Early Intervention - Minor | ��Vlog�ƽ��

Early Intervention - Minor

The Early Intervention minor provides you with the knowledge and skills needed to support children with disabilities and their families. Through a combination of coursework and hands-on experiences, you'll learn how to identify and address developmental delays, collaborate with families and professionals and promote positive outcomes for children in diverse settings.

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Minor in Early Intervention

The Early Intervention (EI) minor in the Special Education Program at ��Vlog�ƽ�� prepares students to become highly qualified Developmental Specialists (DS) who support infants and toddlers (birth to age three) with developmental delays and disabilities—and their families. This area of practice is defined under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Graduates are credentialed to work in Ohio’s statewide Early Intervention system, providing family-centered, evidence-based services in homes and community settings. Completion of the EI minor qualifies graduates for the five-year Developmental Specialist (DS) credential through the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (ODCY).

Since 2013, ��Vlog�ƽ�� has received continuous funding from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) to support the preparation of highly skilled professionals serving infants, toddlers, and their families. Through these initiatives, over 100 professionals from special education and speech-language pathology have been prepared as Developmental Specialists, strengthening Ohio’s Early Intervention system.

Program Information for Early Intervention - Minor

Program Description

Full Description

The Early Intervention minor primarily is intended for individuals interested in working with young children — from birth to age three — who have or are at risk for developmental delays and disabilities across a variety of settings.

The minor provides students with the skills and knowledge specific to contemporary and recommended practices in early intervention, typical and atypical development, teaming, family professional collaboration, assessment, legislation, ethical professional conduct, advocacy and inclusive practices.

Admissions for Early Intervention - Minor

Admissions

Admission Requirements

Admission to a minor is open to students declared in a bachelor’s degree, the A.A.B. or A.A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree (not Individualized Program major). Students declared only in the A.A. or A.S. degree or the A.T.S. degree in Individualized Program may not declare a minor. Students may not pursue a minor and a major in the same discipline.

To declare this minor, students must be at least a sophomore status and have attempted a minimum 12 credit hours at ��Vlog�ƽ�� and earned a minimum 2.750 overall ��Vlog�ƽ�� GPA. Students who have not attempted 12 credit hours at ��Vlog�ƽ�� will be evaluated for admission based on their high school GPA for new students or transfer GPA for transfer students. Transfer students who have not attempted 12 credit hours of college-level coursework at ��Vlog�ƽ�� and/or other institutions will be evaluated based on both their high school GPA and college GPA.

Learning Outcomes

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

Describe and analyze contemporary philosophical and theoretical orientations about young children and families.
Demonstrate empirically-based and ethical practices of early intervention in natural environments.
Collaborate with families, caregivers, and professionals to enhance children's growth and development.
Identify state and federal legislation related to early intervention.

Coursework

On This Page

Program Requirements
Graduation Requirements

Program Requirements

Course List
Code	Title	Credit Hours
Minor Requirements
SPED 42951	EARLY INTERVENTION IN NATURAL ENVIRONMENTS	3
SPED 43953	FAMILY PROFESSIONAL COLLABORATION IN EARLY CHILDHOOD	3
SPED 43954	PRACTICAL APPLICATION: TEAMING	3
SPED 43955	TYPICAL AND ATYPICAL DEVELOPMENT IN YOUNG CHILDREN	3
SPED 43958	FOUNDATIONS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD SERVICES	3
SPED 43964	ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION IN EARLY INTERVENTION AND EARLY CHILDHOOD SPECIAL EDUCATION	3
SPED 44951	CREATING LEGALLY DEFENSIBLE INDIVIDUAL FAMILY SERVICE PLANS AND INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAMS (WIC) ¹	3
Minimum Total Credit Hours:		21

¹: Students must contact the faculty advisor for the Early Intervention minor to be able to register for SPED 44951.

