Graduate Program in Human Development and Early Childhood Disorders

http://bbs.utdallas.edu./

Faculty


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

Objectives

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.

Facilities

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 Richardson and at the UTD/Callier Center for Communication Disorders on the campus of the UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas and Callier-Richardson on the Richardson campus. Facilities at the main campus include research and observational laboratories, and laboratories dedicated to infant assessment. The Toddler Playgroup program meets weekly in an early childhood classroom in the Student Union and provides on-campus fieldwork opportunities with toddlers with special needs and their parents. The Callier Center operates a laboratory preschool as well as a number of other educational and clinical programs serving young children.These facilities, and others throughout the Metroplex, provide essential educational, clinical, and research environments for training in Human Development and Early Childhood Disorders.

Admission Requirements

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.

Degree Requirements

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.

Professional Plan of Study

Required Core Courses (24 hours)


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

Practicum (3 hours)


HDCD 7V20 Practicum in Early Childhood Disorders

Internship (6 hours)


HDCD 7V20 Internship in Early Childhood Disorders

Electives (15 hours)



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

Research Plan of Study

Required Core Courses (18 hours)


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

Research Methods Core (6 hours)


HCS 6312 Research Methods in Human Development and Communication Sciences - Part I
HCS 6313 Research Methods in Human Development and Communication Sciences - Part II

Elective Coursework (18 hours)
Directed Project (6 hours)


HDCD 7610 Directed Project

Teacher Certification Early Childhood � 4th Grade

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