The School-Community PsyD program (100 s.h.) prepares students to become skilled psychology practitioners in school and community health settings. It is responsive to and welcomes diversity in both its students and faculty. This program is accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) as a doctoral PsyD program in school psychology. It is also approved by the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). Emphasis is placed on training psychologists to coordinate these services between school and community settings. The school system is viewed as an agency, which is embedded in and interacts with a system of other agencies external to the school. Increasingly, schools, mental health centers, and other human service agencies form an interdependent network that can better meet children's needs than the school system in isolation. The training model is therefore designed to educate our students in the traditional roles of school psychology, such as psychological assessment and intervention, while also providing training in community service agencies that facilitate child and family functioning. The school psychology areas of assessment, intervention, and consultation are augmented with training experiences in external agencies that work with the children and families, such as hospitals, mental health centers, counseling centers, drug treatment facilities and the like. Students thus learn how to function effectively as school psychologists while also acquiring skills in consultation, assessment, counseling, and other interventions in community agencies. They also learn how to develop programs that mesh the traditional school system with human service agencies.

Goals & Objectives

The Goals and Objectives of the PsyD program in School Community Psychology are as follows:

Goal 1. To produce graduates who have the requisite skills to become professional psychological practitioners who work in schools.

  • Objective 1. Students demonstrate the ability to administer and interpret psychological assessment devices.
  • Objective 2. Students demonstrate competence in counseling children and families.

Goal 2. To produce graduates with a strong foundation in the science of psychology and an appreciation of the role of science in psychological practice.

  • Objective 1. Students demonstrate facility in the use of research methods prior to designing and initiating research projects.
  • Objective 2. Students must apply their knowledge of statistics and research methods by designing and implementing research projects.

Goal 3. To produce graduates who are skilled in working in health service facilities that interface with schools.

  • Objective 1. Students successfully complete required courses relevant to severe cases of emotional/behavioral maladjustment and to the functioning of facilities that interface with schools for the benefit of children and families.
  • Objective 2. Students are expected to function on a level equivalent to a staff member within the health care facility where they are completing their community internship.

The School-Community PsyD program emphasizes a scholar-practitioner model, which is enhanced by an empirically based perspective and a thorough grounding in methodology. Courses, practical experiences, and internships focus on the practice of psychology. Practice is augmented and enhanced by training students to maintain an empirically based focus. Thus, in addition to practitioner-oriented coursework and training, students are also trained to initiate and carry out school and community-oriented research. The program also focuses on childhood and adult behavior disorders, childhood learning and emotional disorders, consultation, gifted and talented children, posttraumatic stress disorders, forensic psychology, and cultural adaptation. The PsyD program offers electives that can be taken in the Hofstra University School of Law and the School of Education and Allied Human Services. The program faculty possess varied areas of expertise and are able to provide specific training in consultation services, as well as in childhood, family, and adult adjustment programs.

Faculty

Core Faculty

Paul MellerPaul Meller, PhD
Program Director
Associate Professor
516-463-5628
Room 211 Hauser Hall
Email | Bio

Jeffrey FrohJeffrey J. Froh
PsyD
Professor
516-463-4027
Room 204 Hauser Hall
Email | Bio 

Kim GilbertKim Gilbert
PhD
Associate Professor
516-463-6258
Room 210 Hauser Hall
Email | Bio

Monique GriffithMonique Griffith
PsyD
Email | Bio

Robert MottaRobert Motta
PhD, ABPP, ABBP
Professor
Phone: 516-463-5029 | Fax: 516-463-6052
Room 205 Hauser Hall
Email | Bio

Sergei TsytsarevSergei Tsytsarev
PhD
Professor
Phone: 516-463-4855 | Fax: 516-463-6052
Room 209 Hauser Hall
Email | Bio

Professional Adjuncts

Emily E. Barkley-LevensonEmily E. Barkley-Levenson
PhD
Email | Bio

Charles DillCharles Dill
PhD
Email | Bio

John GuthmanJohn Guthman
PhD
Email | Bio

Eugene LublinerEugene Lubliner
PsyD
Email | Bio

Karen MacklerKaren Mackler
PhD
Email | Bio

Amy MaznickAmy Masnick
PhD
Email | Bio

Merry E. McVey-NobleMerry E. McVey-Noble
PhD
Email | Bio

Norman MillerNorman Miller, PhD, ABPP
Adjunct Associate Professor of Psychology
516-463-5632
Email | Bio

Lola NouryanLola Nouryan
PhD
Chief Psychologist, Rockville Centre, N.Y. Public Schools
516-463-5632
Email | Bio

Joseph ScardapaneJoseph Scardapane
PhD
Email | Bio