How are we able to go from newborns to adults? It’s a question that has intrigued biologists for generations. It’s not just our bodies that develop and change over time. Our minds develop and change as well. Perhaps you studied this in high school or even as a psychology major, but the developmental psychology field is so rich with knowledge and theory that you can specialize in this area of expertise by earning a PhD or MS in Developmental Psychology. Here are a few of the many reasons why you might want to earn such a degree.
It Can Expand the Way You Think
Developmental psychology deals with some of the most fundamental qualities that make us human. When you earn a PhD or MS in Developmental Psychology, you’ll learn about cognitive development, social development, intellectual development, and the development of our perceptions, personalities, and emotions. You can gain significant understanding about why we behave and think the way we do at different times in our lives, and how socialization, education, biology, and individual experience shapes how we relate to the world and how we perceive ourselves.
A focused understanding of developmental psychology can, in turn, give you new ways to think about everything from our social systems to our politics to our history to our concepts of identity. If you’re at all interested in why we are the way we are—as people and as a society—you’re likely to find a lot to love in the study of developmental psychology.
It Can Help You Help People in Need
One of the primary questions developmental psychology professionals study is: what’s normal development? From there, they work to figure out why the norm is the norm and what the risks and challenges (or the possible advantages) are when someone deviates from the norm. The information gleaned by individuals working in the field of developmental psychology uniquely positions them to help those who are struggling with developmental issues.
Developmental psychology professionals help everyone from children who are socially or intellectually delayed to elderly men and women who are dealing with the negative consequences of aging. They may be called to address topics such as gender and sexual orientation, the physical and psychological impact of war, building relationships across generations, and much more.
Research is also an important aspect of developmental psychology. Professionals often conduct important research that can expand the way other psychology professionals, as well as medical doctors, address problems arising from both normal and abnormal psychological development. By immersing yourself in developmental psychology, you can gain a wide variety of insights that can allow you to help others make their lives better and more meaningful.
It Can Open Up Job Opportunities
When you understand human development, you can apply your skills in a lot of ways. That’s why you’ll find developmental psychology professionals working in all sectors of our society, including at government agencies, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, private clinics, and publicly traded corporations. And there’s no single job performed by those who hold a PhD or MS degree in Developmental Psychology. Instead, those who hold this degree work in a variety of occupations, in a variety of settings. Some of the most common include: *
- Crisis intervention centers
- Public and private hospitals
- Rehabilitation centers
- Academic institutions
- Mental health facilities
- Research institutions
- Nonprofit organizations
- Healthcare facilities
- Advocacy organizations
It’s More Convenient Than Ever Before
Thanks to modern technology and the power of online learning, you don’t have to upend your life to earn an MS or PhD in Developmental Psychology. Instead of applying to schools all over the map and then moving when you’re accepted, enrolling in an online university can allow you to earn your graduate degree while remaining in your current residence and working full time at your current job.
Through an online graduate degree program in developmental psychology, you can receive all the knowledge and mentoring you would expect from a traditional university, except in a format that works for your life and your needs. This makes earning a degree online one of the best—and most convenient—ways to advance your education. If you want to earn a PhD in Developmental Psychology or an MS in Developmental Psychology, an online graduate program could be the perfect choice for you.
Walden University is an accredited institution offering an online PhD in Developmental Psychology and an MS in Developmental Psychology. Expand your career options and earn your degree in a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.
*Career options may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of this degree program.Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.