Bachelor in Human Services Leadership — Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health
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Early childhood is a critical window for mental health and development. In our program, you'll learn to support children and families during those years, while building the leadership skills to run the organizations that serve them. You will also learn how to support the social and emotional growth of young children. Coursework lines up with standards set by the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health, helping prepare you for future endorsement in the field. The degree also meets the education requirements for the Human Services Board Certified Practitioner (HS-BCP) credential through the National Organization for Human Services. You will graduate ready to work in human service agencies, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations.
Faculty who have worked in the field bring real experience in child welfare, case management, and nonprofit leadership into every course. You are learning from people who have faced the same challenges you will encounter in practice. Academic advisors, career coaches, and a support system built for working adults help you balance coursework with the rest of your life. A values driven approach to leadership and care, rooted in service and advocacy, shapes how you are taught to support children, families, and communities.
You will build a foundation in human development, social and cultural issues, and intervention strategies before moving into the leadership and administrative skills that set this degree apart. Coursework covers financial and grant management, legal and ethical standards, and program planning and evaluation. These courses give you the tools to budget, secure funding, and evaluate programs that serve your community. Your specialization builds on this foundation with a focus on infant and early childhood mental health. You will study developmental milestones, attachment theory, family dynamics, and trauma informed care, gaining the clinical knowledge to support the social and emotional wellbeing of young children and their caregivers. A capstone experience lets you apply what you have learned to a real or simulated challenge in the field, so you leave with more than theory. You leave with practice.
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Financial aid is available in the form of grants, loans, scholarships, veterans’ benefits, and employer reimbursement.
Upon completion of this program, students should be able to:
These courses contain the program-specific knowledge. Upon completion, you should have the tools to conquer your new career with confidence. For a full list of courses and prerequisites required to complete your degree, please visit the course catalog. Click on a course below to view the description.
HMSR-150,HMSR-200,HMSR-181,HMSR-250,HMSR-240,HMSR-430,SOC-210,CRJ-309,HMSR-220,HMSR-320,CRJ-268,HMSR-350,HMSR-340,HMSR-360,HMSR-420,HMSR-495,ECMH-275,ECMH-385,ECMH-395,ECMH-315
The admission requirements are as follows:
The following graduation requirements must be met:
The following graduation requirements must be met:
No. Coursework builds your knowledge of child development and early childhood mental health from the ground up, starting with core human services principles before moving into specialized topics like attachment theory and trauma informed care.
You will study diagnosis and treatment approaches, resilience building, and trauma informed care practices designed to support the social and emotional wellbeing of infants, young children, and their caregivers.
This program focuses on human services leadership and mental health, not classroom teaching. You will learn to support families, evaluate programs, and lead organizations that serve children and families, rather than working directly in a classroom setting.
Yes. The program builds financial management, strategic planning, and team supervision skills throughout. Combined with your specialization in early childhood mental health, this prepares you for roles like program director, case management supervisor, or child welfare program coordinator.
Yes. Coursework aligns with the competencies set by the Alliance for the Advancement of Infant Mental Health, helping prepare you for future endorsement in the field. The degree also meets the education requirements for the Human Services Board Certified Practitioner credential, offered through the National Organization for Human Services.
You will apply what you have learned to a real or simulated human services challenge, developing recommendations and presenting your findings as you would to real stakeholders or funders.
Many students bring existing experience in childcare, family services, or early intervention and use this program to add leadership and clinical knowledge that supports advancement into program management or leadership roles.
The first years of life shape a child's mental health for a lifetime. The Human Services Leadership degree with a specialization in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health prepares you to support children and families during those years. Apply now!
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