Developmental Psychology
Ph.D. Concentration
The developmental psychology concentration at UConn focuses on mechanisms of change from infancy to early adulthood. Graduate students entering this program join a vibrant and interdisciplinary intellectual community in a supportive environment.
Students work with faculty who are internationally known experts in their fields, with many specializing in social, cognitive, or neuropsychological factors influencing development. By taking advantage of research, teaching, and mentoring opportunities, developmental psychology doctoral students prepare for both academic and non-academic careers.
Program Overview
UConn graduate students earning a Ph.D. in psychological sciences can choose a concentration in developmental psychology, which focuses on the emergence and organization of behavior during development.
Graduate students in the developmental psychology concentration immediately begin collaborating with faculty on research projects and gain instructional experience in the classroom. The concentration emphasizes competence in the core areas of developmental psychology, as well as in research methods and statistics.
Research
UConn psychological sciences professors study several areas of development, including:
- Cognitive capacities, including memory, language, and auditory processing
- Socioemotional development in the context of peer relationships and parent-child interaction
- The emergence of linguistic structure and meaning
- Children experiencing typical and atypical development
- Environmental influences on development
Outcomes
Alumni of the developmental psychology concentration have positions in colleges and universities throughout the country and abroad, in public and private research organizations, and in businesses and organizations emphasizing children’s development and well-being.
Learn more about developmental psychology alumni placements.
Financial Aid
Most students admitted into the Ph.D. program receive a graduate assistantship for research or teaching. The assistantship includes a tuition waiver, stipend, and a range of other benefits. Students can also apply for other scholarships, fellowships, and awards based on financial need and academic merit, as well as interdisciplinary graduate training programs.
Admissions
All application materials must be received by January 1.
Applications received by December 1 will be given preferential status for financial support (Departmental and University fellowships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships).
Full Ph.D. Admissions Requirements
Please designate "developmental psychology” as your concentration in the online application.
We strongly encourage applicants to review our list of faculty members and reach out to inquire whether they are accepting new students.
Contact Us
For questions about the developmental psychology concentration, please contact the director:
Nicole Landi
Professor of Psychological Sciences
nicole.landi@uconn.edu