Healthy Development - Certificate

The Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences offers embedded certificates as part of the major. The certificates are considered embedded because they require no additional coursework—beyond specific courses in the major itself—to earn the certificate. The certificates are designed to (a) bring greater depth and structure to the major, (b) provide students with guidance as to courses that build on each other, and (c) ultimately increase the employability of our students.

The required courses in this certificate reflect foundational component areas of psychology that focus on (a) human growth and development, both physically and psychologically and (b) interpersonal behaviors and intrapersonal processes that affect our understanding of and relationships with others. The prescribed electives fall into two sets. The first set focuses on healthy and atypical development at different life stages, including adolescence, old age, and childhood. The second is a skills-based set of courses through which successful students will develop skills in healthy adjustment, behavioral modification, or therapeutic techniques.