Graduation Requirements

Graduation Requirements Summary - Minors
Minimum Minor GPA	Minimum Overall GPA
2.750	2.000

Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be upper-division coursework (30000 and 40000 level).
Minimum 6 credit hours in the minor must be outside of the course requirements for any major or other minor the student is pursuing.
Minimum 50 percent of the total credit hours for the minor must be taken at ��Vlog�ƽ�� (in residence).

Program Delivery

Delivery:
- In person
Location:
- Kent Campus

Program Overview

��Vlog�ƽ��’s Early Intervention program emphasizes evidence-based practices in natural environments, interdisciplinary collaboration, assessment, Routines-Based Intervention (RBI), Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs), and coaching that promote children’s participation in everyday routines and activities. Coursework and field experiences align with the Division for Early Childhood (DEC) Recommended Practices and the ODCY competencies for Developmental Specialists.

Students gain knowledge and hands-on experience in:

Child development and early learning across developmental domains
Family-centered practices and family empowerment
Routines-Based Interviews (RBI) and embedded intervention practices
Assessment, eligibility determination, IFSP development, and progress monitoring
Coaching and teaming with families and interdisciplinary professionals
Collaboration across disciplines such as speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, nursing, and early intervention

Program Highlights

Family-centered and strengths-based approach
Coursework aligned with DEC Recommended Practices, Routines-Based Intervention, and ODCY competencies
Automatic eligibility for the 5-year DS credential upon completion
Credentialing supported through OCCRRA / OPR in alignment with OAC 5180-10-05
Collaborative, interdisciplinary learning alongside speech-language pathology students
Faculty mentors with active OSEP-funded research and field partnerships
Strong relationships with county Early Intervention agencies across Ohio

Why ��Vlog�ƽ��?

��Vlog�ƽ�� is a state and nationally recognized leader in Early Intervention personnel preparation. For more than a decade, ��Vlog�ƽ�� has demonstrated excellence in preparing Developmental Specialists through strong partnerships with state agencies, Early Intervention providers, and university faculty.

The program’s evidence-based coursework, high-quality field experiences, and commitment to family-centered practice ensure graduates are well-prepared to make an immediate impact.

Through sustained OSEP funding, ��Vlog�ƽ�� has built a legacy of collaboration—preparing over 100 professionals from special education and speech-language pathology who now work as credentialed Developmental Specialists throughout Ohio.

Automatic Developmental Specialist Credential

Students completing ��Vlog�ƽ��’s Early Intervention Minor or Early Intervention Graduate Certificate automatically qualify for the five-year Developmental Specialist (DS) credential through the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (ODCY) and OCCRRA upon graduation.

The DS credential authorizes professionals to deliver specialized services to infants and toddlers with developmental delays and disabilities as part of Ohio’s statewide Early Intervention system. The County Boards of Developmental Disabilities are the largest employers of DS professionals across the state.

Credentialing Process

Developmental Specialist credentials are issued through the Ohio Professional Registry (OPR), administered by the Ohio Child Care Resource and Referral Association (OCCRRA) under contract with the Ohio Department of Children and Youth (ODCY).

��Vlog�ƽ��’s EI curriculum aligns with the education and training standards specified in Ohio Administrative Code (OAC) 5180-10-05, which define DS eligibility requirements.

As of March 3, 2025, ODCY assumed full oversight of the Developmental Specialist credentialing process via OCCRRA. Applicants submit documentation, transcripts, and verification of field experience through the Ohio Early Intervention Credentialing Portal.

For state guidance, forms, and resources, including user guides, attestation forms, certification flow charts, and continuing professional development information, visit the

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Early Intervention program are prepared to serve in a variety of professional roles, including:

Developmental Specialist or Speech-Language Pathologist in county or regional Early Intervention programs
Early Interventionist or Service Coordinator Position
Home Visiting Professional supporting families and caregivers
Consultant or collaborator within preschool and community settings serving children with developmental differences

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