Educational Specialist (EdS)
in School Psychology

The program is offered online, with one required on-campus visit each year that lasts 2–3 days. The online components include live sessions and asynchronous activities, assignments, and collaborations.

Courses are delivered online and include both synchronous (live) and asynchronous (flexible) components. The program follows a structured weekly module format, where students are expected to complete assignments, review lectures, participate in discussion boards, and complete readings aligned with each week’s content. Modules open on Saturday and close the following Sunday, providing a full week to complete the required work. In addition, live synchronous classes are held on Monday and Tuesday evenings during the quarters.

For the 3-year track, applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in a related field and a minimum of 150 hours of professionally relevant experience working with children, youth, and/or individuals with disabilities. In addition, completion of both an inferential statistics course and a developmental psychology course is required.

For the 2-year track, applicants must hold a graduate degree in a related field and have either three years of teaching experience or five years of related professional experience. An inferential statistics course and a developmental psychology course are also required.

Formal teaching experience is not required. Relevant professional experience can include working with children, working in schools, and/or working with individuals with disabilities

To strengthen your application, gain relevant experience in education or related fields, write a compelling personal statement, take relevant coursework, and secure strong letters of recommendation.

As an out-of-state student, you would need to find a practicum or internship placement in your local area, and can complete the required field experiences there. EWU complies with state authorization laws, which vary by state. To see if your state has an agreement with EWU, please visit the EWU State Authorization page or reach out to Jill Stinson.

At this time, we cannot consider international applicants.

While we do allow a limited number of graduate credits to be transferred, we are unable to evaluate transcripts before acceptance into the program. All transfer requests must be submitted after admission and go through a formal review process that includes a review form and course syllabi. Because each course contributes to your final portfolio, transferring credits means you’ll need to independently produce the required portfolio evidence. You must also demonstrate that you’ve maintained the knowledge from the course you wish to transfer, even if it was completed some time ago.

Our program is accredited by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), which ensures it meets national standards for training and professional preparation. Graduates are eligible to apply for the Residency Educational Staff Associate (ESA) Certificate in School Psychology from Washington’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), and to become Nationally Certified School Psychologists. Our program leads to certification—either directly or indirectly via reciprocity—in all 50 states.

Tuition information can be found on the Tuition Rates page.

We currently do not offer graduate assistantships. Students are encouraged to apply to the EWU general scholarship application which can be found on the Graduate Tuition & Aid page.