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Jul 31, 2025
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IECD-521 Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health4 semester credits
This core course introduces students to the main issues in the field of Infant Mental Health - an interdisciplinary field concerned with the optimal development of the infant and young child within the context of his/her primary relationships. Students survey the theoretical origins of the field as well as contributions made by various allied disciplines to our understanding of human development, both in typical and atypical functioning. Development will be understood as an integrated, relational process embedded in the ecological, social and cultural context. They review historical and contemporary perspectives on the developmental progress of infants, toddlers and young children, and methods by which assessment and intervention occur. Students examine the remarkable competencies of the newborn and infant, the field of interpersonal neurobiology, the nature of human attachment, the psychological dimensions of pregnancy and parenting, including the critical ways in which the infant’s arrival alters the family system, and the interpersonal nature of human development. They also understand disruptions and disorders of attachment and the impact on relational development over the lifespan.
Delivery Method: Online
Grading Default: Letter
Learning Outcome(s):
Students successfully completing this course will be able to:
- Discuss the historical foundation of the infant mental health field.
- Describe key concepts and relate them to key figures in the IMH field.
- Describe differences in interventions based on provider role, social circumstances, parental capacities, or developmental needs.
- Describe the role of the infant in the family and broader culture
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