• On-Campus Component
    No
  • Cost
    $796.00 per credit
  • Total Credits
    20
  • Credential
    Graduate Certificate
  • Application Deadlines
    July 15
  • Campus
    Twin Cities
  • College
    College of Education and Human Development
  • Department
    Institute on Child Development

This online graduate certificate will prepare you to address the social-emotional and mental health needs of young children and their families. Take courses for academic credit or continuing education units. In this program you will:

  • enhance your understanding of infant and early childhood mental health
  • acquire the skills needed to support the social-emotional development of young children from birth to age five
  • study with researchers and field faculty from clinical and community-based settings
  • learn how to turn infant and early childhood mental health theory into practice

This program does not train individuals to become licensed clinical professionals.

Sample Courses

  • CPSY 5501 – Foundations in Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health I (3 cr)
  • CPSY 5503 – Development and Psychopathology in Early Childhood (3 cr)
  • CPSY 5506 – Infant Observation Seminar I (1 cr)
  • CPSY 5513 – Early Childhood Assessment (3 cr)
  • CPSY 5518 – Prevention and Intervention in Early Childhood: Principles (3 cr)
  • CPSY 5521 – Prevention and Intervention in Early Childhood: Practice (3 cr)

See the full course list and semester breakdown.

Online Catalog

Application Information

This certificate can be taken for academic credit or continuing education units (CEUs).

Students studying for academic credit will earn a certificate of completion from the University of Minnesota and 20 academic credits. Academic credits appear on a student's transcript. The Institute of Child Development also offers an MA in Applied Child and Adolescent Development with a focus on infant and early childhood mental health. Students who take the certificate for academic credit may apply to transfer to the MA program.

We are not accepting applications for the CEU option of the IECMH certificate at this time, but we still welcome applications for the academic credit/tuition option. Applications are open until February 15.

Career Outlook

This program helps individuals advance their careers in a variety of fields that serve young children and their families. The program is ideal for individuals working in prevention and intervention in group or individual settings, program administration, or policy development. It prepares practitioners to embed infant and early childhood mental health principles in their existing professional roles and practice settings.

This program does not train individuals to become licensed clinical professionals.

Endorsement® Information

This certificate program will provide you with the developmental science background, reflective practice experience, and professional guidance necessary to apply for Endorsement for Culturally Sensitive, Relationship-Focused Practice Promoting Infant Mental Health® through the Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health, Infant, and Early Childhood Division.

Endorsement® levels include:

  • Infant Family Specialist (Prevention/Early Intervention)
  • Infant Mental Health Specialist (Treatment/Intervention)
  • Infant Mental Health Mentor (Clinical, Faculty, or Policy Leadership)

Tuition and Funding

This program is part-time. If you take the certificate for academic credit, tuition for our program follows the College of Education and Human Development’s post-baccalaureate certificate rate. Since this is an online program, all students qualify for the Minnesota resident tuition rate. If you take the program for CEUs, the cost is $375 per credit.

Irving B. Harris Foundation Diversity Scholarship

The Irving B. Harris Foundation promotes infant and early childhood mental health through professional training and education. Limited scholarship funds are available through the Harris Foundation as part of an effort to recruit students from underrepresented populations.