Nov 21, 2024  
2024-2025 Graduate Catalog 
    
2024-2025 Graduate Catalog

Psychology, Specialization in Developmental Psychology, PhD


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The Department of Psychology offers programs leading to the degrees of Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy.  All of the program areas are research oriented. The Clinical and Industrial/Organizational Programs provide training in applied areas in addition to research. Students are only admitted to a Ph.D. program areas in psychology. Graduate students earn the M.A. as a component of the Ph.D. program.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the doctoral degree, students in the Psychology program are expected to be able to:

  • Achieve competencies in graduate level statistical methods.
  • Achieve competencies in graduate level psychological research methods.
  • Achieve competencies that reflect the breadth of psychology.
  • Achieve competencies in program specific/core knowledge areas.
  • Acquire direct experience in teaching.
  • Acquire direct experience in mentored research.
  • Design, implement, evaluate, and summarize the results of at least two independently conceived research projects.
  • Develop professional relationships and roles outside of the classroom.
  • Acquire skills in dissemination of research findings to the scientific community.

Admission Requirements

Deadline for Fall is January 1*
*All programs admit once per year for Fall semester. Since application reviews may begin immediately after the deadline, we recommend submitting your application and providing all required documents before the deadline.
Documents required:

  • Three Letters of Recommendation
  • Professional Resume
  • Statement of Purpose

International applicants are required to submit scores from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the Pearson Test of English Academic (PTEA). Successful completion of ELS 112 will also be accepted for this requirement. 

Additionally, Duolingo test scores will be accepted for applications through Summer 2025. Applicants of the Graduate College who have completed a previous degree (associate, bachelor’s master’s or doctorate) from a U.S. college/university or are from a country (click here for a complete list) in which instruction was delivered in English (and attended the university for at least two years) are exempt from providing these test scores.

Application Requirements

Admissions Categories and Grade Point Average Requirements

International Application Information

Degree Requirements

Curriculum Requirements


Other Requirements (15-18 credits)


Culminating Experience (16 credits)


Minimum Total Credits (90 credits)


Additional Requirements


  • Minimum 3.0 graduate cumulative grade point average
  • Maximum of 10 credits of 5000-level coursework may be counted toward degree requirements
  • Preliminary Examination or Project
  • Minimum of  16 credits of dissertation research (maximum of 30 credits of dissertation research are applicable to degree requirements)
  • Dissertation Defense and Publication of Manuscript on OhioLINK
  • All requirements must be completed within eight years from the end of the earliest course used to fulfill degree requirements.

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