Early childhood educators interested in working with very young children with disabilities and their families have the opportunity to take a series of coursework in Developmental Therapy (DT) leading to the Developmental Therapist credential.
Developmental Therapists are assigned by the Illinois’ Early Intervention system (EI), under the Department of Health and Human Services, to provide services at homes or in child intervention centers and hospitals. Provider Connections is contracted to review applications and grant credentials for professionals working in Early Intervention. The review process includes an examination of transcripts to ensure appropriate training in the area of infant and toddlers assessment and intervention and working with families. Individuals interested in becoming a developmental therapist need to have a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education or in child development, with specific courses in infancy and their families. An early childhood teaching license is desired, but not required.
Courses within DePaul's Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education and Master of Education in Early Childhood Education programs have been approved for earning Developmental Therapy credentials. Students interested in pursuing the DT credential as a part of those programs can find more information within their specific degrees linked above.
Provided that all prerequisites have been met, non-DePaul students can expect to complete the coursework within one academic year provided they take at least one course per term.
The following undergraduate or graduate courses must be completed. All non-DePaul students must have completed a Bachelor’s degree in one of the following fields: Early Childhood Education, Early Childhood Special Education, Special Education, Child Development, Developmental/Child Psychology and or a related field. They must submit their transcripts from DePaul and all previous schools to Illinois Provider Connections after all DT courses are completed. In addition, they must complete the Illinois Provider Connections online System’s Overview Training anytime during or after completing courses at DePaul.
Undergraduate
- ECE 290: CHILD GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
- ECE 306: FUNCTIONAL BEHAVIOR ASSESSMENT: INTERVENTION AND SUPPORT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD
- ECE 307: LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD
- ECE 309: EXCEPTIONAL CHILD GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
- ECE 390: DEVELOPMENTAL THERAPY STRATEGIES FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS IN EARLY INTERVENTION
- ECE 391: ASSESSMENT OF INFANT AND TODDLERS
- ECE 392: WORKING WITH FAMILIES OF INFANTS AND TODDLERS: PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION IN EARLY INTERVENTION
Graduate
- T&L 423: FUNCTIONAL BEHAVIOR ASSESSMENT: INTERVENTION AND SUPPORT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD
- T&L 406: SPEECH AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT IN EARLY CHILDHOOD
- T&L 427: EXCEPTIONAL CHILD GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT
- ECE 490: DEVELOPMENTAL THERAPY STRATEGIES FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS IN EARLY INTERVENTION
- ECE 491: ASSESSMENT OF INFANT AND TODDLERS
- ECE 492: WORKING WITH FAMILIES OF INFANTS AND TODDLERS: PARTNERSHIP AND COLLABORATION IN EARLY INTERVENTION
- SCG 404: HUMAN GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT - EARLY YEARS
Students must take the first three courses prior to taking Developmental Therapy courses.
Interested applicants must complete an application for “non-degree” students and submit to the Office of Graduate Admission.
If you have any questions regarding this program, please contact Graduate Admission:
DePaul University
College of Education
2400 North Sheffield Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614-3250
Phone: (773) 325-4405
Outside Illinois: (800) 4-DePaul
edgradadmissions@depaul.edu
http://education.depaul.edu/admission-and-aid