Celeste Tinkoff's reflection on her first semester in the EC-SEBRIS program

This fall semester during the EC-SEBRIS program at SDSU I have gained a lot of new knowledge, reinforced prior knowledge I had obtained during my undergrad, and have been exposed to new horizons and new experiences in which I gained field experience. Coming from a background in psychology, the EC-SEBRIS program has exposed me to more in depth child and family focused ways of approaching mental health and the importance of early development, relationships with both young children and their families, and the role I have as an early childhood caregiver and advocate. The EC-SEBRIS program has introduced me to new information, such as various types of assessments and how they are to be used, administered, scored, explained, and interpreted. I have learned how to formulate a comprehensive assessment on a child, and which assessments are best to use for specific situations and children given their circumstances. I have also learned more about the importance of early relationships and how they affect the internal working model of children. The EC-SEBRIS program has refined my idea of presence when working with young children and I have learned through the program how much young children look to me as a caregiver and teacher. I am not only a role model, but a source of secure attachment, trust, security, guidance, and love for the infants and preschool children I work with. Lastly, I have been able to take part in, what I feel the majority of graduate school programs do not offer, this being our reflective supervision course. Although my time so far has been filled with excellent professors who have truly cared about their students’ success and rich new information, it has been a demanding journey in our otherwise hectic lives as students/employees/interns/parents/etc. The reflective supervision program has been a way for us to connect as peers and also seek guidance from a professional who is ready to listen and give constructive advice to help us navigate through our studies and site responsibilities. Having friends in law school and other graduate programs, I feel lucky that we have our weekly group meetings and biweekly individual meetings to reflect on our experiences, emotions, and struggles during the semester. We grow and learn about ourselves as individuals and how that affects us as early childhood mental health advocates. We also interact closely with our peers and share our journeys together. Overall I have enjoyed my first semester as an EC-SEBRIS candidate, and I look forward to the spring semester as well as the continued master’s program in 2016-7. For more information on the EC-SEBRIS graduate certificate program, visit website.

Leah Bray's Reflection on the Masters Program

Though I have only been out of undergrad for 1 year, it was a struggle coming back to school for my master’s degree. I did my undergrad at University of California, Irvine with a major in drama and a minor in education. I moved to San Diego a year ago and have worked as a specialist for a transportation company named Hyundai Translead. I knew I wanted to complete my master’s degree as soon as possible, but the challenge was deciding if I wanted a credential program or a new area of study; and then I found the MS in child development at San Diego State. Though I have my minor in education, I do not feel I have enough knowledge to pursue a teaching credential until I fully learn how children grow and development. This master’s program seemed like a perfect fit.

I quit my job at Hyundai Translead and started school two weeks ago. I did not know what to expect in this program, though I was nervous and excited to begin. Once I realized I had been assigned to Dr. Shapiro as the chair for my thesis/project I was intrigued. I met with her to discuss the possibilities and she told me a study she was conducting with a colleague regarding mindfulness between couples and how it affects a child’s development. Coming from divorced parents and a family where loving each other came second to responsibility, this topic seemed fascinating to me - seeing if mindfulness within one’s self translates into mindfulness between other people. It has been a very full two weeks, and I cannot wait to find what else I learn throughout this program. Though I have had some second thoughts before class started, it is clear to me now that this is where I am meant to be, and excited to find what opportunities open in the future.


For more information on the Master's in Child Development, visit our website.

A Few Last Words Before the End of the Year

As I end my year in the ECSEBRIS program, I am thankful for the knowledge I have gained overall. Learning about functional behavior assessments, behavior support plans, evaluation plans, data collection, assessment/measurement testing procedures/instruments, and regulation plans are tools that I feel confident using in the community for families.

Topics such as intervention techniques, atypical and typical development, emotional development, attachment, response to intervention, brain development in association to emotional regulation, and interpersonal neurobiology theories have provided me with so much growth. I have definitely enjoyed the benefits of personal reflection, and self-awareness skills. The staff and professors in this program have become a team of mentors for me along the way. I really feel that my level of growth is due to this cutting edge program with best practices and support! I highly recommend this wonderful program.

