School of Education

DEPARTMENTS

SPECIAL EDUCATION

MASTERS IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS

Master of Arts in Special Education - Autism spectrum disorders Courses

Core Courses

Survey of Exceptionality
Behavior Management
Fundamentals of Autism Spectrum Disorders
Communication and Social Skills for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Methods and Materials for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Collaboration Skills for School Professionals
Practicum: Autism Spectrum Disorders

Electives and Additional Requirements
Principles of Educational Research
Special Education Final Project

Refer to our catalog for course descriptions with greater detail.

Core Courses (34 Credits)

Survey of Exceptionality (SPED 750 – 3 Credits)

Examine the theories, legal mandates, definitions and terminology related to special education.
Explore characteristics of individuals with exceptionalities including gifted and talented; emotional behavioral, and speech and language disorders; learning, developmental and sensory disabilities; early childhood special education.

Behavior Management (SPED 785 – 3 Credits)

Explores the idea of positive behavior support for promoting acceptable behavior in school and other settings where individuals learn.
Develop skills to teach and support acceptable behavior that is demonstrated in home, school and community settings.

Fundamentals of Autism Spectrum Disorders (SPED 701 – 3 Credits)

Understand Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and their effect on life and learning.
Review origins and development of differential identification of ASD.
Examine the breadth and variability of ASD characteristics.
Investigate how multiple disciplines interact around ASD issues.
Realize how ASD affects learning, socialization, perception, communication, and sensory processing and thinking.
Understand the role of comprehensive educational assessment, services and supports.

Communication and Social Skills for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (SPED 702 – 3 credits)

Develop competencies in the areas of communication and social skills for people with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).
Evaluate, identify needs, develop goals, design interventions, monitor effectiveness and adjust programming for individuals with ASD.
Understand typical social/communication development.
Examine how communication and social differences impact learning and behavior.
Learn methods and tools for evaluating an individual’s social and communication skills.
Identify educational needs in the social and communication areas.
Learn methods of teaching social and communication skills to individuals with ASD.

Methods and Materials for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (SPED 703 – 3 credits)

Understand ways that ASD may affect an individual’s thinking and perceiving, sensory processing, motor skills, vocational skills, academic skills, organizational skills, and other functional skills.
Develop, implement, and evaluate the effectiveness of an Individual Educational Plan (IEP) or individual Family Service Plan (FSP).
Learn the meaning of the “Restricted Repertoire of Activities and Interests” in individual’s with ASD and its implications.
Identify current best practices and methodologies for teaching students with ASD.

Collaboration Skills for School Professionals (SPED 714 – 3 Credits)

Develop the knowledge and skills needed to effectively collaborate with faculty, administrators, students, para-educators, families, and community members.
Explore applications of collaboration related to consultation, team membership, co-teaching, partnership with families, developing interagency agreements and supervision of paraprofessionals.
Identify current practices in collaboration used in program planning and implementation for students receiving special education services.

Practicum: Autism Spectrum Disorders (SPED 704 – 3 Credits)

Gain practical experience in an educational or community-based setting.
Work with a range of students with autism spectrum disorders.

Special Education Electives (9 Credits)

Additional Requirements (4 credits)

Principles of Educational Research (CIED 500 – 3 Credits)

Learn methods of descriptive and experimental research.
Understand basic statistical theory and application.
Build skills in research methodology.

Special Education Final Project (SPED 799 – 1 Credit)

Apply your knowledge in useful and creative ways.
Display your knowledge in teaching.
Demonstrate the ability to influence professionals in your field of choice.
Design and implement innovative curricula, adapted instruction, in-service programs or complete a formal research project.

SPED 701, 702, 703 may be taken as continuing education courses and transferred in to the master of arts program, if the maximum of 9 transfer credits has not been met.