Graduate Certificate in Lifespan Development
Developmental psychology and lifespan developmental studies include the scientific study of psychological changes that occur over the life course. Therefore, developmental studies are inherently interested in many of the same questions of other areas of psychology, education, family studies, etc., but by investigating the ways in which particular psychological processes change and develop from infancy to adolescence, and through to adulthood. The purpose of the graduate certificate in lifespan development is to provide students in other areas of psychological study, or human behavior broadly defined, a better understanding of the ways in which psychological functions change with age, as well as the challenges and special considerations that are a part of research with children and adolescents and how they may be different from those of working with adults.
Requirements
The requirements for acceptance and completion of work for the certificate are as follows:
- The student must be enrolled and in good standing in a doctoral-level program at MU (available to degree-seeking students only).
- A request to be included in the certificate program must be made in advance of final completion of courses to Nicole Campione-Barr, PhD. This can be done via e-mail or hard copy, however, the request must also be approved by the student’s major advisor.
- A formal plan of study must be submitted to the Graduate School no later than the semester prior to graduation. This must be signed by the certificate coordinator (Nicole Campione-Barr) and the director of graduate studies of the student’s major department.
- Students must complete a minimum of 15 credit hours to be awarded the certificate, following the below guidelines:
Core Courses: students are required to take 3 core courses | ||
PSYCH 8410 | Psychology of Development | 3 |
or H_D_FS 8210 | Theories of Human Development | |
PSYCH 8420 | Cognitive Development | 3 |
or H_D_FS 8420 | Cognitive Development | |
PSYCH 8440 | Social and Emotional Development | 3 |
or H_D_FS 8440 | Social and Emotional Development | |
Electives* | 6 | |
Options within the Department of Psychological Sciences, and Human Development and Family Studies are listed below. Other pre-approved options are listed and include courses in Communication Sciences and Disorders, Educational School and Counseling Psychology, Social Work, and Special Education. Courses other than those listed may be appropriate, but should be approved prior to registration. | ||
Developmental psychology such as PSYCH 7420 | ||
Studies in Developmental Psychology | ||
Research in Psychology - Non-Thesis | ||
Research in Psychology - Non-Dissertation | ||
Foundations of Youth Development | ||
Black Families | ||
Topics in Human Development and Family Science | ||
Family Dynamics and Intervention | ||
Developmental Perspectives on Health and Illness | ||
Family Theories | ||
Youth Development | ||
Advanced Seminar on Multicultural Families | ||
Adolescence and Emerging Adulthood | ||
Life Course Perspective | ||
Remarriage & Stepfamilies: Development, Dynamics, & Intervention | ||
Gendered Relations in Families | ||
Family Interaction | ||
Children, Families and Public Policy | ||
Poverty | ||
Problems in Human Development and Family Science | ||
Research in Human Development and Family Science | ||
Child and Adolescent Development in Schools | ||
Lifespan Development | ||
Foundations of Career Psychology | ||
Cultural Backgrounds and Learning | ||
Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders in Youth | ||
Developmental Psychopathology and Exceptionality | ||
Language and Development in Infancy | ||
Developmental Language Disorders | ||
Helping Strategies With Children and Adolescents | ||
Language Development of Exceptional Students | ||
Advanced Studies in Developmental Disabilities |
Need for Certificate Program
For students within the child clinical psychology Ph.D. program of study there is a need for some students to gain greater exposure to developmental studies. Currently, the department of Psychological Sciences offers a dual child clinical and developmental psychology degree program. This program is extremely rigorous, however, and students and faculty within the Department of Psychological Sciences have identified a need for more in-depth study in developmental science without the commitment of a second degree. In creating the certificate program, however, it was determined that graduate students in other related fields may also wish to pursue further study in lifespan development. In particular, students in education, social work, communication science and disorders, and additional areas within psychology may benefit from greater understanding of developmental processes which could be gained through the required and elective course work outlined in this certificate program.
Impact on Current Programs of Study
The impact to current programs of study is expected to be relatively minimal other than the inclusion of potentially a few more students enrolled in the aforementioned classes.
Advisory Committee Members
Debi Bell, Psychological Sciences
Nicole Campione-Barr, Psychological Sciences
Marilyn Coleman, Human Development & Family Studies
Larry Ganong, Human Development & Family Studies
Jean Ispa, Human Development & Family Studies
Amanda Rose, Psychological Sciences
Participating/Affiliated Faculty - Various faculty from the following departments:
Psychological Sciences
Human Development and Family Studies
Communication Science and Disorders
Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology
Special Education
Social Work
Contact
When needed, advising will be provided to students by lifespan development certificate coordinator (Nicole Campione-Barr), in conjunction with the student’s major advisor.
Dr. Nicole Campione-Barr, Coordinator
Lifespan Development Graduate Certificate Program
204D McAlester Hall
email: campionebarrn@missouri.edu
phone: (573) 884-1681