- Ashley Virgilio

Strong Recommendations from Mariah Rideaux

I came into this program on a last minute whim to strengthen my background experience for a Marriage and Family Therapy Masters Degree. I had intended it to be a stepping-stone, but instead I experienced a full 360 transformation. In addition, I have awakened a new passion I never knew existed within me. The EC-SEBRIS program has expanded and strengthened my skills of working with families. I have 6.5 years of experience working with children and thought I didn't have much room left to grow. However, I have blossomed in the way I work with children from a social-emotional perspective. I have learned to be more patience, understanding, and caring with the families I serve. The EC-SEBRIS program has also helped me learn to navigate my new position as the supervisor of a brand new preschool program in a hospital setting. To have the appropriate boundaries in working through a sensitive environment is a gift to both the families I serve and myself. I have an enormous appreciation for how important social and emotional development is in early-childhood and this appreciation drives me to create the most nurturing and supportive preschool environment possible. Instead of switching over into an MFT program upon finishing the EC-SEBRIS program, I have decided to finish this journey and obtain my Master's Degree in Child Development. I feel my time in this program is not ready to expire and I want to continue building myself into a strong early-childhood professional. I have already and will continue to strongly recommend this program to anyone interested in working with children and families. Having the EC-SEBRIS program as a foundation to fall back on will help any individual aiming towards a social service career-whether you want to work with young children or adults!

Mariah Rideaux

Kristen Eberly on the impact of early childhood trauma

SDSU graduate student Kristen Eberly shares why she decided the curriculum in the EC-SEBRIS certificate program was important to her career. 

I am completing my Master of Social Work in the one-year Advanced Standing Program at San Diego State University. During orientation I was presented with the opportunity to pursue the EC-SEBRIS certificate. I was hesitant to enroll in this program, in addition to the MSW program, due to the additional classes and requirements. 

However, in numerous social work classes and interactions with clients I began to see a common theme. Early childhood trauma and/or a difficult parent-child relationship continues to make a tremendous impact in adults’ lives. 

While society is making strides in raising mental health awareness and reducing stigmatization, more focus is required on early childhood mental health and intervention efforts.  As a result, I decided I wanted to work in an early intervention setting and applied for the EC-SEBRIS program. 

The EC-SEBRIS program is instrumental in linking clinical social work with early childhood intervention efforts. The program’s focus on attachment theory, neurobiology, emotional regulation, ecobehavioral assessment and intervention, applied behavior analysis, and positive behavioral support provides the knowledge and skills that will be essential and valued in the social work field. The classes and books are engaging, interesting, and relevant. In addition, the information learned during class can be applied immediately to my internship setting.

I strongly encourage anyone who is interested in social work and would like to work with children to look into this program. Linking both the MSW program and the EC-SEBRIS program provides an excellent opportunity to specialize in early childhood mental health.

EC-SEBRIS 2014 Orientation

The EC-SEBRIS certificate program is an interdisciplinary program for early childhood professionals who want to improve skills for working with young children who demonstrate socio-emotional and behavioral concerns, and their parents. EC-SEBRIS 2014 Orientation The EC-SEBRIS Certificate is a program of the San Diego State Department of Child and Family Development. 

The Dept. of Child and Family Development also offers a Master of Science in Child Development. The Master of Science degree is one of only four child development programs available in the CSU system. The EC-SEBRIS program is accepting applications for Fall 2015 admission until March 2, 2015.

For more information on the EC-SEBRIS graduate certificate program, visit our website. 

Behavioral consultant applies certificate coursework directly to the field

Current student Zoey Orgel shares the highlights of what she has gained from the EC-SEBRIS Certificate Program:

The EC-SEBRIS Certificate Program has been extremely beneficial to me thus far! I currently work as a behavioral consultant, providing 1:1 therapy for children with autism. I have learned a lot about ways to apply reflective practice skills to work with young children as well as exploring possible approaches to work effectively with the children and families.  

