Mission Statement
Psychologists are committed to increasing scientific and professional knowledge of behavior and people's understanding of themselves and others and to the use of such knowledge to improve the condition of individuals, organizations, and society. Psychologists respect and protect civil and human rights and the central importance of freedom of inquiry and expression in research, teaching, and publication. They strive to help the public in developing informed judgments and choices concerning human behavior. In doing so, they perform many roles, such as researcher, educator, diagnostician, therapist, supervisor, consultant, administrator, social interventionist, and expert witness. (Preamble, Ethical Principles of Psychologists, American Psychological Association, 2003).
The School Psychology Program at the University of South Florida embraces the principles reflected in the statement above, teaching them, modeling them, and passing them on to our graduates to guide their professional practices. These principles are reflected in the Vision of the School Psychology Program that follows:
Our graduates will play integral roles in advancing social justice through creating and sustaining educational and related systems in which children, youth, and their families have equitable access to the academic, behavioral, social-emotional, and physical health services that promote lifelong success and well-being.
Our vision for Program graduates drives the training and support we provide to students. Although we train future school psychologists to provide a wide array of health service psychology services across educational and related systems, we believe that these services are based on fundamental knowledge and skills that ALL school psychologists must possess. Thus, the mission of USF's School Psychology Program is to provide training that produces scientists and practitioners who:
Our graduates will play integral roles in advancing social justice through creating and sustaining educational and related systems in which children, youth, and their families have equitable access to the academic, behavioral, social-emotional, and physical health services that promote lifelong success and well-being.
Our vision for Program graduates drives the training and support we provide to students. Although we train future school psychologists to provide a wide array of health service psychology services across educational and related systems, we believe that these services are based on fundamental knowledge and skills that ALL school psychologists must possess. Thus, the mission of USF's School Psychology Program is to provide training that produces scientists and practitioners who:
- View the academic, behavioral, social-emotional, and physical problems experienced by children and youth from an ecological lens.
- Are leaders in developing and promoting evidence-based services within a multi-tiered system of support framework.
- Use a data-based problem-solving process to inform service delivery and to facilitate structural changes that benefit children and youth.
- Identify, confront, and combat structures that oppress students from marginalized groups.
This website is maintained by the University of South Florida School Psychology Student Association. SPSA is an organization that serves the students of the School Psychology graduate program.
