Research Focus Program of Study Admissions Faculty

The mission of the Ph.D. Program in Psychological Development is to provide students with a strong foundation in developmental theories and research from a lifespan perspective. Students examine individual and environmental influences at multiple, nested levels on the development of infants, preschoolers, children, adolescents and adults, especially in urban environments. The Ph.D. program offers the advanced student a program of study that focuses on current issues in the fast-moving and complex field of human development while also emphasizing a basic foundation in psychological theory. Our research takes place in laboratories at New York University, as well as in the homes, daycares, schools, hospitals, neighborhoods, and community settings of the multi-ethnic and richly diverse City of New York.

What expertise do graduate students acquire in the Psychological Development program?

• A strong foundation in the core areas of Developmental Psychology with a focus on how current research methodologies might be applied to current issues in human development.
• The ability to think critically and creatively about how basic research can address the social problems faced by individuals in a multi-cultural, urban society.
• A wide range of quantitative and qualitative research methodologies, including survey research, experimental, observational, ethnographic, narrative and case studies.
• The skills to identify the influences of family members, peers, schools, neighborhoods and communities on the developmental trajectories of individuals, as well as how individuals shape their own experiences.
• An understanding of how aspects of ethnicity, race, social class, gender, culture and health influence human development within and across national boundaries.

What positions do graduates of the Psychological Development Program at NYU obtain?

• Professors in academic settings
• Researchers in academic, community and governmental agencies
• Human service professionals in hospitals, schools, and community settings
• Directors and evaluators of mental health and health-promotion programs

Areas of Research Focus

• Family, school, and cultural influences on human development
• Cognitive, language and social development in infants and young children, including research on at-risk infant populations
• Children's learning, academic achievement and attitudes toward school
• Social and emotional development among children and adolescents in the U.S. and worldwide
• Etiology of risk behaviors, resiliency, and coping in at-risk populations
• School, family, and community based prevention of delinquency and violence
• Quantitative modeling of high-risk health behaviors and decisions
• Test and scale development, validity and reliability studies, and the study of individual differences

Program of Study

Students take between 45 and 72 credits, depending upon prior graduate course work. Academic offerings/requirements include:

• Core courses in the foundational areas of psychology
• Courses covering a variety of developmental processes (e.g., Cognitive Development, Emotional and Social Development, Language Development)
• Seminar courses on advanced topics in human development, research and health
• Sequences in Statistics and Research Design, including quantitative and qualitative methodologies
• Courses in Assessment

Application Requirements

• B.A. degree and/or M.A. in Psychology or Human Development
• Minimum GRE scores of 1000 (combined verbal & quantitative)
• Official transcripts sent from each college you attended
• An admissions application from NYU's Steinhardt School of Education
• Statement of Purpose, including research interests, and description of future goals
• Three letters of recommendation (available via this link: Recommendation Forms)

Application Process

The Graduate Admissions office must receive all application materials by December 15th. Prospective doctoral students will be invited for an interview with the entire program faculty. Potential applicants are invited to call at (212) 998-5555 with any questions.

The Doctor in Philosophy program in psychological Development offers admission once a year. For best consideration, application materials must be submitted to the Office of Graduate Admissions by the following deadline:

To request an admissions application through the mail, please contact:

Office of Graduate Admissions
82 Washington Square East, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10003-6644
(212) 998-5030

Or you can download it directly through the school's website at:
http://steinhardt.nyu.edu/graduate_admissions/

Contact Information

212 998 5555