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Required courses for Developmental PhD

Graduate students typically enroll in 9 credits per semester if on a TA or RA appointment, satisfied through a combination of coursework and supervised research in the mentor’s lab. Students participate in research continuously regardless of enrollment for research credits.

Core Curriculum

Students attend the weekly DEP 6059: Developmental Research Colloquium throughout their entire program; see registration and other details here .

Complete in Year 1 0r 2

DEP 6099: Survey of Developmental Psychology: Empirical, theoretical, and methodological foundations of developmental psychology.

Seminar on Psychological Science (SPS)

Complete in Year 1 – 3

  • Statistics (2 courses)

*CLP 6527 Measurement Research Design and Statistics I – 3 credits

*CLP 6528 Measurement Research Design and Statistics II – 3 credits

*additional departmentally-approved statistics sequences may be substituted in consultation with the faculty mentor and Graduate Coordinator of the Department

  • Advanced Development (3 courses)

Three DEP 6000-level classes taught by any core Dev faculty (as listed below). Usually, one course will be offered each semester. Some of these may be offered as grad-undergrad offerings. Contact Instructor for information as needed.

Examples offerings include, but are not limited to:

6059: Special Topics in Developmental Psychology (1-3 credits, colloquium style or professional development course, should be taken for 3 credits once)


6936: Current Research in Developmental Psychology (Substantive reading and writing on topical courses doing a deep dive on a specialized topic in an area of developmental psychology. Empirical reading and writing required)


6799 Seminar: Current Research Methods in Developmental Psychology (specialized methodology in developmental)


6406 Advanced Adulthood and Aging: Overview of major theories and research in psychology in relation to aging.

Department Requirement for Breadth (see Department Handbook for details)

Elective courses: 9 credits in psychology outside Developmental or 9 credits any department and serve as the Instructor of Record for an undergraduate course (most often PSY2012)

Possible Research Credits Include:

  • PSY 6905 Individual Work
  • PSY 6910 Supervised Research
  • PSY 6971 Master’s Thesis Research
  • PSY 7979 Advanced Research
  • PSY 7989 Doctoral Dissertation Research