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Are mindful people better at regulating their emotions?

Emotions such as fear, sadness, anger, and so on often need to be "regulated" for us to behave in healthy, adaptive ways. How can people better regulate their emotions when stressed? read more...

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Can we help children with ADHD succeed in school?

Adolescents with ADHD often experience significant problems in school, such as failing grades and low achievement test scores. Can we predict these problems before they occur? read more...

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Why do African American youth trade cigarettes for cigars?

Many youth perceive cigars to pose fewer health risks than cigarettes. But, is this true? read more...

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Are cultural issues important in rehabilitation medicine?

Many health problems and disabilities disproportionately affect ethnic minority communities. But what can rehabilitation specialists do to change that? read more...

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Is religious counseling effective?

Many religious people say they want religious counseling. But is it effective? And, if it is not available, is secular counseling less effective for religious people than religious counseling? read more...

Program Details

Students in Developmental Psychology must take the Department of Psychology’s core curriculum, which has been designed to provide a solid foundation in psychology. In addition, students take required courses in this program and a number of elective courses in their specialty area.

Graduate Handbook for Developmental Psychology, 2010 [PDF] – In this document you can learn about the developmental psychology program’s training philosophy and goals as well as the curriculum and requirements for the master’s and Ph.D. programs.

Developmental/Clinical Students

A limited number of students (typically, one per year) will be admitted as Developmental/Clinical students. These students will take a curriculum that combines Developmental and Child Clinical training. Developmental science provides an organized structure for the study of development, and applied developmental practice provides opportunities for using this knowledge and perspective. Through Developmental, students will study typical as well as atypical developmental processes from conception through the lifespan and gain an understanding of the biological, psychological, and social factors that influence the course of development. Clinical psychology extends this by providing additional theory, methodology, assessment skills, and therapeutic treatments to enable graduates to work clinically with individuals, families, and groups.

Research advising normally will be provided by Developmental faculty. A faculty member in Child Clinical will serve as a secondary advisor and oversee the student’s clinical training and supervision, assignments to practica, and preparation for internship. Students will complete all the coursework now required for Child Clinical as well as all but one of the courses required for Developmental. The program will take an extra year to complete.

Applicants who are interested in being considered for this program should state this in their applications and personal statements. The application should be submitted to Clinical by their deadline, December 10. Faculty from both programs will review, interview, and agree upon the candidates. Applicants who are not selected as Developmental/Clinical students may still be considered for admission to either Developmental or Clinical.

The degree that is awarded is the Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Students who complete this training will meet all requirements for licensure in Clinical Psychology in Virginia.