Online Master's Degree with Autism Concentration for Teachers

Online Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction: Autism Studies Option (M.Ed.)

The Online Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction: Autism Studies Option is a 10 course (30 credit) master's degree program which can be completed entirely online.

The program is designed for professionals who are interested in combining UMass Lowell's graduate-level courses in Autism with graduate-level courses in Education. All of the online autism courses that are part of UMass Lowell's Graduate Certificate in Behavioral Intervention in Autism may be counted towards the Master's degree, with the balance of the required courses focusing on curriculum development and instructional practices in a K-12 school setting.

Note: Students interested in this Master's degree program must first complete the online Autism Certificate Program before applying into this program.

This program does not lead to teacher licensure.

Admission into the Master's Degree

Candidates interested in pursuing this Master's Degree Option must first apply into and complete the Online Graduate Certificate Program in Behavioral Intervention in Autism.

Once you have completed the Graduate Certificate in Behavioral Intervention in Autism, complete the online application for the Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction: Autism Studies Option at the Graduate Admissions website.

All applicants must submit:
• Statement of Purpose (1-2 pages in length)
• All official transcripts
• Three letters of recommendation
• Application fee
• No GRE is required if the candidate has maintained a GPA of 3.5 or better in the certificate program. Candidates who do not achieve a 3.5 GPA must
submit GRE scores.

Master's Degree Program of Study
Includes the four courses take as part of the Autism Certificate Program
10 courses total; 30 graduate credits

Required Foundations Courses (3 courses; 9 credits)
01.630 Diversity Issues for School Leaders
47.561 Introduction to Behavioral Intervention in Autism
47.562 Teaching and Positive Behavioral Support in Autism

Required Research Course (1 course; 3 credits)
47.565 Measurement and Experimental Design

Required Curriculum Courses (3 courses; 9 credits)
04.637 History and Theory of Curriculum
04.635 Dynamics of Curriculum Change
47.568 Behavioral Intervention Program Models in Autism

Instruction Electives (Choose 2 courses; 6 credits)
47.566 Functional Analysis and Treatment of Challenging Behaviors
04.643 The Skillful Teacher
05.502 Issues and Mandates in Special Education
05.638 Planning, Technology and School Improvement
06.527 Language Acquisition
xx.xxx Other course with prior approval of M.Ed. Coordinator

Capstone 3 credits (1 required course)
04.650 Capstone Project
Must be taken as the last course or in conjunction with the one other course in the final semester.

Candidates who are enrolled in the M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction general program of study may take some of the Autism Option courses as electives with prior permission of the program advisor, but unless they officially apply to and complete the BIA certificate
program, the option will not be recorded on their transcript.

Questions About the Master's Degree
For questions about the Online M.Ed. Program in Curriculum and Instruction:
Autism Studies Option or any of the online Education courses, contact Dr. Vera Ossen at Vera_Ossen@uml.edu or call 978-934-4604.

For questions about the online Autism courses and certificate program, please contact Dr. Richard Siegel at Richard_Siegel@uml.edu or call him at 978-934-3961.