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Online Graduate Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
The online graduate certificate in autism spectrum disorder* is designed for individuals—such as current special educators, PK—12 teachers, motivated family members or advocates—who wish to better understand the characteristics, assessment methods and evidence-based practices needed to effectively work with children and youth with ASD.
The graduate certificate in autism spectrum disorder is a focused and direct counterpart to our online master's in autism spectrum disorder, giving you a solid foundation of key knowledge and the opportunity to put what you learn into practice in a hands-on field experience. Disclosure information about the U.S. Department of Education Gainful Employment can be seen here.
Earn your certificate in as few as 8 months
Program Details
Program Details
- 5 courses, 8 weeks per course, 13 credit hours
- As few as 8 to 10 months to completion
- Top 10 Best Education School (among public universities)1
- Complete your coursework anytime, anywhere through our innovative online format
- Apply with no GRE requirement for admission
- An observational field experience is required
What You’ll Learn
All autism spectrum disorder graduate certificate online students will complete core coursework that gives them a full understanding of autism spectrum disorder as well as methods to work with and teach students with ASD. Students will learn to select, implement and evaluate evidence-based interventions and support strategies, empowering them to work more effectively with children and youth with ASD, including those with extensive cognitive or verbal support needs. Additionally, students will have an opportunity to demonstrate how to teach and promote social skills, social communication development and proactive social interactions, and they will develop expertise in specific assessment tools. Finally, students will explore and demonstrate their ability to connect assessment results to instruction and to report assessment results in a way that is both technically accurate and transparent to laypeople and other school-based professionals.
This program also includes a field experience course, designed to provide an opportunity to observe services provided to children and youth with a range of ASD; it must be completed under the supervision of qualified and licensed special education teachers and/or other licensed professionals.
For more detailed information on the topics covered in this program, view the course listings.
Career Outcomes
Graduates of the online ASD graduate certificate program will be prepared to pursue many different careers serving students with ASD. For example, they may serve as special education teachers, or they may work as autism or behavior specialists at the local or state level. Outside of education, they may choose to utilize this knowledge working with Applied Behavior Analysis clinics, or within their current roles as occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, music therapists or art therapists.
Program Details
- 5 courses, 8 weeks per course, 13 credit hours
- As few as 8 to 10 months to completion
- Top 10 Best Education School (among public universities)1
- Complete your coursework anytime, anywhere through our innovative online format
- Apply with no GRE requirement for admission
- An observational field experience is required
What You’ll Learn
All autism spectrum disorder graduate certificate online students will complete core coursework that gives them a full understanding of autism spectrum disorder as well as methods to work with and teach students with ASD. Students will learn to select, implement and evaluate evidence-based interventions and support strategies, empowering them to work more effectively with children and youth with ASD, including those with extensive cognitive or verbal support needs. Additionally, students will have an opportunity to demonstrate how to teach and promote social skills, social communication development and proactive social interactions, and they will develop expertise in specific assessment tools. Finally, students will explore and demonstrate their ability to connect assessment results to instruction and to report assessment results in a way that is both technically accurate and transparent to laypeople and other school-based professionals.
This program also includes a field experience course, designed to provide an opportunity to observe services provided to children and youth with a range of ASD; it must be completed under the supervision of qualified and licensed special education teachers and/or other licensed professionals.
For more detailed information on the topics covered in this program, view the course listings.
Career Outcomes
Graduates of the online ASD graduate certificate program will be prepared to pursue many different careers serving students with ASD. For example, they may serve as special education teachers, or they may work as autism or behavior specialists at the local or state level. Outside of education, they may choose to utilize this knowledge working with Applied Behavior Analysis clinics, or within their current roles as occupational therapists, speech language pathologists, music therapists or art therapists.
*This online graduate certificate does not lead to initial nor advanced licensure in special education in the state of Kansas.
Note: In order to enroll in this program, a bachelor's degree is required. No program can guarantee licensure. It is each student’s responsibility to determine the licensure requirements in his or her state and to apply for the licenses or endorsements necessary to his or her career goals. Our department staff and licensure officer can provide individual support during the application process to help you understand your state’s requirements.
Online Graduate Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorder Course Descriptions
The online Graduate Certificate in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) teaches learning professionals how to effectively work with students across the autism spectrum. Read this page to learn more about the topics and courses available to those getting their Certificate in ASD at KU. Unless otherwise noted, all courses listed are worth 3 credits.
Please note: Course list and sequence are subject to change.
SPED 760 - Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorder
An introductory graduate-level course on autism spectrum disorder. It addresses characteristics of children and youth with autism spectrum disorder, trends and issues associated with autism spectrum disorder, and effective practices and strategies for structuring, managing and promoting social skill development and social interactions among learners with autism spectrum disorder.
SPED 785 - Application of Assessment Information for Exceptional Children & Youth: Autism Spectrum Disorder
Learn more about the kinds of information that social and cognitive development assessments offer special educators, families, students and other practitioners. Experience the use of assessment data to design Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and plan instruction, management and support programs. Understand how to design and use informal assessments that are specific to the needs of exceptional children and youth. Practice preparing and using assessment data to create and implement instruction in collaboration with other practitioners. Prerequisite: An undergraduate or graduate course in educational measurement, and SPED 760. LEC.
SPED 790 - Methods for Learners with Higher-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder
This is a methods course, with special emphasis on learners with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder. Particular attention is given to effective practices and strategies for teaching, managing and promoting social skill and social communication development and proactive social interactions.
SPED 860 - Education of Children & Youth with Disabilities: Autism Spectrum Disorder
This course is designed to prepare students to implement specialized alternative strategies for individualized group instruction. Methods for developing and implementing overall treatment/educational programs, planning or selecting curriculum/service models for programs and developing instructional materials are emphasized. Procedures for managing classroom staff and service resources, coordinating educational programs with families, other service personnel and program support staff and monitoring overall program effectiveness are addressed.
SPED 772 - Observation and Participation with Children and Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (1 credit)
This is a field experience for the graduate student who is seeking to become familiar with settings in which assessment, intervention and other educational and clinical services are provided for children and youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This field experience is designed to provide an opportunity to observe services provided to children and youth with a range of ASD, and must be completed under the supervision of qualified and licensed special education teachers and/or other licensed professionals with training and experience in ASD assessment and intervention (e.g., psychologists, behavior analysts, speech/language pathologists or occupational therapists).
Sources:
- Retrieved on March 19, 2019, from usnews.com/best-graduate-schools/university-of-kansas-155317/overall-rankings