UM School Psychology Doctoral Program Earns Reaccreditation
MISSOULA – The School Psychology Doctoral Program at the University of Montana has been reaccredited by the American Psychological Association until 2031.
UM offers the only school psychology doctoral program in Montana and the surrounding region. It has been accredited since 2015. The closest accredited programs outside Montana are in Washington, Minnesota and Colorado to the south.
School psychologists, like clinical or counseling psychologists, are health service psychologists who provide expertise in mental health, learning and behavior to help youth succeed academically, socially and emotionally. School psychologists also work closely with teachers, parents and other key adult figures in a youth’s life to support them in school, at home and in the community.
“The School Psychology Doctoral Program prepares future school psychologists to work with youth and families in a variety of settings, including schools, residential treatment and mental health centers, juvenile justice programs and hospitals – with an emphasis on serving rural and diverse communities,” said Dr. Jacqueline Brown, director of UM School Psychology Graduate Training Programs. “Students within the program receive multiple opportunities to teach, conduct research and obtain applied experience in school and clinical settings. We have been told by multiple employers that our students are well prepared and stand out among their colleagues.”
Status as an accredited program means doctoral students have met nationally rigorous and recognized APA standards for the provision of quality mental health care. Programs seeking APA accreditation undergo an extensive self-assessment and on-site review by the Committee on Accreditation.
Diana Diaków is a fifth-year UM school psychology student starting her pre-doctoral internship at the Children’s Center in Salt Lake City. She said the doctoral-level school psychology training at UM sharpened her clinical and research lens, preparing her for work in schools and various healthcare settings in the U.S. and abroad.
“I was excited to acquire skills and knowledge to support the mental health and academic performance of diverse children, families and communities from a culturally responsive and strengths-based perspective,” Diaków said.
The School Psychology Doctoral Program has three full-time core faculty: Dr. Greg Machek, Dr. Anisa Goforth and Dr. Jacqueline Brown. The program is housed within the Department of Psychology, which also offers the Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program that has been fully accredited since 1970.
Status as an accredited program means doctoral students have met nationally rigorous and recognized APA standards for the provision of quality mental health care. Programs seeking APA accreditation undergo an extensive self-assessment and on-site review by the Committee on Accreditation.
To learn more about UM’s School Psychology Programs, visit http://hs.umt.edu/psychology/graduates/default.php. The APA Commission on Accreditation is recognized by both the secretary of the U.S. Department of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, as the national accrediting authority for professional education and training in psychology. To learn more about APA accreditation, visit https://accreditation.apa.org/.
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Contact: Jacqueline Brown, director, UM School Psychology Graduate Programs, 406-243-6883, jacqueline.brown@umontana.edu.