ADP
The Applied Developmental Psychology Minor is designed for students who are passionate about understanding and supporting children's growth and development.
Students learn an interdisciplinary approach to the study of child development through their coursework and integrated hands-on experience at the LMU Children’s Center.
Students in the Minor Will...
Be part of a supportive cohort of 19 peers who share an interest in making a difference in the lives of children and families.
Learn the basics of child development through many perspectives, gaining insight into how children grow, think, behave, and learn.
Engage in a unique, year-long fieldwork experience at the LMU Children’s Center, where students work directly with children, applying what they learn in the classroom to the real world.
Prepare for a career working with children by bridging the application gap between knowledge of child development, and the practice. Training in the minor is relevant for careers in teaching, medicine, health services, mental health, and more.
Admission Requirements
LMU students who wish to declare the ADP minor must complete a brief application and then meet with the program director. The director will sign the student’s Change of Program form provided the student meets certain academic standards that include having a minimum LMU GPA of 2.0 (C) and not otherwise on academic probation.
Students may declare the minor after completing General Psychology (PSYC 1000). PSYC 1000 is a prerequisite for the minor and is a minor course requirement.
.jpg)
Program Requirements
The ADP curriculum consists of 5 courses, totaling approximately 20-units (12 lower-division units, and 8 upper-division units). Both 4-unit (BCLA) and 3-unit (e.g., School of Education, Seaver, CFA) may count toward the minor, and thus total completed units may range from 18-20 units. Two courses (2024 and 3024) are specific to the minor. Students must complete PSYC 1000 (General Psychology) before declaring the minor. Once a student declares the minor, they will enroll in the 2-course minor sequence (2024, 3024) to start the next fall. 2024 will always be offered in fall, and 3024 will always be offered in spring.
As a part of the Child Development 2-course sequence, students will complete a year-long practicum requiring 6 hours per week of volunteer experience at the LMU Children’s Center in both the Fall and Spring semesters.
Required Courses
Learning Outcomes
Build a strong foundation in understanding how children and youth grow, learn, and thrive.
Explore and practice research methods used to study child development, gaining experience in analyzing and interpreting data.
Actively apply knowledge about child and youth development in real-world settings and reflect on experiences to deepen understanding.
Cultivate self-awareness while growing personally and professionally, developing skills that will help students thrive in their professional careers.
About Our Partners
The ADP minor strategically brings together faculty from Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, Seaver College of Science and Engineering, College of Fine Arts, School of Education Undergraduate and Graduate Programs, LMU Children’s Center, and WISH Community School to teach LMU students about how children develop, and how family and communities can support child development.
