PhD in Developmental Psychology

Doctoral education in Developmental Psychology is the next logical, broad specialization that Walden’s School of Psychology offers. Students interested in human growth and development across the lifespan are provided a doctoral level education in the PhD in Developmental Psychology program. The focus of the PhD in Developmental Psychology program will be on topics including the cognitive, physical, emotional, social, health, and cultural aspects of human development across the lifespan. Students will develop the professional skills needed for nonclinical academic, research, or professional careers. In the PhD in Developmental Psychology program, eight specializations offer students the opportunity to focus their studies: (1) General; (2) Administration and Leadership; (3) Child and Adolescent Development; (4) Health and Human Development; (5) International Perspectives in Developmental Psychology; (6) Research; (7)Teaching; and (8) Self-designed specialization. The doctoral program includes more research- and teaching-focused courses to add to the more practice-focused MS in Developmental Psychology program. Students will be able to apply their knowledge and skills in developmental psychology to promote positive social change in the lives of individuals, families, and communities through teaching, research, and practice.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the PhD in Developmental Psychology program, students will be able to:

Acquire knowledge in the foundations of psychology and develop identities as developmental psychologists.
Explain behavior using current theory and research in the physical, cognitive, emotional, health, social, and cultural aspects of human development.
Articulate the history of developmental psychology, how the specialty of developmental psychology is unique, and how to develop an identity as developmental psychologists.
Discuss how key issues and seminal works within the field of developmental psychology apply to human development across the lifespan.
Synthesize principles of basic and advanced research methods to produce independent scholarly research in areas including physical, cognitive, emotional, health, social, and cultural aspects of human development.
Apply theory and contemporary research in practice of a developmental psychologist.

Specializations

Degree Requirements

110 total quarter cr.
Foundations course (3 cr.)
Core courses(62 cr.)
Specialization courses (15 cr.)
Dissertation (20 cr.)
Four 4-day residencies

Core Curriculum

Course Sequence

Quarter	Course	Credits
1	DPSY 8002 - Foundations for Graduate Study in Psychology	3 cr.
1	DPSY 8111 - Themes and Theories of Developmental Psychology	5 cr.
2	DPSY 8215 - Lifespan Development	5 cr.
2	DPSY 8121 - Development in the Digital Age	5 cr.
3	RSCH 8110 - Research Theory, Design, and Methods♦	5 cr.
3	RSCH 8210 - Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis♦	5 cr.
4	DPSY 8227 - Language and Cognitive Development	5 cr.
4	DPSY 8228 - Social and Emotional Development	5 cr.
5	DPSY 8218 - Gender and Development	5 cr.
5	DPSY 8703 - Ethics and Standards of Psychology	5 cr.
6	RSCH 8310 - Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis♦	5 cr.
6	RSCH 8260 - Advanced Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis	5 cr.
7	DPSY 8700 - Literature Review	2 cr.
7	DPSY 8115 - Writing A Quality Prospectus in Psychology	5 cr.
8–12	DPSY 9000 - Dissertation	5 cr. each for 4 terms

Note on Licensure

The PhD in Developmental Psychology program is not a licensure program and does not prepare an individual to become a licensed psychology professional.

Program Data

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