Human Development
The Department of Human Development offers one doctoral degree: The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.). The Ph.D. program is research oriented, with the primary objective of training graduate students for scholarly research activity directed mainly toward the generation of new knowledge.
A degree in Human Development provides students with a strong background in the theoretical and empirical traditions of developmental and educational psychology. Scholarship is focused on understanding fundamental cognitive, neurobiological, affective and social processes as they are expressed in educational, social, and diverse cultural settings. Doctoral training involves intensive research apprenticeships with faculty mentors, coursework in core courses and advanced seminars, and exposure to leaders in the fields of educational and developmental psychology through colloquia and professional development seminars. The goal of our program is to train students for research careers at universities or other places where research on developmental and educational psychology is conducted. Graduates of our program have obtained positions as university professors, research scientists, program analysts, and other research-oriented occupations. The program encourages engagement in collaborative research with faculty and students in a wide range of areas. Opportunities also exist for collaboration with neighboring institutions such as Georgetown University, National Institutes of Health, Johns Hopkins University, and Children’s National Medical Center.
For more information, see the department website.