Applied Developmental Psychology

To obtain specific instructions for how to apply to the graduate programs in Applied Developmental Psychology, prospective students should visit this page: https://www.uab.edu/cas/psychology/graduate/developmental

Each student in the Applied Developmental Psychology program is encouraged to develop a systematic line of research that complements that of his or her advisor. With intense exposure to an important aspect of developmental research, the student acquires skills that can be generalized to a variety of problems. Students are required to complete a core curriculum which includes 21 hours of Applied Developmental Psychology classes, 15 hours of research design and statistics, 9 hours of general psychology and related discipline classes; 6 hours of teaching practicum and teaching; and at least 48 credit hours of research.

Applied Developmental Psychology students must complete a master's thesis. Admission to candidacy for the doctoral degree is based on satisfactory completion of coursework and completion of an area review in the form of a Psychological Bulletin or Psychological Review article. The doctoral degree is awarded upon successful defense of the dissertation.

M.S. in Applied Developmental Psychology

RequirementsHours
Required Coursework 125
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Research and the Workplace
Developmental Psychology
Seminar in Lifespan Developmental Psychology
Introduction to Statistics and Measurement
and Lab for Introduction to Statistics and Measurement
Applied Statistical Methods
and Lab for Applied Statistical Methods
Multivariate Statistical Methods
and Lab for Multivariate Statistical Methods
Thesis Research6
Master's Level Thesis Research
Elective Options in Developmental Psychology 2
Select three from the list below
Developmental Disabilities
Seminar in Cognitive Development
Seminar in Social Development
Seminar in Language Development
Applied Developmental Psychology
Cognitive Assessment: Child and Adult
Total Hours31
1

Individual course requirements may be waived based on evaluation of coursework completed prior to matriculation, either at UAB or elsewhere. If a course requirement is waived, then the credit hours must be replaced by approved electives or by coursework required for the doctoral degree in Applied Developmental Psychology. Course waivers may not exceed half of the required credit hours across the master’s and doctoral degrees in Applied Developmental Psychology; research and practicum hours are not included in this computation. No course may satisfy requirements for both the master’s in Applied Developmental Psychology and another degree, whether completed at UAB or elsewhere.

2

Other courses may be considered with Program Director approval.

Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology

RequirementsHours
Required Coursework 1,2
PY 708Developmental Psychology3
PY 718Advanced Research Design3
PY 729Seminar in Adolescent Development3
PY 785Psychology of Aging3
PY 796Practicum in the Teaching of Psychology6
GRD 717Principles of Scientific Integrity3
Doctoral Research 324
Predoctoral Degree Graduate Research
Doctoral Dissertation Research
Select one from the following3
Structural Equation Modeling
Longitudinal Data Analysis Laboratory
Select two courses from the following6
Social Psychology
Human Neuropsychology
Health Psychology
Sport Psychology
Pediatric Psychology
Community Practicum in Psychology
Total Hours54
1

Individual course requirements may be waived based on evaluation of coursework completed prior to matriculation, either at UAB or elsewhere. If a course requirement is waived, then the credit hours must be replaced by approved electives. Course waivers may not exceed half of the required credit hours across the master’s and doctoral degrees; research and teaching practicum hours are not included in this computation. No course may satisfy requirements for both the doctorate and another degree, whether completed at UAB or elsewhere.

2

At least 24 hours must be completed prior to admission to candidacy.  Remaining hours must include at least 15 hours of graduate-level Psychology coursework.  PY 798 does not count towards this 15 hour coursework minimum.

3
  • Students who do not meet the 24-hour minimum in this category due to course waivers can make up the deficit with any combination of the following:

    • Other elective courses approved by the program for this purpose.
    • Up to 3 additional hours of non-dissertation research credits (PY 698, 699, and 798) that were not used to satisfy requirements for the master’s degree.