Certification and/or Masters Degree Program in Autism Spectrum Disorders
This distance education program will prepare you to become a professional educator who can provide quality early intervention, special education and adult habilitation services to individuals with an autism spectrum disorder from early childhood through adulthood. (More about the program's mission)
The Autism Spectrum Disorders Program at WVU offers you three options:
- Certification Only in Autism Grades K-6 or 5-Adult (or the equivalent in other states) for 39 credits;
- Master's Degree in Special Education with Certification in Autism Grades K-6 or 5-Adult (or the equivalent in other states) for 39 credits;
- Master's Degree Only in Special Education with an area of concentration in Autism Spectrum Disorders for 36 credits; and
- Additional Endorsement in Autism (restrictions apply) for 6 credits.
This program is available ENTIRELY ONLINE throughout West Virginia, across the United States, and in approved international areas.
The certification program leads to initial certification or additional endorsement in Autism in West Virginia, which includes children, adolescents and adults with various conditions and levels of severity. Individuals with prior certification in early childhood (K-4) or elementary education (K-6 or K-8) earn an endorsement for Grades K-6. Individuals with prior certification in biology, chemistry, English, general science, mathematics, physics, reading education or specialist, and/or social studies earn an endorsement for Grades 5-Adult. Individuals who hold any other certification earn initial certification in Grades 5-Adult only and also must complete a content endorsement for special educators in English, mathematics, biology, general science, or social studies. Those who hold NO prior certification are only eligible to complete the 5-Adult program and earn certification at those grade levels.
This qualifies as an alternative certification program in West Virginia.
For more details about admission to these programs, please review the information provided under Future Students.
For more details about completion of these programs, please review the information provided under Current Students.
WVU is fully accredited by the North Central Association, while the program is accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE) and meets professional standards of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC).