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Colleges Prepare Master's Students to Assist Children With Autism
By Catherine Groux
Posted June 12, 2012 02:40 PM
Professionals can earn master's degrees to help children with autism.Today, it is estimated that one out of every 88 children is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is partly because diagnostic techniques have greatly improved over the last couple decades, and partly because the list of behaviors and symptoms attributed to ASD has widened. Given that the disorder is now so frequently diagnosed, it has become crucial for colleges to train more professionals who specialize in treating it.
Recently, the University of Texas of the Permian Basin announced that it will provide a master's degree program in autism to students, News West 9 reports. The course of study, which will focus on the basics of the disorder and how it's treated, was created largely due to the increasing number of ASD diagnoses.
"Everybody is absolutely just clinging to or searching for more information," university professor Jan Murdock told News West 9. "There's not a single person who won't be impacted by autism, either directly or indirectly. You will [be impacted] because it's growing so rapidly."
In-state students who enroll in the unique program, which can be completed almost entirely through online education, do not need to pay tuition. However, they must teach or work with young children for four years in the nine years following their studies.
At other schools, students can earn graduate certificates in autism-related subjects. For example, the University of Massachusetts' online division offers a graduate certificate in behavioral intervention in autism, the school's website states. In this four-course program, students with a background in education, childcare, psychology and mental health can gain a better understanding of autism and how behavioral methods can be used to ameliorate its symptoms.
