Developmental Psychology Concentration

The developmental psychology concentration is designed to provide students with understanding in the many ways in which peoples thinking and abilities change over time. Coursework provides for a broad foundation in psychology across the lifespan while also allowing for students to focus on a developmental period (e.g. childhood).The concentration in developmental psychology may be of interest to students who are planning to attend graduate school in developmental psychology or a related field, such as human development and family studies, school psychology, or clinical child psychology. In addition, the coursework will help prepare students to work with people directly, or to be employed in contexts (e.g., schools or agencies) that work with people. 

Students pursuing the BA with concentration in developmental psychology take 12 credits. Students must earn a minimum GPA of 2.00 in all coursework applied to the concentration.

Students who successfully complete the Psychology Department honors Program (PSYC 490, 491, and 492) with an honors thesis/project on development psychology may, with approval of their thesis committees and the associate chair for undergraduate studies, substitute their honors work for one course in the concentration.

Note: a concentration is a narrow specialization within a student’s major/field of study. This is different from a minor, which is a secondary field of study a student pursues outside of their major.

Opportunities

All students have opportunities to

  • conduct independent research
  • engage in globally-related activities through coursework and language study at Mason and abroad
  • participate in many forms of public service
  • prepare for their future careers through internships, career-focused minors and other college-to-career activities