About the Institute
One
of the oldest centers for the study of children's development in the
United States, the Institute was organized in 1925 with the aid of
funds from the Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial in New York. Founded
in the belief that the scientific study of child development was
essential to the promotion of child welfare, the unit was established
as an integral part of the University of Minnesota. Originally
administered through the office of academic administration, the
Institute has been a unit of the College of Education and Human
Development since 1957.
 Developmental psychology is the cognate field underlying most of the
Institute's activities. An intensive recruitment effort was conducted
during the 1960s under the leadership of Harold Stevenson to enhance
the strength of the unit in three main areas: cognitive development,
perceptual development, and interpersonal development. Recruitment in
the 1970s under Willard Hartup's leadership consolidated and extended
these earlier gains without changing the major emphases in research
and training. Appointments under Andrew Collins most notably
strengthened Institute offerings in developmental psychopathology and
cognitive neuroscience, and applications of research in clinical and
public policy settings. Richard Weinberg has been instrumental in
strengthening the undergraduate program, increasing cooperation with
other academic units, and extending efforts toward dissemination and
applications of research.
Strong interest has been expressed in "theoretical integration" during
recent years. Such integration is evidenced in formal seminars,
collaborative studies, and broad theoretical restructurings but also
by increasingly integrative attacks on specific research problems.
Thus, some current explorations include the linkages between
biological or neurological aspects of emotional expression, cognitive activity and social behavior, language and cognition,
cognitive and affective problems, and perception and experience.
Evolutionary perspectives on both intellectual and social behavior
have made a significant impact on contemporary work throughout the
Institute.
The instructional program in developmental psychology dates from
1925-1926 when the first courses, both undergraduate and graduate,
were offered by John E. Anderson and Florence L. Goodenough. Teaching
responsibilities currently stand at a high level with resources of the
Institute available to students throughout the University. The
undergraduate major in child psychology has been offered in the
College of Liberal Arts since 1955 and, in 1993, was the fifth largest
major in the College.
 The first Ph.D. degrees were awarded in 1928 to Dorothea McCarthy and
Esther McGinnis. By July 1, 1994, 270 doctorates had been earned in
child psychology, more than half completed since 1973. Although the
emphasis in graduate training continues to be preparation at the Ph.D.
level, an increasing number of students now choose to complete
requirements for the master's degree as they proceed to the doctorate.
Early childhood education has been linked to the efforts of the
Institute since its beginning. The Shirley G. Moore Laboratory School,
widely known as a research laboratory and a center for the training of
early childhood educators, has been in operation since October 1925.
Professor Moore was director of the school from 1960-1973 and it was
named in her honor at the time of her retirement in June 1987. The
Center for Early Education and
Development, an interdepartmental academic unit devoted to
innovative programs of training and research in early childhood
education, was attached for purposes of administration from 1973 to
this past year.
2005-2007 Biennial Report
This Biennial Report describes the Institute of Child Development at
the University of Minnesota, including its personnel and programs,
and summarizes the activities and attainments of the most recent
biennium (July 2005 to June 2007). It documents research and
dissemination efforts with reports of faculty research projects,
descriptions of instructional and professional activities, and list
of research presentations and publications.
To request a paper copy of the full report, contact Alision Eudeikis
at eudei001@umn.edu or
612-624-8029. You can also download a condensed version here or by
clicking the image on the right.
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