Program Overview

Autism Spectrum Disorders - Graduate Certificate

Overview

The Autism Spectrum Disorders graduate certificate prepares students for understanding and addressing the needs of individuals with autism across the spectrum, across the lifespan and in varied contexts, including general and special education classrooms and community settings. Students gain knowledge and skills related to diagnostic and learning style characteristics, causes and medical intervention, early signs and assessment protocols, social-communicative development and disorders, theoretical models and implications of those models for intervention, family characteristics and evidence-based intervention practices.

Admissions

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university
• Minimum 2.750 GPA on a 4.000-point scale
• Official transcript(s)
• Goal statement
• Two letters of recommendation
• English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:
  • Minimum 79 TOEFL iBT score
  • Minimum 6.5 IELTS score
  • Minimum 58 PTE score
  • Minimum 110 DET score

Coursework

• Certificate Requirements:
  • SPA 54010: SOCIAL COMMUNICATION DEVELOPMENT AND DISORDERS IN AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS (3 credits)
  • SPA 54030: AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS OVER THE LIFESPAN (3 credits)
  • SPA 54309: AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS: THEORY AND DIAGNOSIS (3 credits)
  • SPED 53030: APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS I: THEORY AND TECHNIQUES (3 credits)
  • SPED 63959: MEDICAL ASPECTS OF LIFESPAN DISABILITIES (3 credits)
  • Certificate Elective, choose from the following: (1-3 credits)
    • SPA 64096: INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION:SPEECH PATHOLOGY AND AUDIOLOGY
    • SPA 64098: RESEARCH
    • SPED 53031: APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS II: APPLICATION
    • SPED 63949: AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER CAPSTONE
    • SPED 63996: INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION IN SPECIAL EDUCATION
• Minimum Total Credit Hours: 16

Graduation Requirements

• Graduation Requirements Summary - Certificates:
  • Minimum Certificate GPA: 3.000
  • Minimum Overall GPA: 3.000

Program Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this program will be able to:

1. Describe the diagnostic and learning style characteristics of individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
2. Identify early signs of autism spectrum disorder and identify and evaluate instruments used to screen for and diagnose autism spectrum disorder in children and adults.
3. Identify neurobiological and environmental factors implicated in the etiology of autism spectrum disorder.
4. Describe medical and complementary and alternative medical interventions used by individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
5. Compare the social-communicative development of individuals with autism spectrum disorder to that of neurotypically developing individuals.
6. Describe different theoretical models for understanding autism spectrum disorder.
7. Implement evidence-based interventions to address the needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorder.

Graduate Certificate Policy for the College of Education, Health and Human Services

• Students seeking a graduate certificate must maintain a minimum 3.000 grade point average. A graduate certificate student who receives a combination of more than 8 credit hours of B- or lower grades, or more than 4 credit hours of grades lower than C is subject to dismissal. Students who are unable to maintain academic standards of the College are subject to dismissal for academic reasons. Grades of C- or below are not counted toward completion of the certificate.
• Certificates must be completed within six years after the first graduate enrollment.
• No more than 2 credit hours of workshop may be used toward a certificate.
• Before being eligible to be awarded a Certificate, students must be admitted to the Certificate program.
• Students currently in a graduate degree program may also apply to a certificate program. Their degree seeking coursework may be applied to the certificate coursework with advisor approval. The courses must be completed within six years and satisfy certificate course requirements.
• Students who have a previous graduate degree and are not currently seeking another graduate degree may transfer a maximum 6 credit hours with advisor approval. These credits may include hours from another KSU program, or from another accredited institution, if the following conditions are met: (1) courses were at the graduate level; (2) a grade of "A" or "B" was earned; (3) credit will be less than six years old at the time the certificate is conferred at Kent; and (4) student was admitted as a graduate student at the time the course was taken.
• Some program areas may be more restrictive. Students are advised to consult their program.

Full Description

The Autism Spectrum Disorders graduate certificate prepares students for understanding and addressing the needs of individuals with autism across the spectrum, across the lifespan and in varied contexts, including general and special education classrooms and community settings. Students gain knowledge and skills related to diagnostic and learning style characteristics, causes and medical intervention, early signs and assessment protocols, social-communicative development and disorders, theoretical models and implications of those models for intervention, family characteristics and evidence-based intervention practices.

This certificate is most relevant for students who want to specialize in autism spectrum disorders and/or professionals assuming leadership roles in supporting individuals on the spectrum and their families in the programs and organizations in which they work.