The PhD program in Developmental Psychology emphasizes intersections among biology, culture, and context in developmental processes across areas of social, cognitive, language, and emotional development. Students apply a variety of methods (e.g., experimental, quasi-experimental, survey, observational, semi-structured interviews) to the study of individual and environmental influences on the development of infants, preschoolers, children, and adolescents at multiple, nested levels. Students take classes in developmental content areas and analytic methods and research, and advanced seminars on theories of change and theories of culture.
Students engage in community and/or laboratory-based research for the entire length of their studies under the supervision of primary and secondary faculty mentors. Research is conducted in laboratories at New York University and the homes, daycares, schools, hospitals, neighborhoods, and community settings of the multi-ethnic and richly diverse city of New York. Additionally, international research is a cornerstone of the program, with faculty and students engaged in studying developmental processes and contextual influences across countries such as China, India, South Africa, Korea, and Peru, and with affiliated global faculty at NYU Shanghai and NYU Abu Dhabi campuses.
Admissions
Admission to graduate programs in the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development requires the following minimum components:
See How to Apply for admission requirements and instructions specific to this program.
Program Requirements
Students holding a master's degree or graduate credits in developmental psychology or related field complete 39-51 credits; the total required credits are determined on admission based on alignment of previous coursework with program curriculum. Students admitted with a BA/BS must complete 51 credits.
The Developmental Psychology Seminar: Current Topics in Developmental Science
Total Credits
51
Note
Students take APSY-GE 3020 Research Practicum in Developmental Psychology for 3 credits each year for 2-3 years.
Other Program Requirements
Additional Program Requirements
Engagement in Programmatic Research
Students are required to participate on the research team of a faculty member of the Developmental Psychology Program, beginning the first semester of the first year. Students are expected to allocate half of their-time (at least 20 hours per week) to the research team. During the 5 years of doctoral training, the student is expected to disseminate research findings at conferences and in peer-reviewed publications.
Year 2 Empirical Paper
Students are required to complete an empirical paper during their second year in the program. Work toward this research paper should begin in the first year. The expectation is that the paper is minimally submitted, and ideally published. A student’s primary research mentor supports him/her in this process by working closely with the student on formulating and implementing the research project. Below are the goals, policies and procedures for this paper.
Year 3 Empirical Paper
All students in the program are required to work on consecutive empirical papers to ensure their competitiveness in the job market. Guidelines for the first empirical paper (due year 2) also apply to the second empirical paper (due year 3). To be competitive in the job market, multiple high quality publications are the norm; publishing research is thus the primary goal of students in the program. Students should be first or sole author on at least one empirical paper upon graduation.
Methods Comprehensive Exam
Students must pass a methods comprehensive exam that tests for knowledge, skills, and understanding of topics including sampling, research design, measurement, construction of hypotheses, statistical procedures to test hypotheses, and interpretation of results.
Developmental Comprehensive Exam
Students must pass the writing of their comprehensive paper on a developmental topic. This theoretical paper should advance theory in one or two areas. It can include a critical analysis and synthesis of the literature in one or more areas; a meta-analysis of a literature topic; two or more areas of theory and research and to review, summarize and integrate the empirical and theoretical knowledge base in these areas. The review must be comprehensive, critical, and integrative and ~15 single-space pages in length, pages in length, excluding references. It should represent a synthesis rather than straightforward literature review only. The student will attend a 1-hour defense meeting on the exam with their advisor and a second faculty member from the program who has read the paper.
The student will propose and defend a dissertation as the culmination of the student’s doctoral training. The dissertation should represent a unique, valuable, and rigorous contribution to research in the area of Developmental Psychology. Students typically propose, execute, and defend a 3-paper dissertation. One of the 3 papers should not be published yet, allowing for input from the committee members and readers of the dissertation.
The Developmental Psychology Seminar: Current Topics in Developmental Science 2
3
Developmental Content Course
3
Credits
9
Total Credits
51
1
APSY-GE 3020 Research Practicum in Developmental Psychology is taken 3 times for credit, and 3 times for 0 credit.
2
APSY-GE 3023 The Developmental Psychology Seminar: Current Topics in Developmental Science is taken for 0 credits.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, graduates will:
Demonstrate research expertise in an area of study and advance the field of Developmental Psychology through dissemination of research findings in scholarly publications and at national and international conferences.
Demonstrate expertise using multiple research tools, methods, designs, and analytic approaches to advance science on development in context.
Demonstrate research integrity, ethical and social skills diligence, responsibility, effective time management, and positive, supportive interactions with peers, advisors, study participants, community stakeholders, and leaders in the field.
Policies
STEM OPT Benefits for International Students
If you’re an international student, you may be able to work in the United States after graduation for an extended period of time. Most students studying on F-1 visas will be eligible to apply for 12 months of Optional Practical Training (OPT) off-campus work authorization. F-1 students in this program may also be eligible to apply for the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics) OPT extension, allowing you to extend your time in the United States to pursue degree-related work experience for a total of 36 months or 3 years. For more information on who can apply for this extension visit NYU’s Office of Global Services: STEM OPT.