Doctoral training in the psychology of adult development and aging: 1993-1994 survey results

The purpose of this study was to provide continuing documentation of opportunities for doctoral training and specialization in. adult development and aging and to compare the results with those of similar studies conducted previously. True surveys of doctoral programs in. the psychology of adult development and aging were conducted during the 1993-1994 academic year. The first was sent to 444 programs in the United States and Canada, and the second was sent to 145 clinical psychology programs in the same locations. Results from the first survey indicate a slight decline in the number of responding programs that offer specialization. in adult development and aging. Most programs offering such specialization are located within developmental psychology programs in. general psychology and human development-family studies departments. A downward trend appeared in the number of specialization programs offering teaching assistantships specifically related to adult development and aging (from 50% to 38%), whereas an. upward trend occurred in the percentage of specialization programs offering practicums or internships (from 52% to 67%). Results from the second survey indicate that 8% of responding clinical psychology programs offer specialization in clinical geropsychology. Finally, program specializations in. relation to the ''Standards and Guidelines for Gerontology Programs'' of the Association for Gerontology in Higher Education were analyzed. The need for accelerated growth in doctoral programs offering specialization in adult development and aging and clinical geropsychology is discussed.