Professors: Thomas G.R. Bower, Duane Buhrmester, Bert S. Moore, Margaret
Tresch Owen, John W. Santrock, Robert D. Stillman, Marion K. Underwood
Associate Professors: Teresa Nezworski, Pamela Rollins, Melanie J.
Spence
Assistant Professors:� Shayla Holub, Mandy Maguire
Clinical Faculty: Michelle Aldridge, Cheryll Bryant
Senior Lecturers: Toosje
Van Beveren
The Master of Science program in Human Development and Early Childhood
Disorders is designed for students with professional interests in early child
development and disorders. The curriculum offers a strong foundation in the
normative path of physical, cognitive and social development with specialized
training in diagnostic and intervention techniques needed to work with
disorders of early childhood. The professional plan of study is designed for
students interested in a career in the delivery of services to young children
who show developmental delays and disorders and their families. This program
will be of special interest to students wishing to work with infants and young
children and their families in early childhood intervention programs and other
professional settings, including schools, hospitals, and medical clinics.
Classroom training is combined with practical experience in a variety of clinical
and educational settings. Students graduating from the program qualify to work
as Early Intervention Specialists. A research plan of study is also available
which focuses on the development of skills necessary to conduct research in
child development. The research plan requires a directed project and thesis.
The principal sites for the academic and research activities of the The
Human Development and Early Childhood Disorders program are located on the main
campus in
The University�s general admission requirements are discussed here.
The Human Development and Early Childhood Disorders program is designed for
students with backgrounds in psychology, special education, early childhood
education, and communication disorders. Students from other disciplines are
also encouraged to apply.
Admission to the Human Development and Early Childhood Disorders program is
based on a review of the applicant�s GPA, GRE scores, letters of
recommendation, and narrative description of interests and career goals. In
general, a combined Verbal and Quantitative score on the GRE of at least 1000
is advisable based on our experience with student success in the program.
However, there is no minimum cut-off score for admission nor does a score of at
least 1000 assure admission to the program.
The University�s general degree requirements are discussed here.
The two plans of study have a common core of courses. In the professional
track there is additional coursework and experience in applied settings
designed to prepare students to work with children and their families. The
emphasis in the research track is in developing expertise in conducting
research in the field of human development and early childhood disorders. A
required research project is facilitated by close work with a research mentor
from the faculty.
Students are advised that participation in off-campus
practicum and internship requires a criminal background check.� Students excluded from off-campus sites for
any reason may be unable to complete all degree requirements.� Students are responsible for the cost of
criminal background checks.
The Master of Science program requires a minimum of 48 semester hours.
Specific degree requirements follow.
HDCD 5311 The Developing Child: Infants and Toddlers �
HDCD 5312 Atypical Development
HDCD 5315 Assessment Theory
HDCD 5316 Developmental Assessment
HDCD 5320 Service Coordination of Community Resources
HDCD 5330 Intervention Paradigms
HDCD 6310 Parent Education
HDCD 6320 The Developing Child: Preschool Years
HDCD 7V20 Practicum in Early Childhood Disorders
HDCD 7V20 Internship in Early Childhood Disorders �
�
HCS 6350 Social Development
HCS 6331 Cognitive Development
HCS 6358 Affective Development
HDCD 6360 Behavioral Management
HDCD 6370 Infant Intervention
�
HDCD 6395 Medical and Biobehavioral Factors in ECD
HDCD 7350 Seminar: Early Childhood Disorders
COMD 6307 Language Acquisition
COMD 7362 Seminar in Autism
HCS 6326 Infant Perception
HCS 7376 Child Psychopathology
HDCD 7V98 Independent Study
HDCD 8V80 Independent Research
HDCD 5311 The Developing Child: Infants and Toddlers
HDCD 5312 Atypical Development
HDCD 5315 Assessment Theory
HCS 6331 Cognitive Development
HCS 6350 Social Development
COMD 6307 Language Acquisition
HCS 6312 Research Methods in Human Development and Communication Sciences -
Part I
HCS 6313 Research Methods in Human Development and Communication Sciences -
Part II
HDCD 7610 Directed Project
Required of post-baccalaureate students seeking Early Childhood-4th grade
Teacher Certification
HDCD 5301 Child Development
HDCD 5302 Educational Psychology
HDCD 5303 Exceptional Children
HDCD 5304 Cognitive Development