Developmental Psychology PhD Programs

University of Virginia

• Developmental psychology doctoral candidates at the University of Virginia take courses such as cognitive development and personality development. At the end of the second year, students present their master's thesis, which establishes a student's area of research and is expounded upon in the dissertation. Laboratory research and teaching experience is required for all Ph.D. students, and prior to defending the dissertation, students write a grant proposal, a review of a journal article and a course syllabus (in order to develop teaching skills). Past Ph.D. graduates have gone on to positions in teaching and research at institutions such as the University of Maryland and Georgetown University.

  University of Virginia
  Department of Psychology
  102 Gilmer Hall
  PO Box 400400
  Charlottesville, VA 22904
  434-982-4763
  virginia.edu

University of Wisconsin-Madison

• During psychology students' first year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, they complete a research project and present it to fellow students and faculty in the beginning of the second year. Students also select a minor concentration, and at the end of the program, the dissertation is presented to a committee of five faculty members. Developmental psychology Ph.D. students participate in weekly lunches, where research projects are discussed. Research areas include language acquisition and gender role development.

  University of Wisconsin-Madison
  Department of Psychology
  1202 West Johnson Street
  Madison, WI 53706
  608-262-2079
  psych.wisc.edu

University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign

• The developmental division of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) is largely focused on childhood psychological development. The UIUC website notes that infant cognition and language acquisition are primary areas of faculty and student interest. The developmental psychology Ph.D. program is research-centered, and students carry out their research in laboratories or in natural settings, such as area schools. Developmental psychology Ph.D. students attend weekly seminars and can minor in subjects such as statistics and social psychology.

  University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign
  Department of Psychology
  603 East Daniel Street
  Champaign, IL 61820-6210
  217-333-0631
  psych.uiuc.edu