Psychology

The School Psychology program at Central Washington University has a long history of providing excellent training to students seeking a career as a school psychologist in the public schools. Our program was the first nationally approved program (NASP) in the state of Washington and we have continued to build on that foundation over the years.

We offer training to students seeking certification to practice as a school psychologist in the public schools. We offer the Education Specialist (EdS) degree in school psychology which upon completion leads to eligibility for certification as an Education Staff Associate (ESA) - School Psychologist in the state of Washington. Students may also pursue certification or licensure in other states. As a fully accredited program by the National Association of School Psychologists, students who complete our program are eligible to become Nationally Certified School Psychologists (NCSP). 

Please see the link below for current information about our program from the National Association of School Psychologists:

Program Annual Report and Student Outcomes Data (click here)

Program Distinctives

The school psychology program at CWU emphasizes both theoretical and applied training in the science and practice of school psychology. The program prioritizes in-person classroom experiences as well as applied training in local schools and in our on-campus training clinics (Reading Intervention Center; Community Counseling and Psychological Assessment Center). Beginning in the first year of the program, students gain experience with assessment and intervention services through our Reading Intervention Center as well as in local schools. These applied experiences continue in the second year in the program, with students providing services through the Community Counseling and Psychological Assessment Center as well as through various school districts in the area. These training experiences enable the development of critical skills in assessment, intervention, consultation, and prevention in order to prepare for the third-year internship. 

As a program based on the scientist-practitioner model, training in research and scientific foundations of psychology and the application of these aspects to educational settings is emphasized. Students can complete research training experiences through participation on faculty research teams or through the completion of a graduate thesis.  

Program Faculty and Research Interests

Dr. Chi-ching (Gigi) Chuang  (PhD, University of Missouri)

• Research Interests 
  • Classroom management
  • Social emotional measurement validation
  • ADHD

Dr. Heath Marrs  (Ed.D. Kansas State University)

• Research Interests
  • School psychology services for multilingual learners
  • Professional issues in school psychology
  • Graduate student well-being

Dr. Richard Marsicano  (PhD University of Cincinnati)

• Research Interests
  • Efficacy and effectiveness of academic and behavioral interventions
  • Multi-tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) implementation

Please check out our website for more information about our program, the Department of Psychology, and Central Washington University. We would be glad to visit with you further about our program and answer any questions you might have.

If you have specific questions about our program, please feel free to email

Dr. Richard Marsicano (Richard.Marsicano@cwu.edu), Program Coordinator.