Early Childhood Studies and Infant/Toddler Mental Health, B.S.

A minor is not required with this major.

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Studies and Infant/Toddler Mental Health will be well-trained and qualified practitioners who will become part of the early childhood and infant/ toddler mental health workforce, in publicly funded and private infant/toddler and preschool programs and service agencies. Graduates will be eligible to apply for a LEVEL I (Infant Family Associate) Endorsement to the Connecticut Infant Mental Health Association (CT-AIMH). 

PROGRAM GOALS

To produce new professionals who have the requisite knowledge, competencies, and dispositions to become a highly qualified practitioner in the field of early childhood and infant/toddler mental health. Specifically, graduates of the Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Studies and Infant/Toddler Mental Health will be:

1. Knowledgeable and competent in executing the values and skills necessary to serve and care for infants and toddlers and their families to meet Level I of the Infant Mental Health Levels of Endorsement competencies in eight areas: Theoretical Foundations; Law, Regulation & Agency Policy; Systems Expertise; Direct Service Skills; Working With Others; Communicating; Thinking; and Reflection;

2.  Knowledgeable and competent in executing the values, roles and responsibilities of a professional working with preschool children in state private and public agencies, including non-profit community-based agencies that are state- and/or federally funded;

3.  Knowledgeable and competent in promoting child development and learning, especially infants, toddlers, and preschool children with and without exceptionalities;

4. Knowledgeable and competent in building family and community relationships, especially with families whose members include infants, toddlers and/or preschool children with and without exceptionalities;

5. Knowledgeable and competent in assessing and supporting families with infants, toddlers, and preschool children with and without exceptionalities;

6.  Knowledgeable and competent in using developmentally effective approaches to advance the development and learning of infants, toddlers, and preschool children with and without exceptionalities.

7.  Knowledgeable and competent in using content knowledge to build meaningful curriculum and learning activities that are appropriate for infants, toddlers, and preschool children with and without exceptionalities; and

8. Reflective, ethical, and committed to professional behavior and practices, i.e., program graduates will continue to engage in ongoing professional learning and use evidence to evaluate their practice to better meet the needs of children in these populations: infants, toddlers, and preschool children with and without exceptionalities.

Total Credit Hours: 120