M.S. in Developmental Disabilities

The successful graduate of the M.S. in Developmental Disabilities program is expected to:

• Apply knowledge of effective administrative and other leadership skills in the field of developmental disabilities through the use of case study analyses, research papers, and in-class assignments.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the different developmental disabilities and the challenges faced by these individuals across the lifespan.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the impact of the family, the educational system, and community services on the successful integration of individuals with developmental disabilities into the community.
• Apply ethical and legal principles related to working with individuals who have developmental disabilities to real-world cases and settings.
• Apply knowledge of developmental disabilities, organizational behavior, and strategic planning to the design and/or administration of human services organizations which provide services to individuals and families with developmental disabilities. 
• Demonstrate research, analytic thinking, and writing skills when creating a program design or evaluation project on a relevant topic in the field.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the impact of health disparities experienced by individuals with developmental disabilities and the implications for healthcare and human services organizations.

M.S. in Developmental Disabilities SAMPLE Degree Plan (30 credits)

Leadership/Advocacy

Adult Services/Transition

Early Childhood

Applied Behavior Analysis (9 Credits)

The Association for Behavior Analysis International has verified the following courses toward the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the 5^th edition Board Certified Behavior Analyst® examination. Applicants will need to meet additional requirements before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination.

For those interested in learning and understanding the BCBA certification requirements, please visit the Behavior Analyst Certification Board's website: https://www.bacb.com/.

Click HERE for more information about the BCBA examination pass rate. Please note, pass-rate data are not published for sequences with fewer than six first-time candidates in a single year or for sequences within their first four years of operation.

Applied Behavior Analysis Elective Fieldwork – Optional – (9 Credits)

Child Life Specialist

The Association of Child Life Professionals (ACLP) has pre-approved the following courses toward the coursework requirements for eligibility to take the Child Life Professional Certification Examination.  Applicants will need to meet additional requirements before they can be deemed eligible to take the examination.

For those interested in learning and understanding the ACLP certification requirements, please visit the Association of Child Life Professional’s website: https://www.childlife.org/certification

Child Life Clinical Training - Optional (9 credits)

Child Life Specialist Internship Information

Internship/practicum candidates may elect to request approval to complete university-affiliated training. Affiliation agreements between the training site and NSU must be established, prior to internship/practicum.  

• Internship: Students must successfully complete 600 hours supervised clinical hours at a University approved site under the direct supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist, who has a minimum of 4,000 hours of paid child life clinical experience prior to the start of the supervisory period. 
• Practicum: Students must successfully complete a minimum of 100 hours supervised clinical training at a University approved site under the direct supervision of a Certified Child Life Specialist, who has achieved a minimum of 2,000 hours of paid work experience in the field. (Please note practicum training is not required to establish eligibility for the Child Life Professional Certification Examination) 

1. Complete online application form.
2. $50 nonrefundable application fee
3. Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher or a master's degree with an overall GPA of 3.0 or better.
4. A personal statement of approximately 300 words, double spaced, single sided, typewritten pages. Include  why are interested in the program to which you are applying for, as well as your professional goals, your assessment of your abilities to manage the challenges of graduate school, and any other information you would like to provide.
   • *Students may choose to complete this requirement within the application or they may choose to submit it as a separate document.
5. Official transcripts from all colleges or universities you attended need to be mailed directly to Enrollment Processing Services (EPS), including agency evaluation of foreign degrees for determination of U.S. equivalence (including Canadian transcripts). All applicants must hold a baccalaureate from a regionally accredited institution. International Students should visit International Students and Scholars for further information. *
6. Submit two letters of recommendation from current professors, employers, supervisors, or similar people most familiar with your professional experience. Letters of recommendation must be less than one year old.
7. Interview conducted via telephone
8. International Student applicants should submit English proficiency scores, if applicable. International Students should visit International Students and Scholars for further information. *

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International Students

Foreign nationals who reside outside the U.S. at the time of application, and whose native language is not English, must present evidence of proficiency in English by satisfactorily completing the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Score requirements are the same as undergraduate admission and are as follows: minimum paper score =550; minimum computerized score = 213; minimum Internet score=79). A score of 6.0 on the International English Language Testing System (ILETS) exam is accepted in lieu of the TOEFL. Applicants who have attended foreign universities or colleges are required to have their academic credentials evaluated for U.S. institutional equivalence. While there are several credential evaluators, the most widely used companies are listed below or visit www.naces.org.International students are encouraged to contact the Office of International Student Services at (954) 262-7240 or 800-541-6682, ext. 27240, or by email at intl@nova.edu, or visit our  International Students Page.

The NSU ABA Fellowship provides students the opportunity to accrue hours toward the Behavior Analyst Certification Board’s (BACB) concentrated supervised fieldwork category while employed at NSU’s Baudhuin Preschool. Fellows will be eligible for tuition reduction contingent upon six months of successful employment. 

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