 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Repeatable. Max Credits: 15.

SPSY 5840 -  Independent Study: SPSY  (1-4 Credits)  

Repeatable. Max Hours: 9 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Repeatable. Max Credits: 9.

SPSY 5900 -  School-Based Multicultural Interventions  (3 Credits)  

The course will foster students' understanding and appreciation of diversity and its applications for school psychology practice, educational contexts, and mental health policy. Students will learn to evaluate and implement school-based mental health and educational interventions with a multicultural lens. Prereq: SPSY 6100. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Repeatable. Max Credits: 3.

Prereq: SPSY 6100

SPSY 6100 -  School Psychology: Professional and Legal Foundations  (3 Credits)  

This course covers topics related to the practice of school psychology, both past and present, including legal/ethical obligations/issues, accreditation, certification/licensure, culturally competent practice, roles/responsibilities, and evaluation and accountability. Observation in schools and related settings is required. Prereq: Admission to School Psychology Program. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restriction: Restricted to SPSY majors within the School of Education and Human Development.

SPSY 6150 -  Psychoeducational Assessment I  (3 Credits)  

Focuses on assessment of cognitive ability, cognitive processes, and achievement in children and adolescents. Topics include selection, administration, and interpretation of ability and achievement tests; psychological report writing, and psychometric, historical, theoretical, and cultural issues in assessment. Test administration required. Restriction: SPSY PsyD: Restricted to SPSY PsyD majors within the School of Education and Human Development. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restriction: Restricted to SPSY majors within the School of Education and Human Development.

SPSY 6160 -  Psychoeducational Assessment II  (3 Credits)  

Focuses on the assessment of adaptive behavior, personality, and social-emotional functioning in children and adolescents. Topics include selection, administration, and interpretation of these types of measures; cultural considerations in psychological assessment, psychological report writing, and developing interventions. Test administration required. Prereq: SPSY 6150. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Prereq: SPSY 6150.

SPSY 6170 -  Applied Developmental Science and Assessment  (3 Credits)  

Examines theories and research in developmental psychology to provide a foundation for clinical services to children and families in applied settings. Includes coverage of developmental assessments and services for infants/toddlers. Prereq: SPSY 6150. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Prereq: SPSY 6150.

SPSY 6350 -  School-Based Interventions: Children, Youth and Families  (3 Credits)  

Provides theoretical and practice-oriented introduction to child therapy in schools. Weaves together skills and techniques essential to theory and implementation of psychotherapeutic techniques. Course activities compliment the systemic and group-based interventions examined in SPSY 6400. Prereq: SPSY 5010. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Prereq: SPSY 5010.

SPSY 6400 -  School-Based Interventions: Groups, Classrooms and Systems  (3 Credits)  

Provides students with advanced study of research on and techniques of classroom and small group interventions. Includes instruction on the evaluation of intervention effectiveness. Systemic, school-wide interventions are addressed. Prereq: SPSY 5010. Restriction: Restricted to SPSY majors within the School of Education and Human Development. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Prereq: SPSY 5010. Restriction: Restricted to SPSY majors within the School of Education and Human Development.

SPSY 6410 -  Psychoeducational Assessment of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students  (3 Credits)  

Prepares students to provide psychoeducational assessments to children who are culturally and/or linguistically diverse. Content includes differentiation of language disorders versus language acquisition, and developing recommendations for accommodations and interventions to meet the unique psychoeducational needs of diverse children and youth. Prereq: SPSY 6150. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Prereq: SPSY 6150.

SPSY 6420 -  Crisis Prevention, Planning and Intervention  (3 Credits)  

Introduces students to crisis theory, prevention research, and intervention strategies. The course is designed for school mental health professionals interested in developing advanced crisis counseling and intervention skills sufficient for use in school settings. The course emphasizes the importance of practical hands-on opportunities for skills development. Prereq: COUN 5010 or SPSY 5010. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Prereq: COUN 5010 or SPSY 5010

SPSY 6450 -  School-Based Consultation for Mental Health Professionals  (3 Credits)  

A wide range of traditional or emerging consultation models emphasizing practical application of empirically-based approaches to advance the social or academic competence of students, classrooms, schools and districts. Hands-on experience supplement course content as students develop, refine, and practice their own eclectic consultation approach. Prereq: SPSY 6100. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Prereq: SPSY 6100

SPSY 6500 -  Affective Bases of Behavior and Psychopathology  (3 Credits)  

This course provides students with advanced concentrated study of the affective bases of behavior, including affect, mood, and emotion. This course also includes coverage of psychopathology and the diagnosis of mental disorders. Restriction: Restricted to SPSY majors within the School of Education and Human Development or consent of the instructor. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Restriction: Restricted to SPSY majors within the School of Education and Human Development.

