Certificate In Autism (Online)

This Graduate Certificate in Autism program is geared towards community members who currently work with, or will work with, individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The 12-credit certificate provides students with the skill sets necessary to build and work within an interdisciplinary approach to effective and empirically based treatment of individuals with autism spectrum disorders. Students learn strategies for implementing the interdisciplinary approach, as well as methods to assess the effectiveness of the approach, i.e., the effect of education/treatment on the person's quality of life.

Overview

The mission of this program is to provide professionals, parents, and other members of the community access to empirically validated educational approaches for teaching persons with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), strategies for implementing these approaches, as well as methods to assess the effectiveness of these approaches, i.e. the effect of education/treatment on the person's quality of life. The autism certificate program is based on the following assumptions:

  • People with ASD and their families have a wide range of disability-specific strengths and needs
  • Assessment and intervention must be based on evidence-based practices
  • Professionals who specialize in the treatment of individuals with ASD must understand the ASD profile, its history, and the challenges faced by families of individuals with ASD
  • Professional who support individuals with ASD must collaborate with each other
  • Specialization in autism requires course work, guided observation, and supervised clinical practicum

Curriculum (12 Credits)

The certificate program takes one full calendar year to complete. The first course of the certificate takes place during the summer session. Three courses follow: 1 in the fall semester and 2 in the spring semester. The four course (12 credits) certificate includes:

  • EDA 521: Assistive Technologies for Communication and Preparation
  • EDA 530: Teaching Children with Autism
  • EDA 531: Autism Studes: Assessment and Instruction I
  • EDA 535: Autism: Families, Interagency and Community Collaboration

In addition to Special Education, faculty members teaching courses in the certificate program come from the following departments: Communicative Disorders, Psychology, and Kinesiology.

Admission Procedures

  • Apply online at theGraduate School. If you need assistance call the Graduate Office at 610-436-2943
  • Arrange to have one (1) complete undergraduate transcript and proof of a baccalaureate degree sent to the Graduate Office. The transcript should include the cumulative grade point average of all undergraduate work.

For further information, please contact our Graduate Coordinator Dr. Tara Guerriero at gradspecialeducation@wcupa.edu.