Graduate Programs :: SEIM Program

Students enrolled in the SEIM Graduate Program will acquire the necessary information and skills to work in early intervention programs for families of infants and young children with sensory loss. Students will earn a Master’s from the Department of Communicative Disorders/Deaf Education at Utah State University. The program will typically take 3 semesters to complete.

Each student will select an early intervention focus area:
• Deaf and hard of hearing
• Blind and visually impaired
• Deafblind

The course work and practicum will prepare the student to understand the myriad of issues associated with families and early intervention in natural environments to meet state of Utah credentialing and endorsement requirements.

Sensory losses have powerful effects on the lives of young children and their families. Project SEIM will prepare early interventionists to meet the needs of children with sensory loss and their families through training that is evidence-based, consistent with DEC Recommended practices, and that includes sensory-specific content essential for the successful learning and growth of these children. Students will learn early intervention practices that are family-centered, developmentally and individually appropriate, and that include interdisciplinary collaboration and assessment. The project operates out of the Department of Communicative Disorders/Deaf Education at USU which houses the nationally and internationally known SKI-HI Institute. The SKI-HI Institute is a preeminent leader in the development of resources, training, and services for families of infants and young children with sensory loss. Instructors for Project SEIM are from the SKI-HI Institute. Student stipends are available that cover tuition and other expenses. All students accepted into the SEIM Program are eligible for financial support.

Working with Families of Infants and Young Children 0-3 Who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Students may be interested in working with families of infants and young children who are deaf and hard of hearing ages 0-3. Students can receive training to become Parent Advisors (Early Interventionists) who work in Parent-Infant Programs and who provide families with critically needed information, skills, and support. Students take specialized classes in identification and assessment, early intervention methods that emphasize early communication and language development and emerging literacy, early intervention teams, audiological and medical issues, and a host of other topics. A practicum experience with families of infants and young children who have hearing loss is part of the program. Students can contact Dr. Sue Watkins (sue.watkins@usu.edu) about this graduate program. As an undergraduate, students can major in Family, Consumer, and Human Development (FCHD) with a Deaf Education Emphasis. This provides an excellent foundation for the SEIM Master’s Program (contact Marilyn Kruse, marilynb.kruse@usu.edu). Students can enter the SEIM program (deaf/hard of hearing area) with an undergraduate degree in deaf education, special education, early childhood education, audiology, elementary education, or other related fields.

Working with Families of Infants and Young Children 0-3 Who are Blind or Visually Impaired

Students interested in working with families of infants and toddlers (birth to three) who are blind or visually impaired may opt to apply for the vision impairment emphasis of the SEIM Master’s Degree Program. Students take specialized classes on assessment and early intervention methods and materials that focus specifically on infants and toddlers with vision impairments. They learn about medical aspects of early vision loss, additional disabilities that occur with vision loss, how to work with other team members, the impact of vision loss on early development, and the needs of families of these children. A practicum experience with families of infants and toddlers with vision impairments is a part of the program.

Students can contact Elizabeth Dennison (elizabeth.dennison@usu.edu) about this graduate program. Students can enter the SEIM Program (blindness focus) with an undergraduate degree in special education, vision, early childhood education, elementary education, or other related fields.

Working with Families of Infants and Young Children 0-3 Who are Deafblind or Have Combined Vision and Hearing Loss

Students interested in working with families of infants and toddlers (birth to three) who have combined vision and hearing loss may opt to apply for the deafblind emphasis of the SEIM Master’s Degree Program. Students take specialized classes on assessment and early intervention methods and materials that focus specifically on infants and toddlers with combined vision and hearing loss. They learn about medical aspects of deafblindness, how to work with other team members, the impact of deafblindness on early development, and the needs of families of these children. A practicum experience with families of infants and toddlers with vision impairments is a part of the program.

Students can contact Linda Alsop (linda.alsop@usu.edu) about this graduate program. Students can enter the SEIM Program (deafblind area) with an undergraduate degree in deaf education, blind education, special education, early childhood education, elementary education, or other related fields.

Further Information

SEIM Brochure

Contact:

Sue Watkins, EdD (Deaf/Hard of Hearing), sue.watkins@usu.edu

Elizabeth Dennison, MS (Blind/Vision Impaired), ecdennison@cc.usu.edu

Linda Alsop, MS (Deafblind), lalsop@cc.usu.edu

Co-Directors of Project SEIM are:
Dr. James Blair: jimb@cc.usu.edu
Dr. Sue Watkins: sue.watkins@usu.edu