Early Intervention
Students complete a program that prepares them to work in positions serving infants and toddlers with, or who are at risk for, disabilities and their families. Services take place in the home and other natural and inclusive settings, such as child care homes and center, play groups, and community groups. Students also complete an internship in an agency that provides such services to children and families, such as First Steps, Healthy Families, or other early intervention programs.
Career Options
- Developmental therapist
- Early Head Start center caregiver
- Early Head Start home visitor
- Infant toddler specialist in child care resource & referral agency
- Healthy Families Indiana home visitor
- Family educator
- Visit CFS Graduates at Work to see how alumni are using their degrees in the real world
Coursework
- Introduction to Family Processes
- Introduction to Human Development
- Child Development Practicum
- Families in a Multicultural Society
- Guidance in Early Childhood
- Child Development
- Introduction to Research in Child Development and Family Studies
- Developmental Assessment
- Health and Health Care for Children and Families
- Curriculum Applications of Language, Literacy and Social Development in Early Childhood Education Curriculum Applications of Math/Science Concept Development in Early Childhood Education
- Curriculum Applications of Atypical Development
- Approaches to Early Childhood Education
- Skills for Helping Professions
- Family Assessment and Intervention
- Working With Families in Early Childhood Programs
- Career Assessment and Professional Development
- See myPurdue for a complete list of CDFS courses and descriptions
Experiential Learning
Several EI courses include practicum components that give students opportunities to develop their skills for working with infants and young children. In their last semester, students complete an internship with an agency that serves children birth through age 3 and their families.