Advanced Certificate in Developmental Science
Director, Jamie M. Ostrov, PhD, and a graduate student in the lab
The Advanced Certificate in Developmental Science allows graduate students in psychology to study developmental science theory, methods and application. This certificate is designed to enhance the formal training opportunities of graduate students in psychology so that they are able to effectively contribute to knowledge generation and knowledge transfer within the developmental science field.
Director: Jamie M. Ostrov, PhD
The Learning Environment
Developmental scientists address important questions and problems that have impact on children, adolescents, families, health providers, policy makers and the larger community. The topics of study range from the development of aggression and substance use problems to aging and language development and are fundamentally important for the scientific field as well as the public.
The Advanced Certificate in Developmental Science is a 16-credit program that is designed to complement doctoral and MA degrees offered in the Department of Psychology. The curriculum provides students enrolled in one of the department's graduate programs the opportunity to explore topics and approaches in developmental science broadly and exposure to the fields of developmental psychology, applied developmental psychology, developmental psychopathology, lifespan development and related disciplines using human and animal models through a combination of coursework and research experiences.
Certificate Coursework (16 Credit Hours):
- 3 credit course: PSY 617 Advanced Developmental Psychology
- 3 credits: PSY 644 Developmental Science Seminar (1 credit seminar taken over the course of 3 semesters)
- 9 credits of electives:
- PSY 618 Developmental Psychopathology (3 credits)
- PSY 611 History and Systems of Psychology (1 credit)
- PSY 747 Language Development (3 credits)
- PSY 614 Structural Equation Modeling (3 credits) or PSY 609 Multivariate Statistics (3 credits)
- PSY 600 Graduate Work (1-3 credits)*
- Psy 645 Cognitive Development
- 1 credit course: PSY 600 (Graduate Work) for a developmentally informed research paper, review article or project (such as a conference presentation) based on a lab experience. The research would need to be related to developmental science. A doctoral project or an MA thesis could meet this paper/article/project requirement pending approval of two faculty affiliated with the advanced certificate program (one of whom will be the research mentor/supervisor).
*This is an independent study option. Students must work in a lab related to developmental science for this course to fulfill an elective option.
Goal 1: Students will acquire knowledge of developmental theory and scientific methods
- Objective 1: All students will demonstrate skill in characterizing the nature of developmental science as a scientific discipline and integrate knowledge across domains of study, theories, and empirical evidence.
- Expected Competencies: This will be evidenced by: (1) successful completion of courses, and (2) successful completion of the research project.
Goal 2: Students will acquire knowledge to compare and contrast assumptions, theories/methods, and approaches within the developmental science discipline.
- Objective 2: Student will demonstrate skill in comparing and contrasting assumptions, theories/methods, and approaches within the developmental science discipline.
- Expected Competencies: This will be evidenced by: (1) successful completion of courses, and (2) successful completion of the research project.
Goal 3: Students will acquire skills to critically evaluate psychology research in developmental science.
- Objective 3: Students will demonstrate skill in (a) recognizing strengths and limitations of various research designs and statistical methods relevant for developmental science (e.g., longitudinal data analysis methods), (b) evaluating the appropriateness of conclusions derived for developmental science research, and (c) recognizing implications of developmental science research for practice and/or policy.
- Expected Competencies: This will be evidenced by: (1) successful completion of courses, and (2) successful completion of the research project.
Goal 4: Students will acquire skills to effectively communicate developmental science research in both written and oral contexts.
- Objective 3: Students will demonstrate skill in effectively communicating developmental science research in both written and oral contexts.
- Expected Competencies: This will be evidenced by: (1) successful completion of courses, and (2) successful completion of research project.
The Admissions Process
Students may apply to the certificate program after matriculation into one of the Department of Psychology's graduate degree programs (Behavioral Neuroscience, Clinical, Cognitive or Social-Personality PhD programs, or MA in General Psychology program). The admissions requirement is good academic standing in one of these graduate programs.
Departmental Faculty
UB Affiliated Faculty
- Stephanie Anzman-Frasca, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, School of Medicine
- Jennifer Livingston, Associate Professor, School of Nursing
- Amanda Nickerson, Professor, Graduate School of Education and Director of the Alberti Center
- Katarzyna Kordas, Associate Professor, School of Public Health and Health Professions
Affiliated Faculty
- Stephanie Godleski, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Rochester Institute of Technology
- Kimberly Kamper-DeMarco, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Buffalo State University
- Sarah Blakely-McClure, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, Canisius University
