Concentration in Autism and Developmental Disabilities

The concentration in Autism and Developmental Disabilities (A&DD) provides advanced training in the design, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based practices to individuals with autism and related developmental and physical disabilities, and their families. This program can be completed by one of two options (M.Ed. or M.A.), involving flexible combinations of coursework, practicum, and applied intervention research. With both options, the program of study uniquely integrates theory, research, and practice. Graduates are prepared to assume educational and related professional positions as teachers, behavior analysts, and clinicians, serving all ages, culturally and linguistically diverse populations, and incorporating assistive technology.

The Master’s concentration in A&DD can be pursued through one of two options, each involving a minimum of 36 semester hours. Option 1 involves completion of 10 courses plus 2 practical experiences leading to the M.Ed. degree and can be completed in 12 months of full-time study. Students who select Option 2 will pursue a research-based Master of Arts (M.A.) degree including courses, practical experiences, and a research thesis. In most cases, the thesis research will involve an applied intervention study. The M.A. option is intended to provide advanced training in applied intervention research. Components of the two respective degree plans are as follows:

Description of Courses: Department Core

SED 380: Cultural and Linguistic Diversity in Special Education   (Fall).

Students in the A&DD program will take a special section of this course that focuses specifically on students with autism and developmental disabilities and their families. The course provides an overview of issues and emerging practices surrounding the education and transition of culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students in special education. The goal is to provide an understanding of the history and significant events that have impeded or promoted the acceptance of diversity within the educational system. Students will also learn key concepts related to interpersonal and inter-group communication in culturally diverse settings, and explore the role of culture and language in their ability to communicate effectively with students and families from CLD backgrounds. Implications will be drawn for culturally and linguistically responsive practices in assessment, intervention, home-school collaboration, and transition.

SED 388: Challenging Behavior and Developmental Disabilities (Fall)

Challenging behaviors, such as aggression, self-injury, property destruction, tantrums, and stereotyped movements, are highly prevalent in individuals with severe and multiple disabilities. Developing a better understanding of challenging behaviors and using this better understanding to develop more effective assessment and treatment strategies is therefore a major research and educational priority. In this course, you will be introduced to the nature, assessment and treatment of challenging behaviors in people with severe and multiple disabilities. You will gain a better understanding of why these behaviors occur and what can be done to treat these behaviors.

SED 388: Teaching Individuals with Autism and Developmental Disabilities (Fall)

This course covers assessment and instructional strategies for educating students with autism and related developmental and physical disabilities. Emphasis is given to designing and implementing assessments to develop appropriate instructional objectives and create effective learning programs that address the many educational and related needs of students with severe disabilities. The course also focuses on implementation and evaluation of instructional procedures for teaching a range of adaptive behaviors, such as self-care, communication, social, and community living skills. In addition to describing effective teaching procedures, students will develop an understanding of the basic principles of learning that underlie these strategies, and learn how to structure the environment to promote learning.

SED 394: Practicum in SED Professional & Ethic al Practices (Fall)

An intensive study of the psychological, sociological, physiological, and educational factors relating to the assessment, learning, and teaching of children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Includes affective, cognitive, and psychomotor development of individuals with physical disabilities.

SED 384: Communication Intervention (Spring)

This course focuses on communication intervention for individuals with developmental disabilities. You will learn how to assess communication behavior and translate this information into intervention programs to enhance and teach new communication skills.

SED 396R: Single-Subject Research Design (Spring)

In this course  you will learn how to use single-subject research designs to make data based decisions about program effectiveness and student outcomes. You will also learn how to integrate applied research into classroom instruction as part of the move toward evidence-based professional practice in educating students with special educational needs.

SED 388: Advances in the Understanding and Treatment of Autism (Spring)

This course focuses on literature related to the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of individuals with autism. The course focuses on a review of educational interventions for teaching individuals with autism.

SED 388: Practicum in Special Education––Severe and Multiple Disabilities (Spring)

During this practicum, you will gain advanced skills and valuable hands-on experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating intervention programs for individuals with severe and multiple disabilities. If the Master of Arts option is chosen, you will not take this practicum, but will instead take Thesis A.

Special Education/Rehabilitation Counseling Elective

In consultation with your supervisor, you will elect one course from those offered by the Department of Special Education that matches your interests and professional goals. If the Master of Arts option is chosen, you will not take the elective but will instead take Thesis B. Students completing requirements for BCBA must take the following course:

SED 386: Foundations of Positive Behavior Support Online (Summer)

This course provides students with an understanding of the basic principles of human behavior; the application of those principles to teaching; the application of those principles to positive behavior support; and the application of those principles to the design of effective classrooms. The course is organized to prepare teachers and clinicians who will be in general and special education settings with children of all ages with and without disabilities.

SED 388: Intro to A pplied B ehavior A nal y sis I Online (Summer)

This is an initial course in applied behavior analysis and will introduce you to the history and basic concepts behind the science of behavior analysis, and give applied examples of how the science of behavior analysis is used. You will learn how behavior is defined and measured, and how we can manipulate the environment, both before behavior and after behavior occurs to make it more or less likely to occur in the future. Applications for these processes will be explored.

SED 393: Applied Research in Special Education (Summer)

The purpose of this course is to equip you with the knowledge and skills required to read, understand, evaluate, and use research to improve professional practice in special education and rehabilitation counseling. An additional purpose is to give you the tools to integrate research into your practice or for your Master’s Thesis. The focus of the course is conceptual rather than computational, but you will also learn about statistical analysis as part of the course. From this course you will gain an appreciation for the satisfying and creative aspects that make educational research fun!

SED 388 Advanced Intro to Applied Behavior Analysis II Online (Summer)

This is the second semester of introductory concepts in applied behavior analysis. In this course, we will explore concepts and applications for teaching new behaviors and decreasing unwanted behaviors.  We will explore ways of manipulating the environment before behavior occurs to increase the likelihood of behaviors occurring or not occurring. We will also learn ways of understanding language from a verbal behavior approach, and ways to use this approach to build new language.  Finally, this course will cover instructional strategies based on the principles of behavior that you can use to increase learning outcomes and promote generalization and maintenance of those outcomes in the natural environment.

Supporting Coursework (Out-of-Department Electives)

All coursework must be selected in consultation with your academic advisor.

Out-of-department electives should complement the coursework of this program. Electives can be taken from psychology, speech pathology, social work, etc.

Concentration Area Point of Contact

For more specific information about the Autism & Developmental Disabilities area of concentration, please contact the Area Co-Coordinators: Dr. Mark O’Reilly at markoreilly@austin.utexas.edu or Dr. Terry Falcomata at falcomata@austin.utexas.edu.

BCBA Certification

For Board Certified Behavior Analyst certification, contact:

Dr. Laura Rojeski • SZB 532G • 475-6585• e-mail: lrojeski@utexas.edu

More information is available from the Board’s website, at http://www.bacb.com