Developmental psychology BS / BA
Study human development across the lifespan. Complete coursework in topic areas including social and emotional development, cognitive development, language development, emotional and behavioral disorders, biological development, and research methods.
Our developmental psychology (formerly called child psychology) undergraduate program is offered through the College of Liberal Arts (CLA).
- Take classes with field-leading faculty in the #1 ranked developmental psychology program in the nation (U.S. News and World Report, 2022).
- Prepare for graduate study or a career in a field that impacts the lives of children and youth.
- Have the opportunity to study abroad and experience child development across cultures through classes and internships in places like France, Denmark, London, or Australia.
- Join the Developmental Psychology Student Organization to connect with other developmental psychology students and engage with our surrounding community.
Choose your degree path
Bachelor of arts (BA)
Build a liberal arts foundation and pursue a degree that emphasizes an applied approach to developmental psychology. Take courses in developmental psychology and complete an internship or directed experience to apply what you learn. Complete an internship or directed research experience. With a combination of training in developmental psychology and an internship or research experience, you’ll be prepared for careers or additional training in areas like early childhood education, counseling, and human service programs. Our program is offered through the College of Liberal Arts (CLA).
- 37-40 major credits including the same preparatory and foundational course options as BS students
- 18 upper division credits in a different department
- Fewer major credits overall allows for flexibility
- Must meet CLA’s second language requirement of four semesters of any second language
Curriculum
Our curriculum will help you build a strong foundation in developmental psychology, writing, and applied statistics and methods. Complete an internship experience or directed research.
Select from courses on topics including:
- Social and personality development
- Global issues on children and youth in society
- Early Childhood Education
- Disabilities and development
- Perceptual development
- Cognitive development
- Development and interpersonal relationships
- Language development
- Infant development
- Adolescent psychology
View the full curriculum for a BA in developmental psychology (University Catalog)
View syllabi of previous child psychology courses (Google folder - UMN login required)
Complete an internship or directed research
As a developmental psychology student pursuing a BA degree, you’ll complete an internship or directed experience. Each student is responsible for securing an internship or directed research placement in consultation with their academic advisor.
Internship
During an internship experience, you’ll work with children in a community setting. Through your internship, you’ll apply what you’ve learned in child psychology courses to real-world experiences. Internship sites may include:
- After-school programs or summer camps
- Clinics/hospitals
- Early childhood centers
- Homeless shelters
- Museums or libraries
- Non-profit organizations
Learn more about completing an internship experience (Google site - U of M login required)
Directed research
During directed research, you’ll work as a research assistant (RA) for a lab at the Institute of Child Development. RAs are responsible for various tasks, depending on the lab. Tasks may include:
- Coding and tabulating data
- Scheduling and confirming appointments
- Sitting with siblings during research experiments
- Performing library research
- Assisting with or running research participant interviews
- Assisting in planning and carrying out studies
Bachelor of science (BS)
Pursue a degree with a stronger emphasis on research. Replace the second language requirement with additional courses in developmental psychology. With a combination of intensive training in developmental psychology and in-depth directed research, you’ll be prepared for graduate study or a career in a variety of different fields. Our program is offered through the College of Liberal Arts (CLA).
- 50-52 major credits including same preparatory and foundational course options as BA students
- Some additional, specific CPSY courses required, including a second cognitive course
- 6 credits of directed research spread over 2+ semesters
- More major credits overall
Curriculum
Our curriculum will help you build a strong foundation in developmental psychology, writing, and research methods. Complete directed research and have the option to complete an internship experience.
