Please Note: The program requirements listed below are for students entering in the catalog year 2011-2012.  Students who entered in previous catalog years should refer to the program requirement sheets in the Advising area of MyWheelock. Students entering in future years should follow the requirements in that catalog year.

Birth-5 Specialist, Infant/Toddler provides a variety of options for students interested in working with very young children in early child care, family day care, and other ECE settings, such as museums, publishing firms, and resource and referral agencies. Students interested in teaching in early care settings may use courses and experiences in this program as they apply to the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care (DEEC) for the Lead Teacher credential. Students complete two practica with children birth to 5-years old. The full time practicum is in an infant/toddler setting. Students follow the same pre-practicum preparation required for all Early Childhood Care and Education majors.

Students are required to major in Human Development with a Developmental Psychology focus as their Liberal Arts/Sciences Major.

Required Support Courses* (16 credits)

MAT 130/131 or 140/141 Concepts and Processes (8 credits)
HDP 120/121 & 122/123 or HDP 124/125 & 126/127 Human Growth and Development (8 credits)

* These support courses may also apply to the requirements for General Education or for the Human Development Major with Developmental Psychology Focus.
Required Support Courses taken as part of the Human Development major with Psychology focus. (12 credits within the credits required for the major)

HDP 257 Infant Toddler Behavior & Development (4 credits)
HDP 227 Language Development (4 credits)
HDP 362 Meaning and Development of Play (4 credits)

Major Course Requirements

EDU 201 Orientation to Education Programs (0 credits)
EDU 250 Supporting Young Children with Special Needs (2 credits)
EDU 255 Racial and Cultural Identities (4 credits) (Fulfills General Education Ethics Social Justice requirement)
EDU 305 Principles of Inclusive ECE in a Diverse Society (4 credits)
EDU 315 Quality Infant Toddler Programs (4 credits)
EDU 367 Foundations of Communication & Collaboration, I (2 credits)
EDU 420 Advancing Communication & Collaboration, I (2 credits)
EDU XXX Supporting Infants & Toddlers with Special Needs (2 credits)
EDU 464 Seminar Policy Advocacy and Leadership ECE (1 credits)
EDU XXX Capstone: Infant/Toddler (1 credits)

Integrated Practicum I (16 credits)

EDP XXX EC Practicum and Seminar: Infants/Toddlers (6 credits)
EDP 390 Curriculum & Program Development for Infants & Toddlers (4 credits)
EDU 365 Supporting Families with Infants & Toddlers (4 credits)
EDU 341 Assessment of Young Children w/ & without Special Needs (2 credits)

Integrated Practicum II (8 credits)

EDP XXX EC Practicum & Seminar (Infants & Toddlers) (4 credits) and a selective course related to the second practicum (4 credits)
or
EDP 456 Teaching and Collaboration in a Diverse Early Childhood Setting (4 credits) and EDP 457 Early Childhood Practicum and Seminar (4 credits)
or
EDP 467 Kindergarten/Early Childhood Internship (4 credits) and EDU 427 Child Care Management & Administration (4 credits)

Optional Course Work

EDP 467 Kindergarten/Early Childhood Internship (150- 300 hr) (2-4 credits)