Doctoral Study in Applied Developmental Psychology

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1 Doctoral Study in Applied Developmental Psychology Department of Psychology University of New Orleans College of Sciences New Orleans, LA With a Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of New Orleans you will be prepared to teach at the college level, conduct research, and provide professional psychological services. Graduates from our program are currently in academic positions in higher education, working in government positions, and providing clinical services as licensed psychologists. Over the past four years, 100% of program graduates have had full-time job offers at graduation. One of two major areas within the department of psychology at the University of New Orleans, Applied Developmental Psychology, uses developmental theory and research to promote positive developmental outcomes in individuals, families, and communities. The applied developmental approach emphasizes that human behavior, both normal and disordered, is often best understood as developing from similar processes. Just as normal human development is a complex interaction of evolutionary, genetic, experiential, social, and cultural processes, so too are problems in human development that lead to mental illness. Developmental psychologists have traditionally taken a strong interest in understanding the processes that can either enhance optimal development or that can set into motion a maladaptive trajectory that increases the risk for the development of psychopathological conditions. Accordingly, the applied developmental approach emphasizes preventive interventions as early in the developmental trajectory as possible, rather than simply focusing on treating existing disorders. An Emphasis on Developmental Psychopathology The UNO Applied Developmental Psychology program has an explicit emphasis in developmental psychopathology. This emphasis in developmental psychopathology makes UNO s program unique, since most other Applied Developmental programs typically focus on normative developmental processes and the promotion of healthy development. The developmental psychopathology framework stresses the importance of applying our understanding of normal developmental processes to the study, prevention, and treatment of psychopathological conditions. Because these developmental processes are diverse, faculty in this program bring varying expertise to the study, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of psychopathological disorders that cuts across traditional disciplinary boundaries in psychology. Given the importance of biological processes in both normal and abnormal development, there is a collaborative atmosphere with students and faculty in the Applied Biopsychology program. When you complete your Ph.D. in Applied Developmental Psychology at UNO, you will be uniquely suited to carry out research that cuts across traditional boundaries in psychology (e.g., clinical, developmental, biological, school, community) and to develop and implement interventions based on this integrated approach to understanding psychopathological disorders.

2 Training Orientation The training philosophy endorsed by the Applied Developmental Psychology program emphasizes a scientific approach to understanding both normal and disordered behavior, one that is heavily influenced by the developmental tradition, and which emphasizes the application of this knowledge to enhancing the development of individuals, families, and communities. The scientific emphasis of the program will prepare you to critically examine the practice of psychology and to advocate for improvements in the application of psychology based on scientific principles. Training scholars with these types of applied skills requires course work and research, but also practical experience in a variety of applied settings. UNO s urban location maximizes the opportunity for links with the medical and human services community that will provide you with various types of practical experience. The Applied Developmental Psychology program shares with the department as a whole the commitment to training applied scientists who can contribute to the science of psychology by conducting innovative programmatic research and who can develop and implement practical applications of this research. Each semester, you will be involved in research under the guidance of a faculty mentor, working diligently to become an expert in an area related to developmental psychopathology. The strong research emphasis is explicit and was not designed to detract from the applied training of the program, but to enhance it. Many research projects focus directly on testing innovative approaches to assessing psychopathology or on testing innovative approaches for preventing and treating various types of psychological disorders. You will be trained not only to integrate your research into theoretical frameworks, but to consider how this work can be translated into practical applications or how it can inform public policy. As an Applied Developmental Psychology doctoral student, you will be trained to function in a number of different types of settings upon graduation. These range from teaching and conducting research at universities to providing psychological services in various mental health settings. The success of this ADP Faculty Mentors Paul Frick, Ph.D. University Distinguished pfrick@uno.edu Robert Laird, Ph.D. rlaird@uno.edu Monica Marsee, Ph.D. Assistant mmarsee@uno.edu Laura Scaramella, Ph.D. lscarame@uno.edu Carl Weems, Ph. D. cweems@uno.edu For more information visit: training is evidenced by the diversity of career paths chosen by recent graduates from the program. The majority have taken academic positions in university departments of psychology or at major medical centers across the country. However, a significant number of graduates have chosen to obtain the additional postdoctoral supervision in the practice of psychology required to be licensed and have chosen to practice in mental health agencies or in private practice. Even those graduates who have chosen more applied career paths have typically continued their involvement in academic psychology by teaching or conducting research as an adjunct faculty member at a university or medical center.

