Special Education, Specialization in Autism, MEd (online)

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The ASD Specialization program is intended for individuals who are interested in expanding their knowledge and skills for understanding, identifying, and working effectively with individuals on the autism spectrum. This fully online program can be completed in a minimum of 31 semester hours. The program includes five core autism courses. The ASD program does not lead to state teaching licensure or endorsement.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Master’s degree, students in the Autism Spectrum Disorders program are expected to be able to:

Examine the nature and characteristics of students with ASD, including the history and current trends of thinking on ASD.
Assess the impact of ASD on students’ learning and development, social perception, attention and interaction, control and regulation, and communication.
Analyze behavioral data to identify factors contributing to the behavior of individuals with autism and plan interventions.
Select effective instructional interventions, support strategies, teaching methodologies and materials, monitoring systems and assistive technologies.
Collaborate effectively with parents/families and other professionals who work with individuals with ASD across the lifespan.
Integrate advanced content knowledge in special education through completion of the master’s capstone experience.
Interpret research in special education.

Admission Requirements

This certificate does not lead to an ODE endorsement or license.

Documents required:

Statement of Purpose*

The Statement of Purpose is an integral part of the application. This is your opportunity to tell the faculty about important experiences, values, and aspirations you bring to graduate study. The statement should be 300-700 words in length, adhere to APA style guidelines, and demonstrate graduate-level writing skills. A strong Statement of Purpose communicates the following:

Your motivation to pursue graduate study in your chosen field (specifically address autism),
Your professional goals and why you feel our program can support you in meeting these goals; and
Your personal attributes, background, and/or experiences that have prepared you for success as a graduate student.

The statement should also indicate your understanding that the program does not lead to initial teacher licensure.

Application Requirements

Admissions Categories and Grade Point Average Requirements

International Application Information

Degree Requirements

Curriculum Requirements

Required Courses (24 credits)

Electives (6 credits)

EDIS 5310 is a strongly recommended elective for students who neither hold a current interventional specialist license nor have completed an introductory course in special education at the undergraduate or graduate level within the past 6 years. Commonly selected courses are listed below. Other courses may be selected with prior approval from the program coordinator.

Culminating Experience (3 credits)

Plan I:
EDIS 6990 - Thesis Research
Plan II:
EDIS 6910 - Master’s Project
or
EDIS 6980 - Review for Comprehensive Examination

Minimum Total Credits (31 credits)

Additional Requirements

Minimum of 3 credits of 6990 required for Plan I master’s students. Maximum of 6 credits may be applied toward degree requirements.
Minimum 3.0 graduate cumulative grade point average
Minimum of 18 credits must be at the 6000-level or higher
Minimum of 24 credits must be earned at BGSU
All requirements must be completed within six years from the end of the earliest course used to fulfill degree requirements.