PhD Program in Psychology at the Graduate CenterSubprogram in Developmental PsychologyLink to the Graduate Center Homepage

STEP-BY-STEP: THE MAJOR BENCHMARKS

There are a few basic requirements which are outlined below, but please see the Program Handbook for further information.

60 Course Credits – Coursework includes 10 required and 10 elective courses.

1st Doctoral Examination - The first-year examination is a twenty-four hour long intensive exam comprised of four questions that span theoretical and methodological knowledge of the program developed through the foundational coursework. The Environmental Social Science I, II, & III series provides the majority of the basis of readings on which the student is examined.

Second Year Paper - The second-year paper is a piece of work that is written as a publishable paper on the basis of an original research work created and conducted throughout the first and second years of the program.

2nd Doctoral Examination (Orals)- Students take a two-hour oral examination in two topic areas of their choice. Students must create and submit reading lists to their three committee members.

Dissertation - The dissertation is a piece of original work that can be theoretical, empirical-theoretical, or applied theoretical in nature. The student selects a thesis sponsor and two committee members who will advise throughout the dissertation process of developing the proposal, carrying out the research, and completing the paper. Once the dissertation is accepted by the committee and two outside readers, the oral defense will complete the course of graduate study.

A GENERAL OUTLINE OF COURSES

First Year – Fall
Methods and Ethics I
ESS I: Interdisciplinary Perspectives
Elective
Elective
Program Meeting

First Year - Spring
Methods and Ethics II
Statistics I
ESS II: Ecological Psychology
Elective
Program Meeting

Second Year – Fall
Second Year Paper I
Statistics II
ESS III: Social and Cultural Theories
Elective
Program Meeting

Second Year - Spring
Second Year Paper II
Social Policy Elective
Elective
Elective
Program Meeting

Third Year – Fall
Elective (Advanced Methods recommended)
Elective (Advanced Data Analysis recommended)
Elective
Elective