SPED 248 - Education of Students With Autism Spectrum Disorders

Semester Hours: 3

This course focuses on the assessment and education of students with autism spectrum disorders.  The course will focus on teaching students with autism using strategies based in applied behavior analysis.  Emphasis will be on understanding the needs of students with autism, including, but not limited to, the etiology, prevalence, characteristics, and evidence-based instructional methodology for teaching students with autism, instructional design and supports to promote communication and socialization skills and skill generalization and maintenance; positive behavioral supports, functional behavioral assessments and behavioral intervention plans; collaboration between the home, class, school and community to ensure that students are supported in the general education environment; and knowledge of resources such as early childhood supports, respite care, state agencies, transition services and vocational rehabilitation services and parent support networks and associations that are available to support students and families. Specific treatment strategies will be discussed as they apply to a variety of curriculum domains, including strategies for inclusive settings.  Data collection and data analysis will be discussed as they may be implemented across a variety of settings.  Special attention will be given to the importance of stimulus control in the curriculum assessment and development process for students with autism spectrum disorders.  Course requirements include 20 hours of field work in an early childhood special education setting for children with autism.

 

Prerequisite(s)/Course Notes:
Students must have completed an introductory course in special education before registering for this course.

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Fall 2025

January 2026

Spring 2026