Doctor of Philosophy in Developmental Psychology

Our vision is to foster a community of scholars committed to advancing developmental science through the creation and application of knowledge, with a focus on the role of context and culture in the learning and well-being of infants, children, adolescents, and families. Our Developmental Psychology doctorate emphasizes intersections among biology, culture, and context in developmental processes across areas of social, cognitive, language, and emotional development. You will apply a variety of methods (e.g., experimental, quasi-experimental, survey, observational, semi-structured interviews) to the study of individual and environmental influences on the development of infants, preschoolers, children, and adolescents at multiple, nested levels. You will be required to take classes in developmental content areas and, analytic methods and research, and advanced seminars on theories of change and theories of culture.You’ll engage in community- andor laboratory-based research for the entire length of your studies under the supervision of primary and secondary faculty mentors. We conduct our research in laboratories at New York University and in the homes, daycares, schools, hospitals, neighborhoods, and community settings of the multiethnic and richly diverse city of New York.Additionally, international research is a cornerstone of the program. Faculty and students study developmental processes and contextual influences in countries such as China, India, South Africa, Korea, and Peru. We work closely with our affiliated global faculty at NYU Shanghai and NYU Abu Dhabi.