Core courses cover topics including:
- Social and personality development
- Biological foundations of development
- Perceptual development
- Cognitive development
- Language development and communication
- Global issues on children and youth in society
- Infant development
- Adolescent psychology
- Development and interpersonal relationships
View the full curriculum for a BS in developmental psychology (University Catalog)
View syllabi of previous child psychology courses (Google folder - UMN login required)
Complete required directed research
Directed research
As part of your program, you’re required to complete directed research. During directed research, you’ll work as a research assistant (RA) for a lab at the Institute of Child Development. RAs are responsible for various tasks, depending on the lab. Tasks may include:
- coding and tabulating data
- scheduling and confirming appointments
- sitting with siblings during research experiments
- performing library research
- assisting with or running research participant interviews
- assisting in planning and carrying out studies
Each student is responsible for securing a directed research placement in consultation with their academic advisor.
Consider an optional internship
As a student pursuing a BS in developmental psychology, you have the option to complete an internship experience, where you’ll work with children in a community setting. Through your internship, you’ll apply what you’ve learned in child psychology courses to real-world experiences. You’ll also have an opportunity to develop your career skills working with children and youth.
If you choose to do an internship for credit, you are responsible for securing an internship placement in consultation with your academic advisor. We encourage students to choose an internship location that matches their career interests.
Examples of internship sites include:
- after-school programs
- children's hospitals,
- mental/behavioral health clinics
- clinics/hospitals
- early childhood centers
- government agencies
- homeless shelters
- museums
- non-profit organizations
- school districts
Learn more about completing an internship experience (Google site - U of M login required)
Honors
Choose to pursue an honors sequence as part of your developmental psychology major. Honors students complete both an honors seminar (CPSY 3360H) and an honors thesis course (CPSY 4994V), in addition to the Honors requirements outside the major. During the thesis course, students carry out their honors research project in arrangement with an ICD faculty member.
Careers
With a degree in developmental psychology, you'll be prepared for graduate study or for a career in fields like health care, science, education, business, consulting, marketing, nonprofit, human services, and social justice.
Our alumni have pursued careers including:
- Behavioral Therapist Aide - Partners in Excellence
- Program Coordinator - Meridian Services
- Psychometrist (Neuropsychology) - Fraser
- Child Development Specialist - Recovery Resource Center
- Mental Health Practitioner and Registered Nurse - The Emily Program
- Special Education Paraprofessional - Independent School District 197
- Child Care Teacher - Encompass Early Education and Care
- Health & Benefits Consulting Analyst - Mercer
- Chief Operating Officer - East Side Neighborhood Services
- Occupational Therapist - University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics
- Human Resources Coordinator - Pentair
- Domestic And Sexual Violence Advocate - Cornerstone Advocacy Services
- Youth Response Center Leader - The Bridge for Youth
- Parks and Recreation Leader - City of Hopkins and Minnetonka
- Child Protection Social Worker - Hennepin County Child Protection
Meet your advisor
We're here to answer any questions you have about the program.
Quote from Meghan Allen Eliason
I meet with undergraduate students to discuss program requirements and career goals. I am excited to get to know you and help you along your path. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with questions.
Get started
First-year admissions
First-year student admissions are handled through the Office of Admissions. You're considered a first-year student if you graduated high school and are starting your first-year of college at the U of M.
To learn more and apply, click here.
Transfer admissions
You're considered a transfer student if you've registered or enrolled at a college, university, or any other school after graduating from high school.
The Developmental Psychology BA, BS, and minor are housed in the College of Liberal Arts. Current U of M students who are not in the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) are also considered transfer students.
If you're interested in transferring to CLA, review their transfer admissions website.
Declare a major
Are you a current U of M student who would like to declare or add a developmental psychology major? Please visit our developmental psychology student resources Google site for further information (U of M login required).
If you'd like to add a minor in developmental psychology, visit our developmental psychology minor page for information on requirements and the declaration process. You do not need to be a CLA student to declare a developmental psychology minor.
Tuition and funding
Visit One Stop Student Services to learn more about tuition and financing.
Visit the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) financial aid and scholarships page to find out more about CLA-specific opportunities..
Interested in taking an undergraduate developmental psychology course but aren't a student at the U of M? Visit OneStop Student Services to learn more about how to register.