Doctoral Program Special Training Tracks
Special training tracks are available to supplement the work in developmental psychology and emphasize applications or particular areas of interest. Students may apply to one of the following tracks either at the time of application to the Ph.D. program or after admission.
Developmental psychopathology and clinical science track
The Institute of Child Development and the Department of Psychology cooperate in providing a program focused on the study of psychopathology in the context of development. Training draws on the unique strengths of existing programs. This track offers students the opportunity to receive specialized training in developmental psychopathology, the approach that is rapidly emerging as the essential unifying framework for theory, research, assessment, and intervention concerned with the behavioral and emotional problems of children and adolescents. The goal of this track is to train leaders in the science and profession of clinical child psychology.
Students are admitted to the Ph.D. program in child psychology and, by agreement of faculty in both departments, to the joint training track. Approximately four new students are accepted each year.
Students in this joint track complete all requirements for the Ph.D. in child psychology, including coursework, preliminary examinations, research, dissertation, and final examination. In addition, they receive APA-approved clinical training through the clinical psychology doctoral program, and complete coursework in clinical psychology, practicums, and a year-long internship. Completion of the joint track usually takes six years (including internship).
Child development and school psychology track
The school psychology track is a cooperative program of the Institute of Child Development, the Department of Psychology, and the Department of Educational Psychology. This track is designed to develop leaders in program development, consultation, and research and evaluation. The focus of the track is to prepare graduates both for university training and research positions and for high level professional positions in the field, facilitating the process of educational change within schools and other community settings and promoting the educational and developmental competence of children and youth.
Students are admitted jointly to the Ph.D. program in child psychology and, by agreement of faculty in both departments, to the joint training track. Approximately 1-2 new students are accepted each year.
Students in this joint track complete all requirements for the Ph.D. in child psychology, including coursework, preliminary examinations, research, dissertation and final examination. In addition, they receive training - accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP), and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) - through the school psychology doctoral program, and complete coursework in school psychology, practicums, and a year-long internship. Completion of the joint track (including internship) generally takes six years.