Graduate Field
Psychological Sciences and Human Development
Program Description
Each program within the field of Psychological Sciences and Human Development shares four broadly defined areas of special interest:
- development
- cognition
- neuroscience
- social and personality psychology
The program prepares students for careers in academic life, primarily in psychology, sociology, or human development; in research programs of governmental agencies at various levels; and in a range of programs in community agencies and private enterprise. It does not prepare students to be clinical psychologists, school psychologists, or family life counselors.
Students develop an individual program of study and research in consultation with their Special Committee, which is chaired by a member of the Field of Human Development but may include faculty members from other fields. Students may be required to complete two semesters of graduate-level training in statistics.
All students are expected to acquire a basic background in the behavioral sciences and to master a broad base of knowledge of human development in the context of family and society. The M.A. degree program requires a research thesis.
Concentrations
- Aging and health
- Cognitive development
- Developmental psychopathology
- Ecology of human development
- Law, psychology and human development
- Social and personality development
Program Information
- Instruction Mode: In Person
- Location: Ithaca, NY
- Minimum Credits for Degree: 30
Program Requirements
- Minimum Semesters for Degree: 2
Graduate School Milestones
- Responsible Conduct of Research Training: Required
- Open Researcher and Contributor ID (ORCID): Required
- Student Progress Reviews (SPR) begin: Second Year
- Masters Exam (M Exam): Spring of first year
- Thesis: Summer of first year
Course Requirements
Additional course requirements may be set by the student’s Special Committee. Program specific requirements that apply to all students are included below.
Year 1 (Fall)
- HD 6200 First-Year Proseminar in Human Development
- HD 7010 Empirical Research
Year 1 (Spring)
- HD 6200 First-Year Proseminar in Human Development
- HD 8990 Master's Thesis and Research
University Graduation Requirements
Requirements for All Students
In order to receive a Cornell degree, a student must satisfy academic and non-academic requirements.
Academic Requirements
A student’s college determines degree requirements such as residency, number of credits, distribution of credits, and grade averages. It is the student’s responsibility to be aware of the specific major, degree, distribution, college, and graduation requirements for completing their chosen program of study. See the individual requirements listed by each college or school or contact the college registrar’s office for more information.
Non-academic Requirements
Conduct Matters. Students must satisfy any outstanding sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed or agreed to under the Student Code of Conduct (Code) or Policy 6.4. Where a formal complaint under the Code or Policy 6.4 is pending, the University will withhold awarding a degree otherwise earned until the adjudication process set forth in those procedures is complete, including the satisfaction of any sanctions, penalties or remedies imposed.
Financial Obligations. Outstanding financial obligations will not impact the awarding of a degree otherwise earned or a student’s ability to access their official transcript. However, the University may withhold issuing a diploma until any outstanding financial obligations owing to the University are satisfied.
