| |  | | Applied Developmental Psychology | Postbaccalaureate Certificate
Link to a list of faculty for this program.
Contact Information—Applied Developmental Psychology Certification
Program, Institute of Child Development, 51 East River Road, Minneapolis, MN
55455 (612-624-2576; fax 612-624-6373; borde021@umn.edu; http://education.umn.edu/fields/Appdev.htm).
Curriculum—The certificate in applied developmental psychology allows graduate students who major or minor in child psychology to study and experience applications of developmental science issues, policies, and problems concerning children and child development at the local, state, and national level. Through the combination of theory and field experience, students learn how to help solve pressing real-life problems and to improve the lives of children. The 21-credit program explores such topics as ethical issues in applied developmental psychology, media and children's programming, nutrition and hunger, accidents and safety issues, children in the judicial system, the design and role of children's museums, and the development of children's toys, games, and recreational activities. Professionals in this field need to develop an in-depth understanding of how public policy affects children's lives, how to make pure research comprehensible and practical without losing its complexity, and how to work in interdisciplinary teams.
Admission—Admission is open to graduate students enrolled in a doctoral program at the University. Students in child psychology must consult with the training director(s) and complete a department application form before officially registering for the first seminar. Students not in child psychology must have successfully completed a four-year undergraduate degree with a preferred 3.00 GPA and equivalent of 12 quarter or 9 semester course credits in psychology, and one statistics course. Admission is based primarily on the applicant's academic record, GRE scores, and research experience.
Certificate Requirements—CPSY 8360 Section 7 (2 cr) gives an overview of applied developmental science problems and provides a framework for the second two components of the program. CPSY 8301 (4 cr) and 8302 (4 cr) are the core courses in developmental psychology covering biological, cognitive, and social aspects of development. They are fundamental to understanding the developmental perspective. CPSY 8996 (5 cr) integrates and applies information learned in coursework. The course is individually designed based on each student's prior experience and interests. Students focus on practical and/or public policy applications of developmental research in settings such as the Search Institute, the Minnesota Children's Museum, the guardian ad litem program in the local courts, the Center for 4-H Youth Development, and the National Institute on Media and the Family. This field experience may be taken in one to three semesters or a summer session, but must be at least 5 credits and total 188 hours. A major paper describing the field experience and integrating relevant basic research literature with practical availability taking place in the field setting is expected. Electives (6 cr) may include 5xxx or 8xxx courses approved by the training directors and chosen to complement the student's area of interest. |
Faculty | | For latest graduate faculty listings, see <www.grad.umn.edu/faculty_rosters/faculty.html>. Key to membership categories (abbreviations after faculty names).
Professor
Herbert L. Pick, Jr., M
Anne D. Pick (emeritus), M
Richard Weinberg, M | | | | | |
