Infant-Family Practice

Applications are due by February 15, 2010; however, we will continue to accept applications until the program is full.

The School of Social and Family Dynamics offers a Master's of Advanced Study (MAS) in Infant Family Practice. This advanced degree provides high-quality coursework and supervised internship experiences designed to train professionals to work in prevention and intervention programs serving families with infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children. This degree program will target training for several key professional groups: child abuse prevention specialists, infant mental health specialists, early intervention child development specialists, family support specialists, and child care administrators and teachers. It is intended to help develop professionals who practice in ways that are developmentally appropriate and sensitive to the needs of very young children and their families with a particular emphasis on early childhood mental health. The program will prepare students for professional endorsement by the newly established Infant-Toddler Mental Health Coalition of Arizona's Endorsement for Culturally Sensitive, Relationship-Based Practice Promoting Infant Mental Health.

Offered at ASU's Tempe Campus, the MAS in Infant Family Practice requires successful completion of 30 semester hours comprised of required core courses and supervised internships. It is generally expected that all courses are to be competed during fall, spring, and summer semesters of the same academic year. See the Program of Study (PDF, 80KB).

Coursework

This is a self-contained 12-month program. Classes outside this program cannot be used to meet the requirements for this degree, i.e. there are no elective courses, and courses taken elsewhere, either within ASU or at another institution, cannot be substituted for any of the courses required for this degree. Specifically, the requirements include:

• Child Development for Infant Family Practice: Examines development during infancy and early childhood with an emphasis on social and emotional development, mental health, and early parent-child relationships.
• Infant Mental Health for Infant Family Practice: Survey of the biological and environmental risk factors that jeopardize the mental health of infants and young children and an overview of prevention and intervention strategies.
• Assessment of Infants, Toddlers, and Families for Infant Family Practice: Provides information about the developmentally appropriate assessment and evaluation of infants, toddlers and their families including the importance of a relationship-based approach.
• Cultural Competence for Infant Family Practice: An examination of cultural issues impacting parent-child relationships and child rearing and the effectiveness of infant mental health and early intervention services on families of various ethnic and cultural backgrounds.
• Applied Research Methods for Infant Family Practice: Survey and critical examination of research in child development, parent-child relationships, family relationships, and early intervention, and its application to infant-family practice.
• Internship (3 semesters): Supervised direct practice with families with infants/toddlers in community-based human service organizations. The internship consists of a minimum of 450 contact hours under direct supervision.
• Observation and Reflection Seminar I & II (2 courses): Development of scientifically rigorous observational skills, reflective practice with children and families, use of relationship-based professional supervision and professional ethics for infant-family work. The seminar will also include "Short-course" studies of professional ethics as a child development specialist, including legal and ethical responsibilities and liabilities; infant mental health and family support policy; transdisciplinary practice; and family service administration.

Tuition and Fees

Students pay graduate tuition (in-state or out-of-state), fees, and a $300 per semester hour program fee. Residency status is determined by the Graduate College.

Applications

The School of Social and Family Dynamics is now accepting applications for the Masters of Advanced Studies in Infant-Family Practice program.  The program has a rolling admissions policy: students are admitted as applications are received. Space is limited, so prospective students are encouraged to apply early. To apply, students must complete:

1. Graduate College Application: The first step in applying to a graduate program at ASU is completing the application to the Division of Graduate Studies at ASU.
2. Master of Advanced Study in Infant-Family Practice Application: Applicants must complete the application (Word, 185KB) and submit it with the following materials:

   • Personal statement.
   • Current vitae or resume.
   • Unofficial transcripts of all college/university coursework.
   • Three letters of recommendation (Download the letter of recommendation form, Word file)

Materials should be submitted to: 
 
Barbara Weigand
Masters of Advanced Studies in Infant-Family Practice
School of Social and Family Dynamics
Arizona State University
Tempe, Arizona 85287-3701

Phone: 480-965-4442
Fax: 480-965-6779
E-mail: Barbara.Weigand@asu.edu

Contact Information

Barbara Weigand or Robert Weigand
School of Social and Family Dynamics
Arizona State University
P.O. Box 873701
Tempe, Arizona 85287-3701

Phone: 480-965-4442
Fax: 480-965-6779
E-mail: Barbara.Weigand@asu.edu