West Virginia University

Program Information

Degree Offered

M.S.-Developmental Psychology, Ph.D.- Developmental Psychology

Program Description:

Along with an area of specialization selected by the student in a topical area and age period (infancy, childhood, adolescence, early, middle, or later adulthood), students gain a strong background in life-span developmental psychology. The curriculum familiarizes students with developmental processes occurring in each age period and conceptual and methodological issues in developmental psychology. Students are trained to be disciplined researchers and competent classroom instructors. Students receive structured teaching and research training, and disseminate their research via conference presentations and publications. For students whose career plans emphasize college teaching, a teaching specialization is available.
WVU's Psychology Department received the "Innovation in Graduate Education Award" from the American Psychological Association in 2005. The award recognizes the junior-colleague model used to train graduate students in research, teaching, and program/service evaluation. As junior colleagues, students and faculty collaborate in research, rather than students serving as research assistants assigned to individual faculty. Students develop individualized plans of study. Contact among faculty and students outside the classroom is frequent and casual. Graduates of the life-span developmental program are highly successful in obtaining employment in academia.

The Department values a wide range of ages and cultural backgrounds among our graduate students. All students can anticipate 4 years of financial support via assistantships (3 years if entering with a Master's degree), plus a tuition waiver.

Accreditation:

-

Eligibility Requirements:

Applicants are required to submit 3 letters of recommendation so that personal qualities that predict success in graduate study and satisfactory professional placement after graduation can be evluated. In addition, a personal interview is part of the usual evaluation process for students who pass an initial screening.

Tuition & Financial Aid

Tuition In-State Full Time:

Students in good standing receive a tuition waiver 

Financial Aid Offered: No

Format: Campus

Classification: Doctoral/Research Universities - Extensive

Institution Sector: Public

Locale: Small City

Size & Settings: 20,000 and above