At the request of the President of Division 20, Sherry L. Willis, the 1993-94 Education Committee agreed to update the Guide to Graduate Study in the Psychology of Adult Development and Aging . The format for this booklet is based on previous editions prepared by Martha Storandt, Susan Whitbourne, Morris Okun, Sherry Willis and James D. Reid. New sections in this version include listings of clinical geropsychology training programs and postdoctoral training opportunities.
Entries were included in this Guide based on the results of two surveys. The first questionnaire, on general programs in the psychology of adult development and aging, went to 444 doctoral programs in Canada and the United States. The second questionnaire, a slightly revised version of the first focusing on clinical geropsychology programs, went to 145 directors of clinical doctoral programs in the same locations. In both cases, a second copy of the questionnaire was sent to nonrespondents after the original due date had passed. The survey procedure yielded 269 general program responses (60.6%) and 80 clinical program responses (55.2%).
The 1994 Guide includes four sections. Part Iincludes academic units providing a specialization in adult development and aging. Data for the programs include titles of courses and seminars offered, number of faculty with a specialization in adult development and aging, psychology specializations integrated with the study of adult development and aging, administrative organization of the program, availability of assistantships and traineeships in the program, practicum and internship placement opportunities, additional relevant information, and the contact person for the program. Part II consists of a listing of program names and contact persons for units without a specialization in adult development and aging but with at least one faculty member with a primary interest in the field and at least one course in gerontology. Part III includes academic units providing a specialization in clinical geropsychology. Entries for these programs are similar to the data listed above for Part 1. Finally, Part IV contains listings of postdoctoral research training programs, including the focus of the program and contact person.
Inclusion of an entry in this Guide does not constitute an endorsement by APA or Division 20. The survey data were self-reported and no attempt was made to validate them. Nevertheless, this Guide should help students and faculty advisors make informed choices regarding doctoral and postdoctoral study in the psychology of adult development and aging.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University:
Department of Family and Child Development, financial support
Erik Everhart, Department of Psychology, Project Assistant
Dung N. Trinh, College of Human Resources, Programmer & Data
Entry Assistant
Sarah Kane, Department of Housing, Interior Design, and Resource
Management,Graphic Design
Nadean D. Jarels, Department of Family and Child Development,
Clerical Assistance
Staff and Participants, Adult Day Care Center, Mailing Preparation
David W. Harrison, Department of Psychology, General Assistance
Sherry L. Willis, President, Division 20
John C. Cavanaugh, Treasurer, Division 20
Margaret Gatz, University of Southern California
Bob G. Knight, University of Southern California
Lisa McGuire, Postdoctoral Fellow, The Pennsylvania State University
-Rosemary Blieszner, Chair, Division 20 Education Committee
To direct comments about the information contained in these pages, please write to marsiske@ufl.edu