Master of
Developmental Psychology
The Master of Developmental Psychology (MDP) is a professional non-thesis degree program designed for practitioners seeking advanced, specialized expertise in application, diagnostic assessment, and intervention design in developmental psychology. The focus is entirely on translational science—directly transforming complex developmental theories into evidence-based interventions, human development programs, and diagnostic evaluations across the lifespan.
Program Outcomes
Graduates of this program are expected to    Â
- Translate lifespan developmental theories into evidence-based practitioner strategies, converting concepts of multi-domain human growth into actionable intervention designs for field settings.
- Select, administer, and interpret psychological and developmental screening batteries, behavioral observations, and case formulations to assess both normative and atypical life-span trajectories
- Design, implement, and evaluate human development modules, psychoeducational programs, and preventative socio-emotional interventions tailored to the needs of diverse or vulnerable populations.
- Lead and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, clinical groups, and community networks to deliver integrated, holistic care and human-centered development services across varied institutional settings.
- Model ethical leadership, cultural competence, and strict clinical accountability in accordance with established professional codes of ethics across all areas of client contact and program implementation
Key Competencies Developed
By the end of the program, graduates will be able to develop the following key competencies:
- Translational Lifespan Science and Application:Â
Translate multi-domain (physical, cognitive, socio-emotional) growth theories into evidence-based field practices and convert developmental concepts into actionable practitioner strategies across life-span stages.
- Multidimensional Developmental Screening and Assessment:Â
Select, administer, and interpret psychological testing batteries, behavioral checklists, and observational matrices to evaluate normative and atypical developmental trajectories.
- Applied Intervention Management:Â
Conceptualize, structure, implement, and evaluate human development modules, psychoeducational workshops, and preventative socio-emotional programs tailored to the needs of diverse, transitional, or vulnerable populations.
- Multidisciplinary Leadership and Field Accountability:Â
Lead, manage, and actively collaborate within inter-professional frontline teams, clinical groups, school networks, and community organizations to deliver integrated developmental care while maintaining the highest standards of professional and clinical ethics.
*The revised framework explicitly embeds an institutional expectation for the graduate students to successfully pass the PRC Licensure Examination for Psychologists (RPsy).
Final Culminating Requirements:Â
- Comprehensive Examination: Validates the student’s summative conceptual depth, multi-domain diagnostic reasoning, and integrative theoretical mastery of advanced lifespan developmental science before project implementation.
- Capstone Project Field Implementation: An embedded, targeted field-piloting phase where students directly deploy their engineered intervention inside a real-world partner institution (e.g., their own school, corporate department, or community NGO).Â
- Capstone Project Oral Defense: The definitive summative assessment of applied knowledge execution, in which students must successfully defend a fully realized, context-sensitive developmental module, psychoeducational program, or community intervention.
What Will I Study?
Below are some of the topics and core courses that you will take:
Prerequisite: None
Description: This course explores major developments and ideas in the history of psychology as an academic discipline. The historical progression of philosophical and empirical roots of the major systems in the field will be examined.
Prerequisite: Undergraduate Psychological Statistics
Description: This is an advanced course in statistics that aims to familiarize Psychology graduate students with quantitative methods used to evaluate and analyze contemporary social science questions. The course will cover basic univariate, bivariate, and multivariate statistical procedures, with emphasis on the Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Regression, and an introduction to Factor Analysis.
Prerequisite: Advanced Statistics 1
Description: This course provides scientific methods of psychological investigation, focusing on the techniques of problem identification, hypothesis formulation, and the construction of a research design and data gathering instrument(s). This includes a research proposal.
Prerequisite: Development of Psychological Thought
Description: A comprehensive review of qualitative research methods – the qualitative paradigm, case study, qualitative interviews, focus groups, field observation, and ethnography; and the analysis of qualitative data. This course may include feminist research practices, Grounded Theory, Interpretative Phenomenology, Discursive Psychology, Narrative and Foucauldian analytical techniques as well as the scientific practices used to elucidate and analyze qualitative data.
