| Total credits | Estimated resident cost | Estimated Washington border cost | Estimated non-resident cost |
|---|
| 20 | $11,648 | $11,648 | $11,648 |
Program cost estimates are based on 2025/26 PSU tuition and fees only. This chart is provided to help you estimate the minimum tuition and fees for program completion. Additional fees may apply depending on the course of study that you choose to pursue and the specific courses for which you enroll, so you may also find it useful to review detailed tuition and fee information and the full cost of attendance for PSU programs. Financial aid and scholarship options may be available to offset program costs. Visit COE Scholarships for specific details on how to qualify and apply. |
Curriculum
The Infant Toddler Mental Health (ITMH) Graduate Certificate at Portland State University prepares professionals to support the mental health and well-being of infants, toddlers, and their families through an interdisciplinary and collaborative approach. Coursework integrates professional training, research, and applied practice across multiple fields—including health, early education, special education, and family support.
Students gain the knowledge and skills to promote community integration through culturally responsive, strengths-based, and inclusive practices. The program emphasizes the development of adult learning systems and contributes to evolving best practices grounded in early childhood system-of-care principles. Graduates are equipped to lead and advocate within diverse early childhood settings, fostering stability, equity, and resilience in families and communities.
Course descriptions
For course descriptions, please consult the Bulletin or Class Schedule.
Program format
Modality
Online, no scheduled meetings: This program is held entirely online with no required meeting times.
Part-time
Time to completion: One year or two years
Scheduling
All courses are delivered fully online with no scheduled meeting times. Students will complete coursework asynchronously through the Canvas learning platform. While there are no live sessions, students should expect weekly or biweekly assignment deadlines, which are typically scheduled between Thursday and Sunday late evenings.
Weekly Estimated Time Commitment
The PSU Credit Hour Policy defines 1 credit hour as requiring a minimum of 3 hours of student time per week over the course of the term. PSU operates on the quarter system, and terms last 10 weeks.
Graduate school is a big commitment; please consider this information as a starting tool to help you gain a sense of the time commitment. Students learn differently and you may find that it takes you more time to complete the coursework on a weekly basis. Generally, a graduate program is more intensive and should require more time on homework than undergraduate courses; therefore, we recommend planning for more time than the minimum.
Students typically enroll in two courses per term (5 credits). They are expected to dedicate approximately 15–20 hours per week to engaging with online modules, completing assignments, and participating in related activities on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.
A culminating project/e-portfolio is developed over the course of the program and is presented at the end of the program. Creating the portfolio requires additional time commitment.
Program of Study
Cohort: This program operates as a cohort model, meaning that students follow a set program of study with a group of peers, learning together and providing a peer-support network. The program of study below outlines these classes term-by-term.
| Year 1 | CR |
|---|
| Fall |
| ECED 510 Foundations of Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health* | 3 |
| SPED 507 Observation in Early Relationships: Foundations and Practice | 2 |
| Winter |
| COUN 597 Strengths, Risk Factors, and Disturbance in Infants, Toddlers, and Their Families* | 3 |
| SPED 507: Attachment and Trauma Relational Interventions in Early Childhood | 2 |
| Spring |
| SPED 594 Assessment Methods and Classification in Infant Mental Health* | 3 |
| COUN 520 Collaborative Partnerships to Support Infants, Toddlers, and Their Families | 2 |
| Summer |
| SPED 595 Prevention and Intervention in Infant Mental Health* | 3 |
| SPED 507 Advocacy, Policy, and Reflective Practice in Mental Health Systems | 2 |
| Total Program Credits | 20 |
If completing the program in two years, courses marked with an asterisk (*) are taken in year one.