The Special Education Ph.D. program offers an Early Intervention Specialization. As with other specializations at the doctoral level, the major goal is the preparation of leadership personnel. Students acquire leaderships skills that assist them in identifying the significant issues in early intervention and in making effective decisions on behalf of young children with disabilities (ages birth to five) and their families. They also become researchers and scholars committed to furthering the knowledge and empirical base needed for enhancement of early intervention practice and the training of early intervention personnel. Students in this specialization are encouraged to participate in the various leadership-building activities sponsored by the
UCLID Center. It is expected that graduates of this program will have a significant impact on the quality of early intervention practices by providing leadership for local educational agencies, state educational agencies, private foundations and agencies, colleges, and universities.