Prerequisite: None
Description: This is a one-unit course that introduces students to Miriam College’s institutional core values of truth, justice, peace, and the integrity of creation. The course deals with the process and strategies of peace education and gender-fair education as integral components of a rights and value-based approach to education for social change and development. It also seeks to increase the students’ knowledge and appreciation of their role as stewards of the environment.
Prerequisite: Undergraduate Theories of PersonalityÂ
Description: This course allows the students to explore in depth the major theoretical perspectives of personality. As a graduate course, it tackles new research findings and new developments in the field through clinical case study presentations and analyses. Topics cover psychoanalytic theory, humanistic or existential theory, dispositional or trait theory, learning theory, and biological theory. A topic on Filipino personality will also be discussed.
Prerequisite: Undergraduate Psychological Statistics, Advanced Theories of Personality, Advanced Abnormal Psychology, Advanced Developmental Psychology
Description: This course provides training on psychological assessment with a focus on socio-emotional and personality domains of individuals. It also provides ethical standards in the practice of assessment, and is able to think critically about the ethical dilemmas commonly faced in the practice of psychological assessment in the Philippines.
Prerequisite: Advanced Psychological Assessment IÂ
Description: This course provides training on psychological assessment with a focus on
cognitive, academic, and adaptive domains of individuals. It also provides ethical standards in the practice of assessment within a clinical setting.
Prerequisite: Advanced Theories of Personality
Description: This course gives an overview and an in-depth study of the concepts and the application of the principles of psychotherapy. It focuses on the Western, as well as theoretical approaches appropriate for the Filipino, an understanding of the psychotherapeutic process, an application of the skills and techniques to specific situations, a discussion on issues, as well as the latest research in counseling and clinical psychology that may affect the psychotherapeutic process.
Prerequisite: Undergraduate Abnormal Psychology
Description: This course covers the different major categories of abnormal behavior, focusing on diagnosis, causation, and therapy. Current issues, research, and clinical aspects are also examined as each type of disorder is studied, with emphasis on individual and relationship disorders. The use of the DSM-5 and ICD-11 and other tools and measures necessary for assessment and diagnosis are also given emphasis in this course.
Prerequisite: Undergraduate Developmental Psychology
Description: This course examines advanced and recent theories in developmental psychology. Issues such as attachment, gender identity, cognition, and emotion, using a multidisciplinary approach, will be discussed to understand the developmental changes across the life span of an individual. It likewise examines the various factors that contribute to those changes in each stage of the life cycle and the ways these changes influence human behavior.
Prerequisite: Â Undergraduate Developmental Psychology
Description: This course examines the concepts and theories in development, particularly the socio-emotional and personality aspects of human development. This includes social relationships, emotions, social behaviors, family, sexuality, moral, and spiritual development, among others. These are examined across the settings.
Prerequisite: Undergraduate Developmental Psychology
Description: This course examines the concepts and theories in development, particularly the physical and cognitive aspects of human development. The scientific approach to understanding these factors, intelligence, and how the physical and cognitive contribute to the changes seen across the life span will be discussed.
Prerequisite: Â Undergraduate Developmental Psychology
Description: This course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive analysis of a selected contemporary issue in developmental psychology.
Prerequisite: Advanced Developmental Psychology
Description: This course covers issues based on recent empirical research and practice the development of the adolescent. It also considers the gender, ethnic, and socioeconomic differences found in such development and focuses on topics such as pubertal development, teenage pregnancy, parent-adolescent relations, identity development, peer relations, the transition to adulthood, and adolescent psychopathology (suicide, depression, eating disorders).
Prerequisite: Advanced Developmental Psychology
Description: This course focuses on concepts and theories in normative developmental psychology associated with before adulthood (adolescence), emerging adulthood, young adulthood, and late adulthood. Topics such as physical health and aging, coping, death and dying, major theories on the development of the self, and social and career development will be discussed.
Prerequisite: Advanced Developmental Psychology
Description: This course focuses on developing programs for children and adolescents, including their relevance to practical settings such as schools, day care centers, and juvenile centers.
