Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis (CERT)
Graduate Certificate in Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis
Unit: College of Education and Human Development (GE)
Department: Special Education, Early Childhood, and Prevention Science
Program Webpage
Academic Plan Code(s): AABACAA, AABACAAO
Program Information
This program can be completed in a traditional classroom format or entirely online.
The University of Louisville's Graduate Certificate in Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis provides practitioners with advanced knowledge in autism research and behavioral analytic approaches to skill development and the treatment of challenging behavior.
Students receive rigorous academic work within the program's carefully designed course sequence that is taught by faculty with practical and research experience in autism and applied behavior analysis. The reported increase in the number of children with autism suggests growth in demand for professionals trained in behavior analytic applications within schools and the community.
Please note: The Autism and Applied Behavior Analysis Certificate does not satisfy the course requirements to sit for the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) Certification Exam. Students interested in obtaining a BCBA should consider the MEd in Special Education with a Concentration in Autism Spectrum Disorder and Applied Behavior Analysis program.
Admission Requirements
Admission to to the program requires a graduate application to the Graduate School.
Applicants must also have the following:
- A bachelor's or master's degree in Special Education, Psychology, Speech Language Pathology, Occupational Therapy or Social Work from an accredited institution
- A 2.75 overall GPA in the bachelor's degree and/or a 3.0 overall GPA in the master's degree and any additional graduate work
- Official transcripts
- Professional certificate/license in a field related to autism (e.g., Special Education, Psychology, Speech Language Pathology, Occupational Therapy or Social Work), current employment working with individuals impacted by autism, or availability to complete 10 hours of fieldwork per week throughout the duration of the program
- Three letters of recommendation related to the applicant's work with individuals with autism
- Grade of B-minus or higher in required prerequisite courses within the past three years (EDSP 644 and EDSP 570)
- Submission of GRE scores
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo) is required of all foreign students from countries in which English is not the native language.
Those intending to seek certification as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) must hold a master's degree in Education, Psychology, or Behavior Analysis.
Program Requirements
Prerequisite Courses
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDSP 644 | Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| EDSP 570 | Autism: Introduction and Understanding | 3 |
Both must have been taken within the past three years with a grade of B-minus or higher.
Program Coursework
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| EDSP 671 | Autism: Strategies and Techniques | 3 |
| EDSP 669 | Single Subject Research Methods and Designs | 3 |
| EDSP 546 | Behavior Analytic Approach to Communication | 3 |
| Midpoint Assessment | ||
| EDSP 650 | Advanced Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| EDSP 651 | Professional and Ethical Practice of Applied Behavior Analysis | 3 |
| EDSP 673 | Research Seminar in Autism Spectrum Disorders | 3 |
| Exit Requirements | ||
| Minimum Total Hours | 18 | |
Minimum of 15 credit hours in 600-level courses is required.
Transfer credits are not accepted to this certificate program.
All courses must be completed within four years of admission to the program.
To complete the program, students must have a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade point average. No credit shall be accepted for carrying a grade lower than B-minus.
Midpoint Assessment: Students who do not meet the midpoint requirements may be exited from the program. A program faculty panel will review individual cases and make a determination regarding the student's ability to remain in the program. Decisions of the program faculty panel are final.
Exit Requirement: Completion of intervention project and presentation with a rating of Satisfactory and grades of B- or higher in all certificate courses.