I have also learned a great portion of ecobehavioral assessment and intervention, focusing on understanding measurement and structured testing procedures related to socio-behavioral interventions for children in multiple settings.

Lastly, I have been learning about theories and approaches to emotional regulation in childcare settings, studying attachment, interpersonal neurobiology, and other developmental theories with a special emphasis on the applied use in early care and education settings.  

All of these classes are interrelated and I have used the knowledge I have gained in each class when working in the field. While I have gained a lot of useful information within the first month of school, I am looking forward to what the rest of the program has to offer! I am extremely excited for next semester's ABA class as I consistently implement this type of therapy throughout my sessions in the field!

The EC-SEBRIS Certificate is a program of the San Diego State Department of Child and Family Development. The Dept. of Child and Family Development also offers a Master of Science in Child Development. The Master of Science degree is one of only four child development programs available in the CSU system. 

EC-SEBRIS 2014 Orientation

The EC-SEBRIS certificate program is an interdisciplinary program for early childhood professionals who want to improve skills for working with young children who demonstrate socio-emotional and behavioral concerns, and their parents. 

The EC-SEBRIS program will accept applications for Fall 2015 admission from Oct. 1, 2014 to March 2, 2015.

For more information on the EC-SEBRIS graduate certificate program, visit our website. 

Three things that set the EC-SEBRIS certificate program apart

Three facets that make the EC-SEBRIS certificate program at SDSU unique:

1. Immediate practical application
2. Guided reflection
3. Flexibility

Molly Brennan told us why these were important to her during the program:

"I'm really enjoying the EC-SEBRIS program. I'm learning so much in the classes and applying the information in my practicum site. I truly am getting so much out of the reflective class. 

It's important to have this class to talk to everyone and see how we are all doing, while giving us time to reflect and slow down. It's nice knowing that others are going through this with us as well, having that extra support whenever we need it! 

The program being flexible is great because I having my own job as my practicum site. I'm taking information from the classes and using it in the field. It continues to help me understand different perspectives while gaining knowledge on how to work in different environments. 

For more information on the EC-SEBRIS graduate certificate program, visit our website. Applications for the graduate and certificate programs are open on Oct. 1st, 2014. 

Student chooses EC-SEBRIS certificate over doctoral program

We asked students to write about their experience in the EC-SEBRIS Graduate Certificate Program. EC-SEBRIS student Traci Sackett shared her thoughts as a part of our student blog series: 

The EC-SEBRIS Program at San Diego State University, through the Department of Child and Family Development, works both as a foundation for further study in child development as well as a supplemental body of knowledge for professionals working in the field of childhood mental health. 

It is an intensive one year program covering critical material. The Attachment Theory and Behavioral Neuroscience components are especially applicable, whether a classroom teacher, counselor or instructor of parenting education classes. 

I chose to supplement my Master’s degree in Counseling with the EC-SEBRIS certification in lieu of pursuing a doctoral program. I am fascinated by the burgeoning field of neuroscience as it applies to human behavior, as well as the practical application of Attachment Theory in working with children. 

I found that the time and expense of a doctoral degree was more than I wanted to commit to, and that the EC-SEBRIS program offered me the option in furthering my education and deepening my experience in a practical and attainable manner.

Applications for the certificate program are available Oct. 1st. 

The EC-SEBRIS certificate program is an interdisciplinary program focusing on professional preparation and skills enhancement of early childhood professionals who work with young children who demonstrate socio-emotional and behavioral concerns, and their parents. 

This one-year program is targeted towards working professionals and classes are offered in evenings on two nights each week, and admission is accepted only in the Fall semester. 

For more information on the EC-SEBRIS graduate certificate program, visit our website.

Student Blog: Amelia Broome shares her experience in the EC-SEBRIS graduate certificate program

We asked students to blog about their experience with the EC-SEBRIS Graduate Certificate Program. Master of Social Work student Amelia Broome shared her thoughts:

The EC-SEBRIS Program is a wonderful opportunity for those interested in expanding their knowledge in the field of child development. This program is highly educational and practical as it transfers easily to real-world settings, and is supported by strong research and well-established theoretical models. 