3 Admission The Applied Developmental Psychology program plans to admit 5 to 7 new students each year. Applicants must have completed 21 credit hours of psychology (including introductory psychology, statistics, and experimental psychology) to be considered for admission. Students must also complete the Graduate Record Exam (the Psychology subject test is not required). The UNO Graduate School requires for admission a) a minimum 2.5 GPA for all undergraduate work and a 3.0 GPA for all graduate and post-bachelor work, b) satisfactory academic standing at the last university or college attended, and c) satisfactory test scores on the GRE. Students who meet these UNO minimum requirements must still meet the admission requirements of the Department of Psychology and the Applied Developmental Psychology program. Up-to-date information on admission is available on the psychology department website, Applicants should contact the graduate coordinator with questions. Students admitted for Fall 2012 have a mean undergraduate GPA of 3.53 (range = 3.1 to 3.9), Verbal GRE score of 156 (range = 149 to 164), and a Quantitative GRE score of 153 (range = 146 to 161). However, it is important to note that GRE scores and undergraduate GPA are not the only criteria considered for admission. The quality of the undergraduate curriculum, the extent and quality of involvement in research, and letters of recommendation all strongly influence admission decisions. In examining all of these sources of information, your research aptitude and the match between your career goals and the training mission of the program are critical considerations. Finally, for you to be admitted, a faculty member must be willing to serve as your major professor upon admission. Because the department is strongly committed to enhancing cultural diversity within the profession of psychology, applications from minority students are strongly encouraged. Funding The department typically funds all doctoral students through assistantships (which include tuition). You are likely to be supported by teaching assistantships (funded by UNO) or research assistantships (financed by faculty grants and awards from the state or the university) that require 20 hours of work each week. You also will be encouraged to apply for fellowships awarded by the UNO Graduate School or by agencies outside the university. Curriculum Graduate Coordinator Laura Scaramella, Ph.D. Voice: Fax: lscarame@uno.edu Much of the course work is designed to provide you with the educational background to conduct research independently upon successful completion of the program. This research emphasis is explicitly designed to enhance the applied developmental aspects of the program. General Core Curriculum. The training philosophy endorsed by the department emphasizes a scientific approach to understanding both normal and disordered behavior. The edification required by the Applied Developmental Psychology program reinforces this orientation by training you in basic psychological methods through a general fundamental curriculum shared by students in the Applied Biopsychology program. You will complete a two course sequence in Advanced Statistics, (Psych 6311 & Psych 6312), Advanced Learning (Psych 6350), a seminar

