发展心理学（Developmental Psychology），或作“成长心理学”，是心理学的分支学科，主要是研究人类随着年龄的增长时在发展过程中的心理变化。最初主要是研究婴儿与儿童后延伸至青少年、成人发展、老年人以及人的整个一生。该领域研究的话题包括运动机能以及其他心理到生理上的过程：认知发展心理学包括解决问题、认识与理解、概念认识、语言掌握、社会个人和情感的发展以及自我认识等。

发展心理学涉及的领域很多，包括：教育心理学、儿童心理学、法医成长心理学、社会心理学、认知心理学、生态心理学和比较心理学等。

发展心理学专业的学生即学习人类从婴儿到成人的心理成长过程。课程包括幼儿与青少年的行为理疗和老年心理学。*(1)

就业展望

Students of developmental psychology learn about the psychological growth of people from infancy through adulthood. Courses include such topics as child and adolescent behavior therapy and the psychology of aging.

儿童家庭与学校社会工作者Child, Family, and School Social Workers：$45,300

教育职业学校咨询师Educational, Vocational, and School Counselors：$56,170

学校心理医生School Psychologists：$72,220

私家侦探Detective/Private Investigator：$77,860*(6)

社会工作者及其他Social Worker：$54,870*(7)

本科课程列表

心理学概论	General Psychology
统计学	Statistics
心理学研究	Research in Psychology
社会心理学	Social Psychology
儿童心理学	Psychology of Childhood
精神病理学与心理治疗	Psychopathology and Psychotherapy
心理生物学概论	Introduction to Psychobiology
学习记忆与认知	Learning Memory and Cognition
量变与统计方法	Quantitative and Statistical Methods
行为矫正学	Behavior Modification

*(8)

注：课程列表为本科专业课程列表。

选校分析

1	明尼苏达大学双城分校  University of Minnesota–​Twin Cities
2	密歇根大学安娜堡分校  University of Michigan–​Ann Arbor
3	斯坦福大学  Stanford University
4	哈佛大学  Harvard University
5	滨州州立大学公园分校  Pennsylvania State University–​University Park
5	加州大学伯克利分校  UCB
5	加州大学洛杉矶分校  UCLA
5	北卡罗来纳大学教堂山分校  University of North Carolina–​Chapel Hill
5	弗吉尼亚大学  University of Virginia
5	威斯康辛大学麦迪顿分校  University of Wisconsin–​Madison

注：以上排名为2014USNEWS发展心理学（Developmental Psychology）专业排名。

心理准备

Are You Ready To...?

Visit the website of the American Psychological Association

Consider joining the national psychology honorary society, Psi Chi

Conduct research

Spend time in the lab

Join campus psychology clubs*(9)

学生评价

Someone fascinated by the ways in which we change as we age. You'll enjoy this major if you can combine a love of scientific study with good communication skills. And you'll need patience to cope with the often slow progress of scientific research.

As a Developmental Psychology major, you’ll be prepared to work as a psychologist with a wide number of different populations, including children, the elderly, and families.*(9)

参考资料

(1) Developmental psychology Wikipedia

(2) Major: Developmental Psychology The Princeton Review

(3) Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012 21-1021 Child, Family, and School Social Workers U.S. Bureua of Labor Statistics

(4) Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012 21-1012 Educational, Guidance, School, and Vocational Counselors U.S. Bureua of Labor Statistics

(5) Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012 19-3031 Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists U.S. Bureua of Labor Statistics

(6) Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012 33-3021 Detectives and Criminal Investigators U.S. Bureua of Labor Statistics

(7) Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2012 21-1029 Social Workers, All Other U.S.Bureua of Labor Statistics

(8) Major: Developmental Psychology The Princeton Review

(9) Major: Developmental Psychology College Board