Prospective Careers for School Psychology Graduates

Earning an M.S.Ed. degree and advanced certificate in school psychology prepares you for a rewarding and fulfilling career as a school psychologist.

U.S. News & World Report ranks school psychology as the no. 2 best social service job. This program has full approval from the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) and provides outstanding training for a wide range of counseling, assessment, and consultation roles. With over 1,700 public schools in New York City alone, there is plenty of opportunity to find the right fit. As of February 2021, there are 401 approved charter schools in New York State. This new frontier greatly expands the range of opportunities available to a graduate with a degree in school psychology.

Navigating Your Career

Throughout your time in the program and in the years following graduation, you will be tasked with navigating the career field. If you have settled on veering toward working in education, it is valuable to have a good understanding of what is expected of you and what sort of cases you will be working with. As much as this will be stressed in the program, it can mean all the difference if you can garner experience working with children. Regardless of what exactly this experience looks like, working with children, understanding their needs, and what sort of workplace you will find yourself in will only ease your transition from the classroom to workplace by making you a competitive candidate.

There are, of course, other settings for you to work in with this degree that are set outside of a school. Regardless of what sort of counseling, psychoeducational assessment, consultation, or other professional duties you’ll be doing or what sort of clients you will be helping, knowing about the field you are entering will be key to your success. Doing research and networking with faculty, professors, and alumni can all help you get a better understanding of what sort of work you can expect to have in front of you. Take advantage of the resources around you, especially within the department and at the Magner Career Center.

Profiles of Department Alumni

Lauren Ross ’13 M.S.—Psychologist at New York City Department of Education

Lauren earned her M.S. in bilingual school psychology, as well as her advanced certificate, at Brooklyn College. Ross has more than eight years of experience working with the New York City Department of Education (NYCDOE) as a bilingual school psychologist. She has worked in both Florida and Seattle in the fields of social work and school psychology. In addition to her work with the NYCDOE, she works as a licensed yoga instructor in Brooklyn and as an adjunct lecturer at Brooklyn College.

Issac Silberstein ’09 M.S.—School Psychologist at Solomon Schechter School of Manhattan

Issac Silberstein earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology at Brooklyn College while part of the Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest academic honor society. He also earned his M.S. in school psychology, as well as his advanced certificate, at the college. While in school, Silberstein interned at the Hebrew Academy for Special Children and Yeshiva of Flatbush Joel Bravermen High School. Graduating with a degree, a certificate, and plenty of internship experience, he got a job at the Solomon Schechter School of Manhattan as a school psychologist.

Reisa Miller ’18 M.S.—School Psychologist at Success Academy Charter Schools

Reisa Miller earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology at Stony Brook University, graduating in 2015. Miller continued her schooling at Brooklyn College, earning an M.S. in school psychology in 2018 and her advanced certificate the following year. She interned at Great Neck public schools for a year before becoming a school psychologist at Success Academy.

Magner Career Center

The Magner Career Center is a great source of information for everything you need to get started in your career, help with résumés, an internship database, job fairs, etc.

  • The center hosts frequent career events, which include panels with School Psychology Department alumni, company and organization visits, and workshops tailored to the social sciences.
  • You can get matched with alumni who earned a degree in school psychology at Brooklyn College to learn about their experiences, seek career advice, and develop a professional relationship.
  • HireBC offers starter, competitive internships, and even job postings from Brooklyn College’s dedicated Job Board. Access HireBC via the Brooklyn College WebCentral Portal, under the Career Tab. Many alumni post positions with hopes of working with Brooklyn College students. Begin by uploading your résumé and having it reviewed by a career counselor.
  • Kendra Lewis is the liaison to the School of Education. For more information or to set up appointments, visit the Magner Center’s website, call 718.951.5696, or visit 1303 James Hall.

 

Brooklyn. All in.