SPECIAL EDUCATION AND DISABILITY POLICY

Programs

Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders

The Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders is designed to prepare personnel to educate and support individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in the educational setting from early intervention through adult services. The primary purpose of the Certificate is to meet the growing need for educators qualified to teach students with an autism spectrum disorder. The course sequence enables personnel to develop comprehensive knowledge and experience in assessment, teaching strategies, and curriculum development. The Certificate is geared towards teachers, potential teachers, and related service personnel. However, it is available to all professionals working in the human service setting who wish to gain expertise in this area. The certificate is for both degree seeking and non-degree seeking students.

The Post Baccalaureate Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorders is comprised of a four course series (3 credit hours each for a total of 12 semester hours). All applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in any area related to education, social work, psychology, etc.

Course descriptions and suggested sequence is as follows:

TEDU 532: Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorders
This course presents an intro¬duction to Autism Spectrum Dis¬orders (ASD) with an emphasis on autism, Asperger’s disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise speci¬fied. The core behavioral and secondary characteristics across the life span will be discussed. Qualities of effective intervention strategies, as well as methods of evaluating practices and making sound intervention decisions will be presented. (3 credits)

TEDU 634: Assessment, Curriculum, and Teaching Methods for Autism Spectrum Disorders
This course will focus on empirically based interventions that address the communica¬tion development and academic needs of children and adolescents with ASD. Assessment techniques, and curriculum design, as well as specific teaching meth¬odologies, will be discussed. (3 credits) Prerequisite: TEDU 532

TEDU 635: Supporting Behavior and Social Skills for Autism Spectrum Disorders
This course will review method¬ologies needed to address the social, behavioral, and sensory needs of children and adoles¬cents with ASD. The course will focus on best practice interventions designed to teach social understanding and shape appropriate social behavior, build play and leisure skills, conduct functional behavior as¬sessments, and provide positive behavior supports. (3 Credits) Prerequi¬site: TEDU 532

TEDU 638: Instructional Design and Field Experience for Autism Spectrum Disorders
This course provides the opportunity to apply knowledge of assessment, curriculum design, teaching methodologies, and environmental and technological supports with students with ASD. Participants will work collaboratively with parents and educational teams to develop individualized programming. This is a self-paced course with a twenty hour field based experience requirement. (3 credits) Prerequisites: TEDU 532, TEDU 634 and TEDU 635