Alabama:
Graduate studies in the psychology of adult development and aging

Following are data on academic programs in the state that provide a specialization in adult development and aging. Data 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, and web addresses and contact persons for the program.

University of Alabama (Department of Psychology)

Courses and Specialized Seminars Offered:

• Clinical Psychology of Aging-Intervention.
• Clinical Psychology of Aging-Assessment.
• Geropsychology Practicum.
• Neuropsychological Assessment.

Number of Faculty in AD&A: 5 Clinical Geropsychologists; 3 Experimental Psychologists (social, developmental, cognitive); 1 Clinical Lecture Track Faculty

Availability of Assistantships in AD&A:

1. Faculty have grant positions available for graduate students.

2. Fellowships are available through the university.

3. Students in advanced years compete for clinical assistantships with area agencies.

4. The Psychology department offers traditional teaching and research assistantships.

5. The Center for Mental Health and Aging offers assistantships, depending on the availability of funds.

Availability of Postdoctoral Opportunities in AD&A: N/A

Practicum and Internship Placements:

The UA Geropsychology Concentration offers a practicum with a wide variety of clinical training opportunities with older adult populations. These include:

• University Medical Center Geriatrics Clinic: Psychology graduate students work as part of an interdisciplinary team with geriatricians, social workers, pharmacists, and family practice residents to provide assessment and care to older adult outpatients.

• Mary S. Harper Geriatric Psychiatry Center: Psychology graduate students conduct assessment and consultative services and provide group and individual therapy to geriatric psychiatric inpatients.

• Tuscaloosa VA Neuropsychology Clinic: Psychology graduate students conduct neuropsychological assessments for veterans, many of whom are older adults, including dementia assessments.

• Elder Law Clinic: Psychology graduate students conduct civil capacity evaluations in the areas of capacity for independent living, capacity to execute legal documents, and financial capacity. This experience provides an excellent opportunity for integrative report writing.

• Hospice of West Alabama: Psychology graduate students have the opportunity to work as “volunteers” with individuals receiving hospice care at home. Moreover, students may shadow staff on the inpatient unit.  The opportunity to sit in on, and potentially co-lead, bereavement groups is also available.

• Safe Harbor Inpatient Hospice at the Birmingham VA: Psychology graduate students have the opportunity to work with an interdisciplinary team on an inpatient hospice unit at the Birmingham VA. Students provide individual and family therapy and attend interdisciplinary treatment team meetings.

Other Relevant Information and Comments: We have a clinical geropsychology concentration within our clinical program and faculty with applied aging interests in our experimental psychology program.

Contact:
Rebecca S. Allen
Professor of Psychology
Center for Mental Health and Aging
University of Alabama
Box 870348
Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0348
Telephone: (205) 348-9891 
Email
Website

Updated February 2014

University of Alabama, Birmingham (Department of Psychology)

Psychology Specializations Integrated with AD&A:

• Lifespan Developmental.
• Medical (Clinical) Psychology.
• Behavioral Neuroscience/Cognition.

Courses and Specialized Seminars Offered:

• Psychology of Aging.
• Seminar in Cognitive Development (Lifespan).
• Geriatric and Gerontology Interdisciplinary Core Curriculum (includes a Gerontology Certificate).
• Social Gerontology.
• Sociology of Life Cycle.
• Seminars in Adult Development and Aging: Center for Aging Scientific.
• Seminar Series.
• Geriatric Medicine Grand Rounds
• Contemporary Issues in Psychology.

Number of Faculty in AD&A: 7 Full Time

Availability of Assistantships in AD&A: NIA training grant, "Clinical an Behavioral Training in Gerontology." Traineeship includes tuition fees, travel, and supplies. PI, Karlene Ball, PhD. Twelve different faculty members in adult development and aging serve as preceptors/mentors to trainees. Contact Terri M. Roberson, MA, (205) 934-8723

Availability of Postdoctoral Opportunities in AD&A: NIA training grant, "Clinical and Behavioral Training in Gerontology." PI, Karlene Ball, PhD. Twelve different faculty members in adult development and aging serve as preceptors/mentors to post-doctoral fellows. Contact Terri M. Roberson, MA, (205) 934-8723.

Practicum and Internship Placements: None

Other Relevant Information and Comments: This program is an interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary Lifespan Developmental program that interfaces with a university-wide Center for Aging (in the School of Medicine) an NIA-funded Center (the Roybal Center for Research on Applied Gerontology) and the NIA-funded Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. There are 130+ faculty members involved in adult development and aging across campus.

Contact:
Dr. Fred J. Biasini
Director of the Graduate Program in Lifespan Developmental Psychology
Psychology
University of Alabama at Birmingham
1300 University Boulevard-CH 415
Birmingham, AL 35294-1170
Telephone: (205) 934-8723
Fax: (205) 975-6953
Email

Terri M. Roberson, MA
Graduate Programs Manager
Psychology
University of Alabama at Birmingham
1300 University Boulevard-CH 415
Birmingham, AL 35294-1170
Telephone: (205) 934-8723
Fax: (205) 975-6953
Website
Email

Updated February 2014

University of South Alabama (Department of Psychology)

Psychology Specializations Integrated with AD&A: Cognitive

Courses and Specialized Seminars Offered: None

Number of Faculty in AD&A: 1 Full Time, 0 Part Time

Availability of Assistantships in AD&A: None

Availability of Postdoctoral Opportunities in AD&A: None

Practicum and Internship Placements: None

Other Relevant Information and Comments: None

Contact
Mark Faust, PhD
Department of Psychology 
University of South Alabama 
Mobile, AL 36688 
Telephone: (334) 460-6321