Early Interventions in Autism and Sensory Impairments MA

Non-certification

The Master of Arts in Education with an emphasis in early interventions in autism and sensory impairments program provides early childhood professionals with training to partner with parents of young children who have learning needs in the area of autism and/or sensory impairment. The need for specialized teacher training in early interventions is evidenced through the increasing prevalence of children born prematurely with low birth weights with co-occurrence of one or more developmental disabilities. Teachers of young children who are on the autism spectrum and/or demonstrate sensory impairment face challenges that are outside the scope of pre-service training.

To complete this degree, students must complete the Master of Arts in Education core (12 credit hours), along with 12-18 credit hours of early interventions coursework. Students will additionally choose an emphasis in one of three areas by completing the coursework required for one of the following three strands: autism, vision impairment, or deaf/hearing impairment. Note that all candidates will complete a study of family centered practices and characteristics of autism and sensory impairments before selecting a strand of specialization in autism, visual impairment, or deaf/hearing impairment.

Potential candidates for this program include teachers, parents, speech and language therapists and related services professionals, certified pre-K-12 teachers, certified VI teachers who want to learn more about autism and sensory impairments, sign language professionals with a BA degree, early childhood professionals who may not hold Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education teacher certification but hold a BA degree in early childhood or childhood development, and those who have a BA/BS and interest and work experience in the field of early childhood or special education. The program does not offer teacher certification from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Requirements

Prerequisite Courses

One of the following:

EDU 54100Education of the Exceptional Child

3

EDU 34100Education of the Exceptional Child

3

One of the following:

EDS 53700Special Education Counseling

3

EDU 33700Secondary Methods of Teaching Speech & Theatre

3

Core Curriculum

EDU 50500Analysis of Teaching and Learning Behavior

3

EDU 57000Educational Research

3

One of the following:

EDU 51000Conceptualization of Education

3

EDU 51010Conceptualization of Education for Beginning Teachers

3

One of the following:

EDU 52000Curriculum Analysis and Design

3

EDS 60000Ethical and Professional Issues in Behavioral Analysis

3

Early Interventions Emphasis Curriculum

EDS 56000Introduction to Family Centered Practices for Early Interventions in Autism, Visual Impairment, Deaf/Hard of Hearing

3

EDS 50200Behavior Management

3

EDS 56100Characteristics of Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

3

EDU 55100Early Childhood Screening, Diagnosing and Prescribing Instruction

3

EDS 56200Characteristics of Infants and Young Children with Vision Impairments

3

EDS 56300Characteristics of Young Children with Deaf/ Hearing Impairments

3

Note: EDS 50200 may be taken as undergraduate course.

Autism Strand Emphasis Courses

EDS 57000Methodologies for Teaching Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

3

EDS 57100Parents and Teachers as Partners: Social Language Development and Emergent Literacy

3

EDS 57200Designing Effective Classrooms for Young Children with Autism Spectrum

3

Vision Impairment Strand Emphasis Courses

EDS 57400Methodologies for Teaching Young Children with Vision Impairments

3

EDS 57500Parents and Teachers as Partners: First Steps to Third Grade for Children with Vision Impairments

3

EDS 57600Designing Effective Classrooms for Young Children with Vision Impairment

3

Deaf/Hearing Impairment Strand Emphasis Courses

EDS 57700Methodologies for Teaching Young Children with Deaf/Hard of Hearing Impairments

3

EDS 57800Parents and Teachers as Partners: First Steps to Third Grade for Children with Deaf/Hard of Hearing Impairments

3

EDS 57900Designing Effective Classrooms for Young Children with Deaf/Hard of Hearing Impairments

3