Courses

Penn State's 12-credit Postbaccalaureate Certificate in Educating Individuals with Autism will provide you with advanced training in the area of autism spectrum disorders and 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

Autism Spectrum Disorders Endorsement (Optional)

Students enrolling in the certificate also have the option of receiving an ASD Endorsement approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. To receive the ASD Endorsement, students must successfully complete the 12-credit certificate and participate in integrated practicum field experience requirements. Successful completion of the course work and practicum will enable candidates to apply to PDE to add the ASD Endorsement on their existing Pennsylvania certificates. Only students with Level I or II certification are eligible for the courses with the additional ASD Endorsement course work.

Program Format

Instruction for all of the courses in this program is conducted online. 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. Specifically, instructors will deliver content via lectures and interviews on streaming video or DVD, voice-over slides and graphics, and other multimedia technologies. Course content will be supplemented by text and article readings and online activities and quizzes. Students and instructors will communicate primarily via online discussion forums and email.

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.

Course List — Postbaccalaureate Certificate in Educating Individuals with Autism

Required Courses
Title	Abbreviation	Description	Credits
Introduction to Autism Spectrum Disorders	SPLED 461	This course will include an overview of characteristics and learning traits, classification systems, assessment strategies/issues, approaches, and interventions related to individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Special emphasis will be given to selecting evidence-based practices and enhancing collaboration among individuals with ASD, their families, and supporting professionals.	3 credits
Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis	SPLED 462	The course content includes an overview of basic principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA) and elements of empiricism in education settings. Basic principles include reinforcement, stimulus control, punishment, prompting, fading, generalization, and maintenance. Special emphasis will be given to the application of ABA principles to classroom settings. A historical perspective will be outlined concerning the application of ABA to individuals with autism as well as the use of ethics in treatment and education. Empirically based interventions for persons with autism will be covered, including discrete trial, analysis of verbal behavior, and direct instruction. Finally, issues affecting persons with autism and their families will be addressed, including functional analysis, sleeping, eating, toileting/grooming, and determining credibility of treatments.	3 credits
Communication and Social Competence	SPLED 463	Language development and communication strategies, issues, pragmatics, communications systems, augmentative and alternative communication systems (AAC), social deficits in autism, and approaches for teaching social skills.	3 credits
Assessment and Curriculum	SPLED 464	Types of assessment, such as screening, diagnosis, and identification of skills in development diagnosis; identification of skills in developmental domains, such as sensory, oral motor, play, and communication; practical strategies detailing what to teach based on assessment results; and an overview of curricula approaches and materials.	3 credits

Course Availability

If you're ready to see when your courses will be offered, visit our public LionPATH course search (opens in new window) to start planning ahead.

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