SPSY 6550 -  Academic Interventions in School Psychology  (3 Credits)  

Provides training in knowledge and skills for the use of educational intervention practices in school psychology, including the development, implementation, and evaluation of academic interventions in the areas of reading, math, and written language; curriculum based measurement and progress monitoring. Prereq: SPSY 6150. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Prereq: SPSY 6150.

SPSY 6700 -  Advanced Seminar in School Psychology  (3 Credits)  

This course covers advanced topics related to the practice of school psychology including applying and interviewing for internship, certification/ licensure, capstone preparation and completion, and the development of a professional identity. Prereq: SPSY 6911. Restriction: Restricted to School Psychology majors. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Prereq: SPSY 6911 Restriction: Restricted to SPSY majors

SPSY 6911 -  School Psychology Practicum  (3 Credits)  

Supervised practice in providing comprehensive psychological services to children in grades preschool to 12. Students are placed in public schools or affiliated school-related agencies and supervised by practicing, licensed school psychologists. Prereq: SPSY 5600, SPSY 6100, SPSY 6150, SPSY 6160 or consent of instructor. Repeatable. Max Hours: 6 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade with IP

Repeatable. Max Credits: 6.

Prereq: SPSY 5600, SPSY 6100, SPSY 6150, and SPSY 6160

SPSY 6915 -  Practicum with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students  (3 Credits)  

This school psychology practicum experience is focused on developing multicultural competencies with culturally and linguistically diverse students through either a cultural immersion experience in Mexico or a local practicum placement in a culturally and linguistically diverse setting. Prereq: SPSY 6100 and SPSY 6150 and consent of the instructor. Repeatable. Max hours: 9 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade with IP

Repeatable. Max Credits: 9.

Prereq: SPSY 6100 and SPSY 6150.

SPSY 6917 -  Advanced Practicum in Psychological Assessment  (1 Credit)  

Under faculty supervision provide psychological assessment services to clients in the UC Denver Student and Community Counseling Center. Prereq: SPSY 6150, SPSY 6160, and consent of the instructor. Max hours: 1 Credit.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Repeatable. Max Credits: 1.

SPSY 6918 -  Clinical Externship  (1-3 Credits)  

Clinical experience under supervision of licensed mental health professionals. Students participate in assessment and/or intervention in a variety of settings. Note: All field placements must be approved by the SPSY Program Director in advance of registration. Prereq: SPSY 6911. Repeatable. Max Hours: 6 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade with IP

Repeatable. Max Credits: 6.

Prereq: SPSY 6911

SPSY 6930 -  School Psychology Internship  (1-6 Credits)  

Supervised experience in the practice of school psychology with children and adolescents in a school or clinic setting. Prereq: SPSY 5900, SPSY 6100, SPSY 6410, SPSY 6911, SPSY 6350, SPSY 6400, SPSY 6450, SPSY 6500, or instructor consent. Repeatable. Max hours: 6 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade with IP

Repeatable. Max Credits: 6.

Prereq: SPSY 5900, SPSY 6100, SPSY 6410, SPSY 6911, SPSY 6350, SPSY 6400, SPSY 6450, and SPSY 6500

SPSY 7500 -  Biological and Neuropsychological Bases of Behavior  (3 Credits)  

Examines the biological basis of behavior emphasizing the relationship between the functions and structures of the brain including neuroanatomy, brain development, neurophysiology, neurochemistry, and psychopharmacology; and neuropsychological assessment principles. Prereq: SPSY 6150. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Prereq: SPSY 6150.

SPSY 7980 -  Clinical Supervision & Admin of Psych Services  (3 Credits)  

Course prepares school psychologists to function in supervisory and administrative capacities in delivering mental health services. Content includes examination of clinical supervision theories, models, techniques; focus on development of skills for administrative roles, and understanding organizations from a systems perspective. Prereq: SPSY 6918. Max hours: 3 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade

Prereq: SPSY 6918 Restriction: Restricted to SPSY PsyD majors within the School of Education and Human Development

SPSY 8980 -  School Psychology Doctoral Capstone Project  (2 Credits)  

The Capstone Project is a culminating component of the program. Production of a scholarly project that illustrates the student’s understanding of relevant topics in school psychology, the scope of contemporary practice, and the various roles of the professional school psychologist. Prereq: SPSY 6911 and SPSY 6700. Restriction: Restricted to SPSY-PSYD majors within the School of Education and Human Development or consent of the instructor. Repeatable. Max hours: 4 Credits.

Grading Basis: Letter Grade with IP

Repeatable. Max Credits: 4.

Prereq: SPSY 6911 and SPSY 6700. Restriction: Restricted to SPSY-PSYD majors within the School of Education and Human Development.

Additional Information: Report as Full Time.

Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer.