Penn State's 12-credit professional development certificate program in autism will provide you with advanced training in the area of autism spectrum disorders and will help you earn continuing education credit in your profession, such as Pennsylvania Act 48 hours.
Course topics include:
- character and learning traits, classification systems, and special emphasis on selecting evidence-based interventions
- applied behavioral analysis, stimulus control, punishment, prompting, fading, generalization, and maintenance as well as other issues affecting persons with autism, and their families
- language development and communication strategies, pragmatics, communication systems, augmentative and alternative communication systems, social deficits in autism, and approaches for teaching skills
- screening, diagnosis, identifying skills in developmental domains, such as sensory, oral motor, and communication
- characteristics, assessment, intervention, and curricula designed for persons with Asperger's syndrome
Please note: Students who have successfully completed the ABA I and ABA II courses in Penn State's applied behavior analysis certificate program are exempt from the Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis course since they have already completed extensive course work in the area of ABA. These students will need to complete only the additional 8 credits (4 courses) in order to earn the 12-credit certificate in autism.
Program Format
Penn State's professional development certificate in autism is offered in distance education format. All 5 courses are offered via DVD and customized course materials and supplemental online activities. The courses are designed so that you can complete the work from your home or office, making the program convenient and accessible for you as a working professional. Communication and interaction with instructors is maintained through e-mail and Web-based message boards.
Access to the Internet is required, as well as a working e-mail account. E-mail is the primary means of communication used throughout the courses.
You will be required to identify an appropriate proctor to administer quizzes and exams as required in each course. Detailed instructions will be included with the course materials.