The program is fit for working professionals and has partnered with the School of Social Work at San Diego State University, making the EC-SEBRIS program feasible to complete at the graduate level. 

I am in the process of completing my Master of Social Work Degree at San Diego State University, and was fortunate to hear of the opportunity to complete this certificate during the MSW program. 

This opportunity came in a very timely manner, as I have gone through most of my higher education without receiving any specialization or classes in child development. I have known this is to my personal detriment, as the population I would like work with is children! You can imagine my relief knowing I could receive this education and the benefits it will bring.

By completing this program I will have a significantly better understanding of early child development and interventions including, applied behavioral analysis, assessment methods, behavior strategies, treatment planning, attachment, emotion-regulation, and more. 

If you are certain you would like to specialize in working with children, this program is a true investment of your time and will greatly enhance your career development. I am excited for those who choose this program and wish you the best of luck in your journey working with children.

Applications for the certificate program are available Oct. 1st. 

The EC-SEBRIS certificate program is an interdisciplinary program focusing on professional preparation and skills enhancement of early childhood professionals who work with young children who demonstrate socio-emotional and behavioral concerns, and their parents. 

This one-year program is targeted towards working professionals and classes are offered in evenings on two nights each week, and admission is accepted only in the Fall semester. 


For more information on the EC-SEBRIS graduate certificate program, visit our website.

Apply for the EC-SEBRIS Certificate Program

Find out how the EC-SEBRIS Graduate Certificate Program at San Diego State can help you develop as an early childhood professional and propel you forward in your career.

Applications for Fall 2015 are available Oct. 1st.

The Early Childhood Socio-Emotional and Behavior Regulation Intervention Specialist Certificate Program is targeted towards working professionals and classes are offered in evenings on two nights each week. Applications are accepted only in the Fall semester.

18 units from the EC-SEBRIS Certificate can be applied to the MS in Child Development and LPCC.

For more information on our program: 

Visit our website

Read our brochure

Contact earlychildhood (at) mail.sdsu.edu

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Master's Student Mashaael Alwashmi Explains Why SDSU Is First Choice

My name is Mashaael Alwashmi and I am from capital city Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. I graduated from Princess Nora University, which has the largest female campus in the world. My undergraduate major was Home Economics that includes subjects about home, family, and children. I decided to join the (KASP) King Abdullah Scholarship Program that offers full funds for distinguished students because I graduated from PNU with honors.

I chose San Diego State University in particular for many reasons. First, my brother, uncle, and cousin were in San Diego seeking their education, and they highly recommended San Diego as a nice city for studying and for families. Second, SDSU was one of my first choices because they ranked high, especially the College of Education. Also, the Child and Family Development department has the most suitable master’s program that is an actual extension to my undergraduate major. In fact, the Ministry of Higher Education in Saudi Arabia added the program to their list for recommended and approved programs all over the world on: http://ru.mohe.gov.sa/default.aspx

I started planning to apply when I was in the American Language Institute (ALI) at SDSU by learning about the application requirements and completing them one by one. During the language-learning period I was able to earn an English level sufficiency certificate, qualify my undergraduate degree certificate, take the GRE exam, and write the required essays. After sending the required documents, I was extremely happy to hear from the department as per the scheduled timeline they had provided telling me that I was accepted in the Fall 2013.

I have loved the program so much. During the first semester, I had the pleasure of working with many people with different backgrounds. I especially loved the courses CFD 634, CFD 660, CFD 590 as well as ED 690. Additionally, the program was flexible to the extent that I was able to take some undergraduate classes that I really enjoyed and learned from. This gave me a whole new perspective in this filed and made me interested more and more about children's problems and developmental challenges. I look forward to the courses I will take this year that will assist me in writing my thesis on children’s school readiness in Saudi Arabia. I cannot wait to apply the knowledge I have gained from this master’s program in my country.

My goal is to enhance the invaluable experience of working with children during my studying in SDSU. I want to work with the SDSU Children’s Center and learn the successful ways that they follow, and apply them to my future children’s center in Saudi Arabia. Also. I will back to work at PNU as a lecturer, so I get the opportunity to transfer the great information and knowledge from the CFD master’s program to the Early Childhood Department at PNU.

