Welcome to George Mason University's
Applied Developmental Psychology
Website

Applied Developmental Psychology is concerned with enhancing developmental processes and preventing developmental disorders in individuals and families across the life span.  It uses the knowledge base and methodologies of developmental science to assist the development of individuals who vary in cultural and ethnic background, economic and social opportunity, physical, social, emotional, and cognitive abilities, and conditions of living (e.g., families, neighborhoods, communities, and physical settings).  Activities of applied developmental psychologists include: (1) applied research on questions concerning children's development, (2) the study of developmental correlates and outcomes of contemporary social phenomena (i.e., child care, divorce, poverty, low birth weight, etc.), (3) the construction and utilization of developmental assessment instruments, (4) the design, implementation, and evaluation of interventions for improving the welfare of children, and (5) the dissemination of the developmental knowledge base to groups and individuals through education, written materials, the mass media, advocacy, and expert testimony.

GMU offers M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in Applied Developmental Psychology.  The program focuses on development during childhood and provides basic knowledge about typical development, skills for assessing developmental level and conducting research, and techniques for planning and evaluating programs that foster optimal development.  Opportunities exist for mentored research from the first year, comprehensive training in advanced statistical analysis, practicum training at local sites, training in teaching methods, and applied work under faculty supervision at community sites.