4 on Professional Problems and Ethics (Psych 6050), Applied Biopsychology (Psych 6801), Psychopathology (Psych 6550), and four one-hour seminars on Professional Issues (Psych 6091). You will also be required to take Teaching of Psychology (Psych 7010), a one semester course providing didactic instruction and supervised experience in teaching an undergraduate psychology course. Applied Developmental Core Curriculum. The general core curriculum is complemented by an applied developmental core which focuses on the developmental approach to understanding human behavior and making important applications from this approach. You will take courses on Advanced Developmental Theory (Psych 6101), Applied Developmental Interventions (Psych 6102), Assessment of Intelligence (Psych 6610), and Developmental Assessment of Psychopathology (Psych 6620). You will also take an advanced seminar (Psych 6195) on research methods used in applied developmental research (e.g., longitudinal data analysis, program evaluation design). Advanced Electives. Through the general and applied developmental core, all students are provided with a wellrounded background in research methodology, developmental theory, and applications of developmental theory, especially as it relates to understanding and preventing psychopathology. The remainder of the curriculum allows for substantial flexibility by students, so that it can be tailored to the diversity of career paths chosen by students. Developmental electives allow students to choose classes that enhance their knowledge of developmental processes (e.g., Social-Emotional Development, Cognitive Development) and that enhance their expertise in applying their knowledge of development to the practice of psychology (e.g., Forensic Psychology, Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions, Family Therapy). There are additional course offerings in areas such as advanced seminars in statistics, psychological assessment, and current topics in developmental psychopathology. You will be encouraged to propose special topics courses as well. Minor Area of Study. You also will be required to design a minor course of study that provides a focused Sample Course Schedule Yr 1 Fall 6311 Advanced Statistics I Psychopathology Developmental Theory 3 Yr1 Spring 6312 Advanced Statistics II Professional Issues/Ethics Applied Dev. Interventions 3 Thesis Prospectus Yr2 Fall 6801 Applied Biopsychology I Assessment of Intelligence Thesis Research 3 Yr2 Spring 6530 Advanced Learning Assessment of Psychopathology Thesis Research 3 Thesis Defense Yr3 Fall 7010 Teaching of Psychology 3 Elec Qualifying Exam Yr3 Spring 6195 Advanced Seminar ADP 3 Advan ced Applied Bio. Elec./Minor/Gen. 3 Elec. Dissertation Prospectus Yr4 Fall 7050 Dissertation Research 3 Yr4 Elec. Spring 7050 Dissertation Research 3 Yr5+ Elec. (optional) 7191 Applied Dev. Internship 6

5 concentration of coursework and/or practical experiences that will enhances your ability to obtain employment after graduation. The minor involves at least 9 semester hours of coursework and/or practical experience within some clearly defined content area (e.g., methods of intervention, program evaluation, advanced assessment, advanced methodology) and often includes courses taken outside of the psychology department. Practicum Experiences and Internships. You will complete four semesters of Applied Developmental Practicum (Psych 6191). Practicum placements within the departmental clinic and at approved practicum sites will provide you with diverse experiences in the practice of psychology under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. A particular emphasis in this supervised practice is to provide you with experience working with developmentally, culturally, religiously, and sexually diverse populations, thereby enhancing course work designed to increase your sensitivity to the unique needs of persons from diverse backgrounds. Although an internship is not required, students who desire to apply for licensure to practice psychology after graduation can elect to take a one-year pre-doctoral internship during which you would receive extensive supervision in the practice of psychology. Research Requirements. You will be involved in research throughout your time in the program. Each semester that you are not taking either Thesis or Dissertation hours, you will be enrolled in an Independent Research course (Psych 6090). Also, as part of the requirements for the Masters of Science degree, you will complete a thesis that is based on your own original research. You will work closely with your major professor on your thesis and many of these original projects get published in peer-reviewed journals. Of the students who graduated in the past five years, 94% had published their research in peer-reviewed journals during graduate training. An integral part of the requirements for the Ph.D. degree is the successful completion of the dissertation, another original research project. You will function more independently on your dissertation to demonstrate mastery of research techniques, your ability to conduct original research, and your skill in formulating conclusions that in some way enlarge upon or modify existing psychological theory. The dissertation is expected to make a substantial contribution to the scientific literature. Qualifying Exam. One of the requirements for assessing competency is the qualifying exam, in which you must demonstrate competency in at least four content areas: 1) biological basis of behavior, 2) cognitive-affective basis of behavior, 3) social basis of behavior, and 4) individual differences. Documentation of competency within these four areas is required as part of most states psychology licensure guidelines. While the semester-long qualifying exam may appear daunting, students completing the exam often mention that this was the first time that they felt they were an expert and independent of their faculty mentor. More information on the Applied Developmental Psychology program, including more information about the Faculty Mentors and their labs, is available on the department s web site, or by contacting the Applied Developmental Psychology Program Director. Applied Developmental Program Director Robert Laird, Ph.D. voice: fax: rlaird@uno.edu 2000 Lakeshore Drive New Orleans, LA 70148