Information for Prospective Students
Applying to the Early Intervention Certificate Program
The Early Intervention (EI) Certificate is a non-degree program currently offered at the graduate level only. Graduates of the Early Intervention Certificate Program are eligible to apply for the state-issued Early Intervention certificate from the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities and apply for Developmental Specialist positions in agencies that provide EI services.
Students may opt to apply for the Certificate program on its own, or concurrently apply for the Master's Degree in Special Education (in which the EI Certificate courses can be credited towards the degree), in addition to the Certificate. It is recommended that those interested in the Master's degree apply for both the EI Certificate and the Master's degree at the same time, so that all the Certificate courses can be credited.
The EI Certificate program requires seven courses and an internship. For students also seeking the Master's Degree, six additional courses are required.
EI Certificate Requirements:
Most of our courses are offered in a "hybrid" format which combines face-to-face meetings, online synchronous meetings (through videoconferencing on Blackboard Collaborate) and online asynchronous activities (e.g., online discussions). More information is in the table below.
| Course | Number | Course Title |
Credits |
State Approval* | Course Format |
|
SPED |
63956 |
Foundations in Early Childhood Services (Fall) |
3 |
Category E02: Disabilities and Risk Factors from Birth | hybrid |
|
|
62951 |
Early Intervention in Natural Environments (Fall) |
3 |
Category E06: IFSP Development, Intervention Planning, Service Delivery | hybrid |
|
|
63954 |
Practical Applications: Teaming (Fall) |
3 |
Category E05: Team Collaboration | hybrid |
|
|
63955 |
Typical and Atypical Development in Young Children (Spring) |
3 |
Category E01: Infant/Toddler Growth and Development | hybrid |
|
|
63957 |
Assessment and Evaluation (Spring) |
3 |
Category E04: Evaluation and Assessment | hybrid |
|
|
63952 |
Family and Professional Collaboration (Spring) |
3 |
Category E03: Family-Centered Services and Supports | hybrid |
|
|
64951 |
Developing IFSPs and IEPs (Summer) |
3 |
Category E06: IFSP Development, Intervention Planning, Service Delivery | 100% online, asynchronous |
|
|
63892 |
Early Intervention Internship (Fall, Spring, Summer) |
9 |
n/a** | 125 field hours plus weekly/biweekly seminar meetings on campus |
|
TOTAL |
30 |
||||
* State approval for Early Intervention certification was granted by the Ohio Department of Developmental Disabilities (DoDD). Click HERE for more information on the certification process.
**DoDD does not include internships in certification approvals due to the variability of placements across the state.
Additional Courses for Master's Degree in Special Education:
- Two research courses (Single Subject Research & Research Applications)
- Two SPED core courses (Special Education Law & Issues in Special Education)
- Two multidisciplinary courses (flexible)
Prospective students may apply at Kent State University's central admissions site. Once your application files are complete at the admissions office, only then is your application forwarded to the Special Education department. It is important that you submit the requirements in a timely manner (8 weeks before the semester in which you want to begin, at minimum) so that the department can review your application.
Below are links containing information that may be helpful to you in completing your application.
Graduate certificate application: for non-degree EI Certificate
Graduate degree admission requirements: see list under Master of Education (M.Ed.) - All Majors
Applying for a graduate assistantship: Graduate assistantships may be available on a competitive and limited basis. With a graduate assistantship appointment, students can receive a full tuition waiver and a stipend for 20 hours of work assisting department faculty. It is a separate application, which can be found here.
Writing your goal statement
View other admissions forms here.