Application Info | Apply | Overview | Curriculum | Experiential Learning | Faculty | Department Home | Program Handbook
Application due 4/1

Overview
The interdisciplinary concentration in Early Intervention (EI) is designed for students who enjoy working with very young children and their families.  Through coursework and practicum experiences, students are prepared to work with infants and toddlers with known disabilities or those who are at risk for developmental delay.

The EI specialization may be pursued as an independent certificate program, or integrated into a graduate or undergraduate degree program in speech-language pathology and audiology, school psychology, counseling psychology, or physical therapy. Personnel who work in the EI field may pursue the certificate program in the context of their employment.

Northeastern’s EI program is the only higher-education program approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MA DPH) that is interdisciplinary in its faculty, students, and curriculum. Courses are team-taught by faculty from the following disciplines: school, counseling, and developmental psychology; speech language pathology and audiology; physical therapy; special/education; and nursing. As a result, students experience the team approach that is current practice in the field. Completion of the program leads to the required state certification for early intervention personnel at the advanced provisional level.

Curriculum
The program of study consists of four courses and a practicum, which are integrated, as much as possible, within the curriculum of a student’s specific degree program. All academic courses are offered in a hybrid format that combines online learning with four classroom meetings per semester.  Because the program is interdisciplinary, scheduling of courses is done in such a way as to make it available to as many programs as possible.

Early Intervention Requirements
In order to be accepted for admission into the Early Intervention Certificate Program at Northeastern University, applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Possess an earned bachelor's degree (unless the EI program is embedded into undergraduate program)
• Include three letters of recommendation (which can be the same as those used for application to a degree program)
• Include official transcript(s)
• Have earned a GPA of 3.0 or above
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to working with young children, and their families, after completing program.

Experiential Learning
The practicum requires 300 hours of field experience in a MA DPH certified EI program. Field training usually takes place over two semesters, unless it is embedded into one semester of a discipline-specific degree program.

Faculty
The interdisciplinary faculty members are expert in their respective fields, and they are visible at the national and international levels. They are practitioners and researchers who are able to bridge theory and practice. They take pride in mentoring students through the hands-on curriculum and will prepare you and support you throughout your clinical placements.

Karin Lifter, Ph.D., Program Director
Louis J. Kruger, Psy.D., Co-Director
Ruth Marguiles, M.S
Meredith Harris, Ed.D., PT
Barbara F. Okun, Ph.D
Eunice M. Shishmanian, M.S., R.N.
Ann Golub-Victor, PT, MPH, DPT