Prerequisite: Advanced Developmental Psychology
Description: This course focuses on developing programs for the elderly, including their    relevance to practical settings such as special homes, mental institutions, school settings, and wellness centers.
Prerequisite: Advanced Developmental Psychology
Description: The course will comprehensively review important landmarks in cross-cultural research, showing how culture impacts people and human development. It will emphasize empirical approaches to cross-cultural study and explain the importance of culture in human cognition, language, parenting, as well as child development. Students will gain an understanding of interconnectedness, differences, and diversity in a global society. This course will also examine sociocultural variation in children’s development and its implications for working with children and families in educational and other applied settings.
Prerequisites: Advanced Developmental Psychology and Advanced Abnormal Psychology
Description: This course aims to equip students with the theoretical and clinical knowledge to understand developmental disorders from a holistic perspective that highlights the dynamic interplay of psychobiological and contextual forces. It begins with a review of theory and relevant scientific research regarding the complex interactions among multiple factors that underlie healthy development and atypical functioning. Vulnerabilities and risk factors for psychopathology will be explored with an emphasis on early brain development and      the ways that a child’s caregiving relationships impact the developing brain and the child’s developmental trajectory. The second half of the semester will focus on studying the major types of developmental psychopathologies in children and adolescents. Students will also be introduced to current approaches in developmental assessment and intervention.
Prerequisite: None
Description: The course aims to increase competency in written communication necessary for practice in the field of Psychology. The first part of the course is an intensive skills-building on syntax construction for academic papers    (e.g., grammar and organization). The second part is an intensive competency building on technical writing using the latest APA standards and technical reading of journal articles in Psychology.
Prerequisite: Development of Psychological Thought
Description: This course is designed to provide students with a comprehensive analysis of a selected contemporary issue in Psychology.
Prerequisite: Advanced Developmental Psychology
Description: This course introduces the students to the various theoretical perspectives of health psychology, which attempt to examine the complex interactions of behavior, emotions, attitudes, traits, social norms, and human physiology in disease prevention and health promotion. Application of psychological theory and research to specific health issues is also provided.
Prerequisite: Development of Psychological Thought
Description: This course dwells on the scientific study related to heartfelt positivity and human flourishing. It focuses on the positive, the adaptive, the creative, and the emotionally fulfilling characteristics of optimally functioning human individuals, groups, and institutions, based on the character strengths and virtues identified in positive psychology. As an advanced course in positive psychology, this subject highlights recent research findings and theoretical advances in the field, especially its role in the promotion of human flourishing in work, health, education, and everyday life.
Prerequisite: Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy
Description: This course introduces the student to the historical roots of family therapy, common elements in family therapy, and different schools of thought in family therapy. It includes an overview and assessment of various theoretical approaches to marriage and family therapy.
Prerequisite: Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy
Description: This course introduces the student to the different theories of group processes, assists and trains students in applying group theory through practice, provides    an experience of group therapy from the perspective of a member, and learns the importance of      participation in the group process.
Prerequisite: Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy
Description: This course offers an overview of the essential elements and principles of play therapy, including a review of the history of play therapy and the profession, the role of the play therapist in a variety of settings, the stages of the play therapy relationship, problems of children coming for therapy, and development of  play therapy skills and theories associated with play therapy, including child-centered play therapy.
Prerequisite: Advanced Developmental Psychology
Description: This course will cover issues on children and adolescent psychotherapeutic intervention, particularly for cases commonly seen in children and adolescents, such as depression, eating disorders, and personality disorders. Discussions will be anchored on theories previously discussed in developmental psychology, psychotherapy, and adolescent psychology.
Prerequisite: Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy
Description: The course aims to equip students to assess if someone is traumatized. It will also discuss the effect of trauma on the person’s life, the different forms it takes, and how it changes through time. Trauma prevention, the process of recovery, and the ways to equip oneself with knowledge to facilitate recovery will also be discussed.
