The Early Intervention Certificate Program is currently not accepting new students.
Program Description
Early Intervention is a program sponsored by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Students who study early intervention learn to help parents of children with special needs from birth to age three to recognize and understand their child’s particular developmental needs and teach them ways to help their child grow.
Early intervention specialists work with children from birth to three who are premature, have feeding, vision, or hearing problems; are slow to sit up, stand, walk, talk, or do things for themselves; have behavior or attention difficulties; or were born with a disability or health condition that affects their development. Also, the early intervention specialist works with the families of children who have an established biological or environmental risk for developmental delay.
As part of a team, the early intervention specialist works with the family to determine what type of developmental help would be most beneficial for the child. Together they establish an Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) that specifies all the educational, training, therapy, and support services the family will receive to best help the child.
Admissions Standards and Criteria
To apply for enrollment in Early Intervention Certificate Program, a student must submit documents as outlined in the graduate admission section as well as:
- Complete Child Psychology and an introductory course in special needs
- MAT/GRE/GMAT exams not required
Program Requirements
This certificate program combines twelve credits of course work and six practicum credits. The course work may be taken in any sequence. All coursework must be completed before the practicum.
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