Aitor Sendino Fernández from Spain Shares What he Took Away From the ECD Program

My experience at SDSU was very rewarding at a personal, academic, and professional level. I first came to SDSU as an exchange student for two semesters, taking several classes in the Child and Family Development department. Needing to adapt to such a different educational environment and methodology, compared to my country of origin, was a really interesting challenge.

All the professors and classmates were very helpful and I soon started enjoying the learning experience at SDSU, finishing with great academic results as well! After my two semesters as an exchange student, and thanks to one of my professors from the Child and Family Development department, I had the opportunity to come back to SDSU for a third semester working as a research assistant at the Youth Violence Research Lab, supervised by Dr. Emilio Ulloa and Dr. Audrey Hokoda.

I'm sure that the experience and the skills I gained working with such a great team will be very useful for my professional future. With the help of my mentor at the lab, I developed my own research project on dating violence, which resulted in a research manuscript. This manuscript in particular, and my international working experience at SDSU in general, are now helping me find better job opportunities back in Europe, giving me a competitive advantage over other candidates without any experience working or studying abroad.

In the next months, I'll be starting an internship abroad with a program sponsored by the Basque Government and the European Union through the Leonardo da Vinci scholarships.

Saba Borjianboroujeni from Iran provides an international look inside the Master's Program

When you get admission to go abroad and study in a different country, you have no idea what you are going to experience. In my first week at SDSU, I felt like Alice in wonderland. Everything was new and the system was not familiar for me, on top of the language barrier. However, the professors were very friendly- they helped me with all the new things. The program requires lots of writing and reading, which is more difficult for international students, so the first few weeks is all about adjusting to the language and new system.

After the first month, I started to realize how interesting my program is. In every assignment, the professors forced us to apply what we had learned in the texts and articles to real situations, which helped to understand the techniques more deeply. The professors make plenty of time for each student and clarify all the tasks. They explained all the assignments over and over for me; therefore, they tried to speak more slowly and simple in class, which I really appreciate. In total, I found my school and my faculty very friendly and helpful. This is an experience that is very unique and I wouldn’t exchange it with anything in my life.

The First Annual Child Development Conference, Co-Hosted by the Department of Child and Family Development at SDSU

Please join us for the First Annual Child Development Conference, Co-Hosted by the Department of Child and Family Development at San Diego State University. The conference will be held on April 17th in Montezuma Hall in the Aztec Student Union. This will be a great opportunity for students and members of the surrounding community to come together for a day of learning. The conference is dedicated to educating attendees about an array of areas in child development, it will include keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and presentations on current research. Don't miss out on this awesome event and chance to network within the community. Be sure to register for the event ahead of time and bring your friends! For full details see the flyer below and visit our website:  http://coe.sdsu.edu/cfd/community/organizations.php

International Student Defne Kabas of Turkey Tells her Experience in the EC-SEBRIS Program

The EC-SEBRIS program got me closer to my dreams of becoming a psychologist. It
taught me a great deal about the biological, psychological and the behavioral aspects
of children's development and how we can assist them reaching their potentials. I
learned to become a team with the teachers, the families and other students in order
to strengthen specific children’s abilities and support them in any struggles they were
having growing up. I learned many valuable lessons that I can speak about in my
interviews now, from the questionnaires that we learned to use, to presentations we
prepared in small groups.

I'm also very appreciative to have met amazing teachers and students in the EC-
SEBRIS program and learned so much from them. As an international student, I felt
very welcome and supported by many amazing people and encourage anyone who is
interested in children's development to enroll. They will not only be informed of socio-
emotional and behavioral development of children, they will also be able to intervene
and experience it with children in their field practice.

I just found a job in the Istanbul Medical Faculty, Psychiatry, doing projects about bipolar
disorder. We are investigating if there are any genetic influences on kids that have
bipolar parent/s. I will do my master’s in Clinical Psychology very soon.