Early Intervention
Early, relationship-based intervention can support a young child’s emotional and behavioral development and help at-risk children and their families prevent future developmental issues. With this concentration, you will explore how serious developmental problems can be screened for early in life and study an infant’s developmental cycle as it relates to interaction with family, society, and the culture in which they live.

Working in an increasingly diverse field that combines areas such as special education, pediatrics, social work, public policy, and physical and occupational therapy, an early intervention specialist acts as a consultant for parents, caretakers, physicians, and teachers in the development of the brain, emotions, and behavior of young children. You will have the opportunity to study the prevention, assessment, and treatment of socioemotional problems, all in the context of their primary relationships.

Combined with your unique heritage and language skills, this program can help you prepare for careers in child development positions such as:

• Early childhood teacher/assistant
• Director of child development programs
• Family day care provider, infant-toddler child care provider/teacher
• School-age child care provider
• Elementary school pre-teacher trainee
• Preschool and child development center administrator
• Parent educator
• Human services agency representative
• Mental health consultant
• Elementary and secondary school staff member
• Child/youth advocate in social and legal arena
• Child and family counselor
• Public health and health care professional