Professional Portfolios

---

The portfolio is a reflection of your ongoing professional development throughout your training. You should begin creating your portfolio during your first semester of the program, updating it at the end of each semester. You should review your portfolio annually with your academic advisor during scheduled advising sessions. S/he will provide you with feedback regarding your documentation and progress. The portfolio will be used as one of the assessments of your overall professional development. It should be completed and approved by a committee of two school psychology faculty members prior to going on internship. The committee will consist of the academic advisor and another school psychology faculty member.

Requirements for grade of Pass

Presentation - Portfolio is in a binder with typed name on cover. There are tabs for major sections (assessment, intervention, leadership, communication, problem-solving and research, and diversity).

Vita - updated, including descriptions of coursework, grades, assistantships, volunteer work, awards, publications, presentations, in-service presentations, conferences/workshops attended, number and nature of assessments and intervention studies completed.*

Assessment Work Samples - at least 3 assessment reports (including one behavioral observation/functional behavioral assessment)

Direct Intervention Sample - at least 2 direct intervention case reports

Indirect Intervention Sample - at least 1 indirect intervention case report

Leadership - at least one brief paper describing leadership activity (e.g., reflection on year as NASP student representative; supervisory, multidisciplinary team, or in-service training experience

Communication - documentation of pass on Masters and Doctoral orals; written paper sample; powerpoint or written conference presentation

Research - at least two research projects (can include completed thesis and dissertation prospectus or manuscript versions)

Diversity - provide two or more pieces of evidence of experiences with students from diverse backgrounds, needs, and ages in practicum and or course-related activities (e.g., case studies, presentations or research projects addressing diversity issues). Clinical logs of cases should also be provided. The logs should consist of a simple list of client cases at USC identified by date of service(s), age, gender, ethnicity, assessment measures, interventions delivered, and condition (e.g., ADHD, LD, ED).

Professional portfolios are graded in the nine areas above. To pass, the student’s final product must score as a "pass" for all nine areas. Please note that all identifying information should be removed from client reports.

*Students may include optional statements of career goals, research, teaching, training, or service interests to highlight special interest areas.

top