The University of Massachusetts Amherst is located in the city of Amherst in Western Massachusetts. The campus has the benefit of being located in a rural setting while still only being a few hours from major cities like New York City and Boston. The school is home to 28,635 students and 1,300 full-time faculty, and the campus is home to the largest public institutional library in New England. It contains over 7 million books, journals and other reference items. The campus offers a diverse range of activities for its students, and the university is home to 21 sports teams, each of which are highly ranked and participate in national competition in the NCAA Division I level. The school is also home to a blooming arts program that includes theater, dance and music. The University of Massachusetts Amherst offers 111 undergraduate programs, 76 graduate degrees, and 47 doctoral programs throughout the university. The school also offers online degree programs to students from across the United States and around the world.
Accreditation Details
The University of Massachusetts at Amherst has been awarded accreditation by the Commission on Institutions of Higher Education of the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.
Application Requirements
Students who wish to apply to the university as freshmen must submit the following required materials with their application:
- Common Application
- High School Transcripts
- Standardized Testing Scores (SAT and/or ACT)
- Letters of Recommendation
- $75 Application Fee
Students will also be required to have completed the following high school course requirements for admission to the university:
- Four years of English
- Three years of Math
- Two years of Social Science
- Two years of Foreign Language
- Two Arts, humanities or computer science electives
These requirements may vary depending upon the program the candidate is applying for admission to.
Students who wish to apply for the Graduate School of the University of Massachusetts Amherst must complete an online application. Admissions requirements will vary by program; however, students must submit the following credentials:
- Transcripts
- Test Scores
- Letters of Recommendation
- Residency Statement
- Personal Statement
- $75 Application Fee
A graduate application represents both an application for the program and for assistantship or fellowship funding.
Tuition and Financial Aid
Students participating in a full-time undergraduate program at the university can expect to pay a sum of $13,258 in tuition and fees each year. This tuition rate is valid for students who are residents of the state of Massachusetts.
Students who are a resident of a state other than Massachusetts can expect to pay $28,813 for an undergraduate program for the school.
Students who are participating in a half-time graduate program at the university can expect to pay $9,706 per academic year depending on the program. This tuition assessment is valid for students who are residents of the state of Massachusetts.
Students who reside out of state upon application to the university will pay $18,636 per academic year for the graduate programs at the university. However, if a student fulfills the requirements of the New England Regional Students program, they will receive tuition at a discounted rate of $15,978 per year.
The University of Massachusetts Amherst accepts the following forms of payment and financial aid:
- FAFSA
- Student Employment
- Private Loans
- Grants
- Scholarships
- Assistantships
Online Degrees Available
Ph.D. in School Psychology
The doctoral degree in School Psychology offered by the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. The focus on this program lies within a scientist and practitioner format. During this degree, students will learn in a variety of formats including classes, course work, research projects and supervised practical work.
The program is designed to train successful candidates to be able to work within the whole spectrum of issues that are presented in a school setting. These issues and themes may be of a cultural, educational, behavioral, familial and emotional background.
Coursework is a large focus of this degree. Students will take courses in the sciences and in counseling to create a broad base of information. During their degree, students will be required to take the following required courses:
- Historical Foundations and Contemporary Theories of Psychology and Education
- Learning and Cognition
- Cognitive Approaches to Learning & Instruction
- Social Justice Issues in Education
- Advanced Social Psychology
- Learning Disabilities in Children and Youth
- Social Psychology in the Schools
- Developmental Psychology
- Advanced Child Development
One of the following courses:
- Neuroanatomical Bases of Behavior
- Physiological Psychology
- Brain Development and Behavior
- Physiological Psychology
- Brain Development and Behavior
- Psychopharmacology
- Drugs and Behavior
Students will also be required to complete classes in assessment and research. They will be required to fulfill 27 credits of the following courses:
- Principles of Educational and Psychological Testing
- Assessment in School Psychology I: Cognitive Assessment
- Assessment in School Psychology II: Educational Assessment
- Assessment in School Psychology III: Social and Behavioral Assessment
- Practicum in Assessment
- Time Series and Single Subject Designs
- Quasi-Experimental and Group Designs
- Program Evaluation
- Introduction to Statistics and Computers II
To complement research skills and the school psychology base, students will also take courses that are designed to provide a theoretical basis for the practical methods of intervention in a school setting:
- Applied Behavior Analysis
- Language and Literacy Instruction for Students with Disabilities
- Intervention for Achievement and Behavior Problems
- Prevention of Achievement and Behavior Problems
- Consultation in School Psychology
Finally, students will be required to complete their degree with classes that are designed specifically for the school psychology setting. These classes will provide a legal and management framework for the school psychology practice. They will also include a practicum. These classes include:
- Principles and Practices of School Psychology
- Policy and Legal Perspectives in Special Education
- Special Education Organization and management
- Practicum in Professional Supervision and Teaching
In addition to the practicum in Professional Supervision and Teaching, students will also be required to complete both a practicum and internship in the field of school psychology. These practical experiences will also be supplemented by a research dissertation.
The University of Massachusetts Amherst offers a practical solution for candidates within to complete a terminal degree in the field of school psychology.