Specialist in School Psychology (SSP)
The Specialist in School Psychology (SSP) at the University of Montana is the only school psychology program in Montana — and it has earned the highest level of approval from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), a 10-year accreditation that reflects the program's exceptional training standards. The SSP is a three-year degree that sits between a master's and a doctorate: two years of intensive coursework, practicum, and clinical experience followed by a full year of supervised internship in a school setting. Graduates are eligible for both the Montana Class 6 License in School Psychology and the Nationally Certified School Psychologist (NCSP) credential. The program's distinctive strength is its specialization in serving rural and tribal communities — 82% of graduates stay in Montana after completing the degree — and it recently received a $3.75 million U.S. Department of Education grant to fund the RAISE Initiative, which provides 3 semesters of free tuition and a $16,000 annual stipend to selected fellows committed to working in rural and Indigenous schools across the state.
"I was lucky to be born here, lucky to be raised here, and even luckier to have stayed here. The School Psychology program at the University of Montana provided me with graduate education, close to home, that has shaped my professional service and volunteer leadership throughout my career. My roots are in Montana, but my work has taken me across the country. The University of Montana gave me the tools to make a difference, and I'm grateful to work every day to support the students in our state and the opportunity to shape the profession at the national level.”
Shawna Rader Kelly, EdS, NCSP
2017 NASP School Psychologist of the Year
2015 MASP School Psychologist of the Year
Funding Through the RAISE Initiative
Interested in funding for the SSP Program? The Rural and Indigenous School Based Mental Health and Empowerment (RAISE) Initative will fund and train 3-cohorts of SSP students at UM (RAISE Fellows).
About UM's School Psychology Program
Top 5 Reasons to Attend the UM School Psychology Program
- You have an interest in conducting assessments, intervention/therapy, and consultation in a variety of settings, including schools and clinics, starting in your first year in the program.
- You have an interest in working with faculty having a diverse range of clinical and research expertise, including bullying prevention, culturally responsive evidence-based practices, crisis prevention, among others.
- You have an interest in working with children and family from rural and tribal communities.
- You have an interest in being trained within a psychology department, taking core classes taught by clinical and experimental psychologists, and collaborating with students and faculty in other areas of psychology.
- You have an interest in living in a vibrant place with an abundance of outdoor activities. Missoula has consistently been listed as one of the best places to live for outdoor enthusiasts.
For more reasons to come to Montana, please watch this video on school psychology in Montana from Alum Kristine Schoen, SSP (School Psychologist in Anaconda, Montana), which was developed for the SchoolPsyched Podcast series.
100%
of graduates obtain a job upon graduation
11th
best social service job according to U.S. News & World Report
82%
of students stay in Montana upon graduation for their first job
27
SSP students funded through the RAISE Initiative over the next 3 years to serve rural & Indigenous communities in Montana
Funding Opportunity with the Office of Public Instruction
To address the shortage of school psychologists, the Montana Office of Public Instruction (OPI) offers SSP students a stipend of up to $6000 per year toward instructional costs, i.e. tuition, etc. Recipients must serve as School Psychologists in Montana for two out of three years post-degree to pay back the stipend. Contact a faculty member for more details.