School of Education
DEPARTMENTSMaster of Arts in Special Education -- Autism Spectrum Disorders
Providing Hope to Families and Children
Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) specialists need an appreciation of the theoretical and practical knowledge in the field. They also need to understand how ASD, the third most common developmental disability, affects the life of the child and their family members. As a result of appropriate and individualized services and programs, even the more severely disabled can be taught skills to allow them to develop to their fullest potential.
A master’s degree with concentration in autism spectrum disorders is designed for individuals who want to understand and support the growth, development and learning of students with these disorders. Participants will gain in-depth knowledge of the characteristics of ASD studying the best practices and methodologies for teaching students with ASD. Through this program, you will:
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Explore the history and current thinking on ASD.
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Understand the impact of ASD on sensory processing, anxiety, social perception and communication.
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Learn identification and evaluation methods for educational settings.
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Study processes for establishing priorities for educational needs and Individual Educational Program (IEP) goals and objectives.
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Discover techniques that support the selection of instructional interventions, strategies and monitoring systems.
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Identify techniques for supporting the selection of instructional interventions.
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Learn support strategies.
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Review monitoring systems.
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Gain access to research and resources that will provide ongoing access to ASD information.
This program will enhance skills in understanding, identifying, and programming for students with ASD. There is no specific Minnesota license in autism spectrum disorders. However, schools recognize a need for focused autism specialists training and other pre-K-12 educators.