Prerequisite: Development of Psychological Thought
Description: This course includes a study of the development perspective and directions of Filipino psychology with emphasis on contemporary views or  issues and indigenous methods and application of research. Interrelated aspects of Philippine culture, such as Filipino personality, Filipino family, dominant and popular culture, and socio-economic and political structures, are examined. This course focuses mainly on the application of indigenous research methods.
Prerequisite: Advanced Developmental Psychology
Description: This course presents a basic understanding of how the human body ages from a    biological standpoint. The student will gain an understanding of biological and physiological changes associated with aging in various organ systems. Discussions of potential intervention strategies and ways to manage common illnesses and extend the quality of life during aging will be presented.
Prerequisite: Advanced Developmental Psychology
Description: The course examines the different approaches to the study of spirituality and aging. Using psychological and theological resources, it seeks to provide explanations and guidelines to traverse the late adult transition more proactively and with equanimity. For those married, it      will explore the dynamics of mid-life and older marriages. For the single and religious, it confronts the emerging challenges of life at this age.
Prerequisite: Advanced Developmental Psychology
Description: This course is an introduction to the use of expressive or creative arts, with a focus on the visual arts modalities, in psychosocial interventions. It provides the fundamentals of the key elements, theoretical bases, and applications of expressive or creative arts in mental health practices.
Prerequisite: Academic work should have been completed
Description: This is the culmination of the coursework. It covers courses in core and methods, the psychologist board exam, areas of advanced developmental psychology, and cognates.
Prerequisite: Comprehensive examinations should have been passed.
Description: The practicum requires a minimum of 500 hours. It may involve the conduct of applied research or diagnosis, development and implementation of interventions or treatments, the development of materials or systems, or the evaluation of a program. A report needs to be submitted for completion of the practicum.
Prerequisites: Comprehensive Examinations and Field Practicum hours should have been completed.
Description: This culminates the students’ academic learning experience. It provides the students with an opportunity to exhibit the knowledge and skills obtained during the course of the graduate study. The project indicates the students’ acquisition of learning. The students present their capstone project to a panel or committee of experts for grading and evaluation.Â
Total Program Units: 64 units
Core Courses: 10
Required Psychology subjects for licensure: 21
Developmental Psychology Subjects: 15
Free Electives/Cognates: 6
Other Academic Requirements: 12
Standard Completion Time: 4 years
The following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are addressed by this program:
Career Paths
Graduates of this program may pursue the following careers:
- Developmental Guidance Counselor
- Psychology Teacher
- Developmental Curriculum Designer
- Family Life Consultant/Life Transition Counselor
- School Well-Being Specialist/Student Affairs Counselor
- Organizational Well-being Director
- Talent Development and Transition Consultant
- User Experience Development Researcher
- Human Capital Strategist
CURRICULUM SUMMARY
| Courses | Units |
| MC Required Course | 1 |
| MSAA 6000 Miriam Spirituality and Advocacy (1 unit) | |
| Core Courses | 6 |
| MPSY 6001 Statistics and Data Modeling (3 units) MPSY 6002 Research Methods in Psychology (3 units) | |
| Elective Courses for Licensure Examination | 12 |
| MPSY 7001 Advanced Theories of Personality (3 units) MPSY 7002 Advanced Abnormal Psychology (3 units) MPSY 7003 Advanced Psychological Assessment (3 units) MPSY 7004Â Advanced Counseling Psychology and Psychotherapy (3units) | |
| Specialization Courses | 15 |
| MPSY 7301 Lifespan Developmental Science (3 units) MODP 7301 Frameworks for Developmental Intervention & Evaluation (3 units) MODP 7302 Developmental Curriculum Planning and Program Design (3 units) MPSY 7501 Special Topics in Culture and Crisis (3 units) MPSY 7502 Developmental Flourishing and Resilience Across the Lifespan (3 units) | |
| Comprehensive Examination | 0 |
| MPSY 7900 Comprehensive Exams | |
| Culminating Project | 3 |
| MODP 7999 Capstone Project and Oral Defense (3 units) | |
| Total Number of Units | 37 |
