The Master of Science in Developmental Therapy gives students an opportunity to work with very young children who are identified with exceptional learning needs and/or developmental delays. The 30-hour program exceeds the certification qualifications for developmental therapists as established by the Arkansas Department of Human Services Division of Developmental Disabilities Services. The programs are driven by standards and research and are delivered through courses aligned to the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) standards.
Graduates of the developmental therapy program will gain the skills necessary to focus on the development of young children (birth through three years) with special needs. Students will provide evaluation, consultation, developmental intervention and play interaction for families of special-needs children.
Students in the program can work toward their master's degrees or achieving certification in Developmental Therapy with the state of Arkansas.
Online Program
Courses for the Developmental Therapy program meet online. Instruction, lectures and student presentations are delivered using web conferencing (Blackboard).
Blackboard allows continual, real-time communication with professor and class colleagues and for management of assignments. Online class meetings are also scheduled each semester.
Preparation
A well-prepared candidate will have a bachelor’s degree in education or an approved social-service field.
Scholarships and Cost
Two scholarships are available for students in the Master of Science in Developmental Therapy program:
- Linus and Iva Morton Scholarship provides $100 for the spring and fall semesters
- Charles and Louise Durkee Scholarship provides $500 for the fall and spring semesters
The cost of the program is dependent upon the timeframe in which it is completed. The estimated cost of the Master of Science in Developmental Therapy completed within three years is between $11,500 and $12,500.
Classes
Courses are online and include:
- Advanced Child/Adolescent Development
- Advanced Studies in Early Childhood Special Education
- Special Education Law
- Behavior Management
- Assessment and Programming
- Advanced Methods of Instructing Severe/Profound Disabilities
- Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders