Goals, Objectives and Competencies

Students in the School Psychology PhD program will work toward achieving the following goals, objectives and competencies:

Goal No. 1: Students will develop the professional knowledge, skills, and identity to be ethical practicing school psychologists

Objective 1: Students will develop professional values, attitudes, and behaviors that promote positive outcomes for youth and families and facilitate psychological well-being and educational success.

  • Competency 1: Engages in behaviors that are consistent with values, attitudes, and skills of competent health service psychologists
  • Competency 2: Demonstrates effective oral and written communication and interpersonal skills in interactions with youth, families, colleagues, education professionals, and other professionals

Objective 2: Students will develop an understanding of individual differences and the impact of societal inequities that negatively impact their psychological well-being and their educational experiences.

  • Competency 3: Students will demonstrate an understanding of individual and cultural differences
  • Competency 4: Students will demonstrate an understanding of how societal inequities, culture and individual differences impact psychological well-being and educational experiences

Objective 3: Students will develop an understanding of professional ethics and legal standards relevant to the practice of school psychology.

  • Competency 5: Students will be knowledgeable and behave in ways consistent with professional ethical principles and legal standards to the practice of school psychology

 

Goal No. 2: Students will learn and apply knowledge and skills of evidenced-based practices to inform data-based decision making across direct and indirect service delivery

Objective 1: Students will develop knowledge and skills related to the practice of effective consultation with education professionals and other key stakeholders (e.g. parents, caregivers, community health care professionals).

  • Competency 6: Students are able to effectively apply a model of consultation in practice that incorporates a cross cultural framework

Objective 2: Students will develop knowledge and skills of evidence-based interventions to facilitate the psychological well-being and educational success of youth.

  • Competency 7: Students will be able to identify evidence-based interventions that match the targeted need, implement the interventions, and evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions

Objective 3: Students will develop knowledge and skills of evidenced-based assessment practices and tools.

  • Competency 8: Students will demonstrate the ability to administer and interpret psychological and educational assessments
  • Competency 9: Students will engage in targeting assessments that meet the individual needs of youth

 

Goal No. 3: Students will learn to be critical consumers of research and develop advanced knowledge and skills to conduct scientific inquiry and dissemination of research

Objective 1: Students will develop knowledge for understanding research and interpreting data in applied settings.

  • Competency 10: Students will demonstrate knowledge of research design and data analysis

Objective 2: Students will conduct methodologically sound research.

  • Competency 11: Students will conduct research that has the potential to contribute to the literature

Objective 3: Students will disseminate research in a public forum or in a publication outlet.

  • Competency 12: Students will present and/or publish research in a public forum (e.g. conference) or publication outlet

 

Goal No. 4: Students will learn the expanded role of the school psychologist

Objective 1: Students will develop knowledge of supervision theories and models and skills to engage in supervisory activities.

  • Competency 13: Students will demonstrate knowledge of supervision theories and models
  • Competency 14: Students will effectively engage in supervisory activities that demonstrate an understanding and application of a supervision framework

Objective 2: Students will be knowledgeable of school-wide practices to promote learning.

  • Competency 15: Students will be knowledgeable of school-wide practices that influence academic, behavioral, and psychological variables

Objective 3: Students will develop knowledge and skills in the promotion of family, school, and community collaboration.

  • Competency 16: Students will demonstrate the knowledge and skills to successfully engage in collaboration across systems

Ohio State is in the process of revising websites and program materials to accurately reflect compliance with the law. While this work occurs, language referencing protected class status or other activities prohibited by Ohio Senate Bill 1 may still appear in some places. However, all programs and activities will be administered in compliance with the law as of June 27, 2025.