Apply | Overview | Curriculum | Experiential Learning | Faculty
Application due 4/1

Overview
The 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 because of a difficult birth or the presence of certain environmental risk factors.

You may pursue the EI specialization as an independent certificate program, or integrate it into a graduate degree program in speech-language pathology and audiology, school psychology, counseling psychology, physical therapy, special education, or nursing.

Northeastern is the only approved EI program in Massachusetts that is interdisciplinary in its faculty, students, and curriculum. Courses are team-taught by faculty from school counseling, developmental psychology, speech language pathology and audiology, physical therapy, special/education, and nursing so that students experience the team approach that is the day-to-day norm in the field. It is approved by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and leads to the required state certification for early intervention personnel.

Curriculum
The program of study consists of four courses, an EI project, and a practicum; all are integrated within the curriculum of a student’s specific department. 

All academic courses are offered in a hybrid format that combines online learning with classroom meetings.  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.  For this reason, the course load varies from semester to semester as compared to the standard programs.

Read the requirements for admission.  

Experiential Learning
The practicum is a 300-hour requirement for master's students, and a 150-hour requirement for current service providers, which begins as soon as you start your studies. Service providers may integrate their practicum training with their current employment. Most of the graduate programs coordinate their discipline-specific practicum requirements with the EI practicum requirements.

Northeastern's outstanding reputation in practice-oriented education gives you entry into Early Intervention programs across the state. You are assured practicum placements in certified Massachusetts EI Programs, which may include school settings, community centers, and health care providers.

Faculty
The interdisciplinary faculty members are expert in their respective fields, and they are visible at the national and international levels. They are both 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
Speech Faculty Member TBA
Meredith Harris, Ed.D., PT
Barbara F. Okun, Ph.D
Eunice M. Shishmanian, M.S., R.N.
Ena Vazquez-Nuttall, Ed.D
Michelle Beauchesne, DN Sc, RN, PNP
Pauline C. Hamel, Ed.D., PT, DCE